Xixax Film Forum

A television spot has been made to promote the new David O'Russell new comedy: Watch it here. (http://64.70.49.107/huckabees/huckabees.mov)

Release Date: TBA 2004 (possibly limited)

Cast: Jude Law, Naomi Watts, Mark Wahlberg, Catherine Deneuve, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Dunn (Marty), Angela Grillo.

Director: David O. Russell (Three Kings, Flirting with Disaster, Spanking the Monkey)

Screenwriter: David O. Russell (Three Kings, Flirting with Disaster, Spanking the Monkey), Jeff Baena (feature film debut)

Premise: This ensemble comedy is about a married couple (Hoffman, Tomlin) who work as detectives, helping people solve existential crises in their lives. For those not familiar with the philosophy-based term of "existential crisis", some examples of such a crises would be a "mid-life crisis", a "what am I doing with my life?" sort of hang up, "my life has been a mistake", "my whole life is a joke", etc. The central characters (Law, Watts, Wahlberg) are involved in a romantic triangle of sorts. The title refers to Huckabee's, the business Law's character works at (where Dunn is his boss).

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this will rule in 2004.  i cant wait.

I wonder how many PA's were hurt in the making of this film.

I can't wait for this.

:yabbse-thumbup:  :yabbse-thumbup:

there is a test screening review over at aint it cool news. The reviewer seems pretty harsh on it[/url]

this is reminding me of toys (robin williams).

yo, meat!

Quote from: meatballyo, meat!

is this some sort of shout out? If it is, what up my meat friend

I hate to be a downer, but I think this film is going to be not so good.

Three Kings was great, I like Russell, he managed to get a wonderful cast, the title rocks, but I don't know, I just have a hunch this film will be a big disappointment.

Worst title ever, after XX/XY.

But people who don't go to movies just because the title sucks are morons, so I'm there.  Saw "Flirting With Disaster" for the first time in years about a month ago.  So great.

you mean David O. Verrated !!!


HA
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Mark your calendars.  According to the new Premiere, I Heart Huckabees will be released October 15th.

From Entertainment Weekly:

Russell has always dangled on the edge -- from the incest comedy Spanking The Monkey to his biggest hit, 1999's prescient Gulf war phantasmagoria, Three Kings. But his latest experiment in random raucousness might be his strangest movie yet. In the ensemble comedy Huckabees, Hoffman and Tomlin are existential detectives who track their clients' every move in hopes of helping them answer the Big Questions. When a wussy environmentalist (Schwartzman) enlists their help to better understand his conflict with a rising executive at Huckabees department stores (Law), their bumbling behavior sets off a bizarre chain of events. (Want more? Well, what could be weirder than appearances from Tippi Hedren and Shania Twain?)

"I kept saying to David, 'I'm not the smartest person in the world, but do you even want this to be accessible?'" laughs Hoffman, who reveals that his on-screen Beatlesque hairstyle "is really my hair! Wigs are painful and sticky and hot. I haven't worn one since Hook."

Wahlberg, who also appeared in Kings, plays firefighter Tommy Corn, and here he finally got a chance to hone his little-seen comedic skills. "If you were handed this script, you wouldn't say that Mark Wahlberg should play the role," he says. "But David doesn't want me doing the same thing over and over again. I was studying [author, former Tibetan monk, and father of Uma] Bob Thurman and Buddhism and The Jewel Tree of Tibet for months on end. He's asking actors to do some pretty outrageous stuff." And while he agrees that Huckabees is hardly lightweight, he hopes "that people will go to it and think about and debate some of these issues. David's movies are good for me and they are good for film. They are always a learning experience."

OFFICIAL WEBSITE UP: http://www.huckabees.com/
TRAILER HERE: http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=trailer&id=1808471272&intl=us

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i'm convinced. this will rule and this thread will exceed 18 pages. here's to page 2...

does anyone know the song that plays towards the end in that trailer?

oh, and the movie looks good, too

Naomi Watts' ads for "Huckabees" are funny.  "What the fuck" kind of funny.   :-D

Finally a trailer for what seems to be a fascinating film. Been too long since thel ast one.

"You can't plant a tree in the parking lot" WHAM
Seems very Wes Anderson-ish to me. Thoughts?

I heard Ali G is gonna be in this movie too.

I hear this movie is only going to be kind of funny because it tries too hard.

Quote from: bonanzatazi'm convinced. this will rule and this thread will exceed 18 pages. here's to page 2...

god i hope so.

Quote from: RegularKarateI hear this movie is only going to be kind of funny because it tries too hard.

god i hope not.

According to AMS/Neve, "Jon Brion has been scoring the film I Love Huckabees with engineer Tom Biller and assistant Dan Monti using Studios A & D."

http://www.ams-neve.com/prod/prodcase/88rcase.htm

nevermind, it was ali g's real life girlfriend who was in this movie.
dammit, ali g should be in more movies.

Veeeeeeeeery interesting it seems. And Schwartzman looks like a Tom Cruise clone.

This movie shall be good.

I am gradually falling in love with the Wahlberg.

Quote from: meatballI am gradually falling in love with the Wahlberg.

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"aw yeah!!.vibrations feel good like sunkist....thanks for da love maetball"

I just watched this for the first time, and whoever cut this trailer should have cut the Life Aquatic one, because this is a brilliant bit of marketing. I hope Taz is right and RK's fears prove ungrounded. I can't wait to see it.

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Larger poster here. (http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0356721/Ss/0356721/huckabees.jpg?path=gallery&path_key=0356721)

HEART

Quote from: NEON MERCURY

Quote from: meatballI am gradually falling in love with the Wahlberg.

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"aw yeah!!.vibrations feel good like sunkist....thanks for da love maetball"

Lovin' ya,
The Meat

I can't believe this is going to suck.  I just...can't.

Quote from: El Duderinodoes anyone know the song that plays towards the end in that trailer?

pretty sure it's original score. jon b. on vocs and it isn't meaningless. (OR ON HIS ALBUM!!!!!1 :!:

Quote from: RegularKarateI hear this movie is only going to be kind of funny because it tries too hard.

wrong movie. this is gonna be pretty good. the bits where it tries hard is matched by the results.

unlike certain debut films that try hard and say things that sound like they mean sumthing but in the end are just bullshit.. this actually might carry itself.

is mark wahlberg playing himself?

does anyone know what type of business Huckabee's is?

i thought that was Jon Brion in the trailer. that combined with Naomi hotness Watts and the rest of the cast.........hmmm.

i'm a little intrigued.

Quote from: bigideasdoes anyone know what type of business Huckabee's is?

It's like a sexy Wal-Mart.

http://www.huckabees.com/

Quote from: Cinephile

Quote from: bigideasdoes anyone know what type of business Huckabee's is?

It's like a sexy Wal-Mart.

http://www.huckabees.com/

thanks. that makes sense since:

sexy = Naomi Watts

ok, enough of that. the ads are pretty funny:

"oh say can you see how good this looks."

wow, i don't think i've ever used "sense" and "since" back to back.

Here's a blog from the Whalberg character:

http://tommycorn.blogspot.com/

I can't wait for this movie, damn it.

I saw this at an advanced screening in Dallas today, the first non toronto screening. it is excellent. wahlberg is the standout, hilarious and sad.
very funny, playful, intelligent...and a few people walked out ten minutes in. but the good people at xixax will love this one.

saw it too...dare i say, PT-ish? i think so. reminded me of punch-drunk love in a number of places but with sharper dialogue and less heart. this board will fawn.

how did you get to see an advanced screening in Dallas?  

p.s. how was Naomi?

it was shown at "TalkCinema" at the magnolia theater. you never know what youre going to see until you get there, so this was a lucky one. the next showing is 'primer' and shane caruth will be there, so that should be cool.

Quote from: Ultrahipyou never know what youre going to see until you get there

Quote from: Ultrahipthe next showing is 'primer'

:?:

Well, duh. He's obviously posting from the theater right now.

apologies macguffin, i was unclear. typically, you never know what you're going to see. however, since it's a big deal that the director will be there, they were nice enough to let us know in advance so we'd be sure not to miss it.[/i]

ok, i got an e-mail about that. you can either pay a fee for the whole season or show up and pay $20.

hmm, the lead in Primer is from a neighboring town, so i would like to see it. how much demand is there?........i would hate to make that drive and not be able to get in.

I'm pretty sure you'd have no problem getting in. For Huckabees there were probably only 20, 30 tops people there, in a full sized theater that holds probably 100 if not more. I'm going to get the $120 season pass, definitley worth it to me.

They show foreign films too, so I'm really just keeping my fingers crossed for A Very Long Engagment. That alone would make it worth it. Plus, since they showed Huckabees, I feel like Life Aquatic is a possibility.

well, was it awesome?

Quote from: Ultrahipit is excellent. wahlberg is the standout, hilarious and sad.
very funny, playful, intelligent...and a few people walked out ten minutes in. but the good people at xixax will love this one.

Quote from: UltrahipI'm pretty sure you'd have no problem getting in. For Huckabees there were probably only 20, 30 tops people there, in a full sized theater that holds probably 100 if not more. I'm going to get the $120 season pass, definitley worth it to me.

They show foreign films too, so I'm really just keeping my fingers crossed for A Very Long Engagment. That alone would make it worth it. Plus, since they showed Huckabees, I feel like Life Aquatic is a possibility.

hmm, Life Aquatic.......i guess they wouldn't show it til mid December. was there a long discussion after Huckabee's?

yes, probably about a half hour. led mainly by a film critic from...i think the dallas observer, who knew what was what. but he totally wanted to hear from everyone, told one guy was apparently a philosophy major somewhere that he should be leading this discussion instead, because the philosophy guy was pointing out all kinds of interesting sub themes and what have yous that were not quite apparent to everyone. a very nice discussion.

Quotefrom JoBlo.com:
Fascinating Huckabees article   Sep. 21, 2004
Source: New York Times    by: Mike Sampson

I know I've been talking I Ü• HUCKABEES a lot lately but I swear I have nothing vested in this film. I haven't even seen it yet. But it's being described as one of the weirdest films in recent memory and for that I'm oddly fascinated by it. Then comes this article from the New York Times that follows David O. Russell's saga getting the film made. And this paragraph alone convinced me that I have to shell out the $10 to see this movie. Read:

...And then Jude Law quits (the explanation Mr. Russell hears is that he needs to make a big-budget movie because of an impending divorce settlement; Mr. Law's representatives deny that money was a factor). Mr. Russell is devastated: instead of doing his movie, Mr. Law has decided to take a role offered by Christopher Nolan (MEMENTO).

At a Hollywood party, Mr. Russell, a lean, muscular 46-year-old with dark, lanky hair, runs into Mr. Nolan and — in full view of the party guests — puts him in a headlock. Wrapping his arm around Mr. Nolan's neck, Mr. Russell demands that his fellow director show artistic solidarity and give up his star in order to save HUCKABEES. (In the meantime, Mr. Russell has met with Jim Carrey as a possible replacement.) The next day Mr. Law calls Mr. Russell from a boat while crossing the Atlantic and discusses his HUCKABEES role at length, never mentioning Mr. Nolan or his project. The headlock story makes the rounds in Hollywood.

A headlock. David O. Russell catching Hulkamania and putting Christopher Nolan - this quiet, proper British lad - into an effin headlock. Classic. And if you think that's it, you're way off. Here are some really, really brief excerpts just to tickle your ass with a feather:

...Mark Wahlberg must repeatedly punch himself in the face...

...Mr. Russell is touching them — a lot, and sometimes in private places....

...Mr. Russell sheds the rest of his clothing.....

And apparently some of this is caught on videotape. Here's hoping they save it for the DVD. To read Sharon Waxman's article at the New York Times, click here to head to their site

i saw gala for "I heart huckabees" at the toronto festival and even though there are some really funny bits it comes off like pretentious garbage. i'm a big o. russell fan and tried my best to like the film, but just couldn't bring myself to it when the end credits rolled. it tries too hard to be something it should have never attempted in the first place. i couldn't help but think during the screening, "yes david we know that your smart. we really do. oh, yes again so clever. gee david o. russell you're such a genius" he beats this into your fucking head constantly, you never have time to catch your breath.

on that note i will say this is mark walberg's best performace. he is fucking amazing, really funny. i love when mark is washed up, he's so fucking good at it. jude law is really good too.

good films i did see at the festival were "motorcycle diaries" and "Imaginary Heroes". "red dust" was alright, but if you miss it don't worry.

-sl-

Quote from: socketleveleven though there are some really funny bits it comes off like pretentious garbage. i'm a big o. russell fan and tried my hardest to like the film but just couldn't bring myself to it when the end credits rolled. it tries too hard to be something it should have never attempted in the first place. i couldn't help but think during the screening, "yes david we know that your smart. we really do. oh, yes again so clever. gee david o. russell you're such a genius" he beats this into your fucking head constantly, you never have time to catch your breath.

damn, thats exactly what i feared after seeing the trailer. meh, i still have high hopes.

Quote from: RegularKarateI hear this movie is only going to be kind of funny because it tries too hard.

http://www.themoviebox.net/movies/2004/IJKLM/I-Heart-Huckabees/trailer-page.html

I know the question has been posed many times before, but I'm afraid I never found an answer--what song(s) are in the I Heart Huckabees trailer and who by?

well one is definitely Jon Brion, but i'm not sure the soundtrack is available yet.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00049QKZG/qid=1096257171/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl15/102-7074534-8663341?v=glance&s=music&n=507846

Quote from: nineteenseventysevenI know the question has been posed many times before, but I'm afraid I never found an answer--what song(s) are in the I Heart Huckabees trailer and who by?

The song in the I Heart Huckabees trailer is Jon Brion's "Knock Yourself Out."
 

Here's an interview with Jon about the soundtrack:

From the Aug 17-23 Hollywood Reporter:

"I began the soundtrack by creating what I would call typically good soundtrack music. (Director) David Russell's reaction was that he wanted more 'good' feeling in it -- more feeling, in general. David and I had a conversation about how disgustingly gratuitous song placement in the movies has become, and how most soundtrack music doesn't have a sense of song to it. It has gotten to the point where you really feel, as a viewer, that almost every song placement is really just a marketing scam.

I had been remembering some older film soundtracks that were iconographic and had a sense of song to them -- such as (1961's) 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. David was open to the concept (of creating a tune-driven soundtrack). Then, just as a way of getting myself out of 'soundtrack guy' mode and into 'songwriter guy' mode, I began playing some melodies on the piano from some songs of mine. (Russell) exclaimed, 'what's that?' I told him it was something of mine that was never released. 'Can we play that to picture?', he asked. Boom -- instantly, we were both totally happy; it gave the film a sense of playfulness with an emotional undercurrent.

For the soundtrack, I used very intimate arrangements, not big orchestrations. Bells ended up being prominent. There are a zillion different types of bell sounds; glockenspiels, hand bells, hollies and bells off the Mighty Wurlitzer organ. Using that instrument felt special because it had actually been created for use in the movie theaters but, of course, stopped being used after sound came along. You can instantaneously make finished orchestra pieces! Other than bells, (the score) is a mostly acoustic guitar and acoustic piano-based soundtrack. There are also some brush drums and bass and old chamberlain -- which is a weird instrument I play now and then. Essentially, it is all very small, except for the Mighty Wurlitzer.

What was nice for me in working with David was that we tended to have the same emotional response to certain tensions in the film. When I saw tension in the film, I would write a song about it, and he would immediately relate the song to the tension. This made me happy because it meant each of us was thinking about the film in the same abstract way. The fact that an entire score such as this would be populated by unreleased songs sans lyrics via complete serendipity is interesting.

People in the movie are trying to come to grips with the fact that you have to accept things as they are. It was appropriate that the music have a sweetness, openness and intimacy to it. Here we are, having this sweet conversation about the raw deal that is being born -- and embracing both things whole-heartedly. It worked out because there was a sense of the question of how to be OK with just being a creature in this universe, without merely becoming apathetic."

Saw an ad for this during "The Twenty" that they show at UA/Regal Theatres.  Keep an eye out for it:

http://www.jaffeandjaffe.com

The soundtrack is on Amazon, but without track listings, only an October 12th release date:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00049QKZG/qid=1096330847/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/103-0086407-0793469?v=glance&s=music

One more thing: the official site now has some substance to it.

Quote from: nineteenseventysevenThe soundtrack is on Amazon, but without track listings, only an October 12th release date:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00049QKZG/qid=1096330847/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/103-0086407-0793469?v=glance&s=music

somebody beat you to it....three posts above you

Quote from: meatwadsomebody beat you to it....three posts above you

Not only that, Bethie answered the question.

I feel small.  Thank you for the cyber-knowlege.

Torturously pretentious in spots but overall it's a great screwball comedy about modern life, very cerebral and in the end beautifully optimistic and life affirming... that is for those who don't completely dismiss the film's smugness.

David O. Russell's writing is both brilliant and patronizing; if anything the pretentiousness people (by people I mean Rex Reed) accuse P.T. Anderson, Spike Jonze/Charlie Kaufman, and now Michel Gondry of is here it its full glory.  If you ever flirted with the same sentiments Reed expresses in an article I read -- sorry, don't have a link -- I Heart Huckabees will make you a believer.

There's great ensemble work here (I was especially impressed by Mark Wahlberg), everyone beautifully mainting their character without ever "upstaging" the other ones, which is just what the film needed to do in order to work.  Jon Brion's score is superb.  Stylistically I think O. Russell tries to do too much and it gets distracting at times, but his direction is excellent otherwise.  I Heart Huckabees as a whole works, very well at that, and is very kinetic, insane, full-out comedy (of the intelligent kind).  Not as good as I would've hoped but I had enormous expectations.  As expected its one of the best films of the year.

Quote from: samsongAs expected its one of the best films of the year.

good.  the mixed reviews are killing my buzz.  this has been one of my most anticipated for the year and i cant wait for friday...

Samsong, you're avatar is like my avatar! How bizarre...

You guys should fight and the loser gets my avatar.

An excellent suggestion. Pistols at dawn!

Quote from: UltrahipAn excellent suggestion. Pistols at dawn!

Chester Pennywinkle lives!

Quote from: UltrahipSamsong, you're avatar is like my avatar! How bizarre...

mmmm... gotta love the grammatical errors.

There isn't enough Tati love on this board so I think there's room for both of our avatars.

By the way, mine is better.

Whoa! When did samsong become such an asshole? I've been gone awhile. Man, i like him even more.

i got an e-mail from the Magnolia list about a free screening of this film. i wish i lived closer to Dallas. :cry:

Whoa! Sorry man, I don't post with like, my grammar book, uh, handy, man, you know?

On a more formal note I'd have to go ahead and say my avatar is actually better, but that was an honest mistake on your part. And yes, there is certainly room for the both.

If I can jump in... samsong's is better.

And not because I think samsong is the best poster on xixax. Because it's just better. :yabbse-thumbup:

I feel like I'm being gang banged. (':shock:')

There is an interview with O Russel and Jason S about I Heart H's on the onion for those interested.

i non-like non-linking

http://www.theonionavclub.com/feature/index.php?issue=4040

Quote from: David O. RussellWhen I saw Rushmore, I said, "That man's my brother, and I have to become friends with him." And we did become friends. His character in Rushmore is a bit of a wise-ass, but he also has great sincerity in the things that he pursues, and great commitment. I believe in great commitment. When you're committed, you are an immediate target, and you have to not give a fuck.

its funny that he wanted to be friends with him because of the character he played in a movie.  haha, does he realize its all just make believe and jason is not in reality max fischer?

I was able to see this last night, and my initial reaction was not too good. Look, it may just be me, but I personally find it harder and harder to go to the movies, that's not very optomistic and there are a few films I do anticipate, and this was one of them, but it was just flat in my opinion. I really had a hard time with the casting, and felt JasonS didn't work for me. Honestly none of the cast did, but I didn't really like the script much either. Quirky? Screwball? I don't know, didn't really seem like it knew what the hell it wanted to be, and maybe that's the point. I really don't trust my own judgement these days and feel that it's gotta be me. Ms. Perm dug it, as well as the few other friends we were with, and the crowd seemed to enjoy it. Yes, it had some funny parts, but I didn't connect. I apologize for the negative vibe, not writing DaivdOR off, but that's the gut reaction.

GHostboy, you see Huckabee's yet?

Yeah. I liked it a lot, but I'm still thinking about it and don't have anything to succinct to say, other than: I love David O Russell for making this, whatever it is; and whatever problems the movie may have, it is most definitely not quirky or quirky for quirky's sake or whatever.

Cool Man. That fuels my ancipation even more. It looks F'd up. I'm soo in the mood for an F'd up movie tonight.

well since this was one of my most anticipated movies for the whole year, i'm pretty massively letdown right now.  i really really really wanted to love this movie, i thought the trailer was great, it just wasnt meant to be.  it was a noble mess. it was also the strangest movie i've seen all year.  its so weird it makes Eternal Sunshine look like a 'normal' jim carrey movie.  its so weird it makes Punch-Drunk Love look like a 'normal' adam sandler movie.  it will make $0 at the box office, my theatre was almost empty on opening night.  lets see what else...

Quote from: RegularKarateI hear this movie is only going to be kind of funny because it tries too hard.

Quote from: socketleveleven though there are some really funny bits it comes off like pretentious garbage. i'm a big o. russell fan and tried my best to like the film, but just couldn't bring myself to it when the end credits rolled.

Quote from: bigpermMy initial reaction was not too good. Look, there are a few films I do anticipate, and this was one of them, but it was just flat in my opinion. I really had a hard time with the casting, and felt JasonS didn't work for me. Honestly none of the cast did, but I didn't really like the script much either. Quirky? Screwball? I don't know, didn't really seem like it knew what the hell it wanted to be, and maybe that's the point. Yes, it had some funny parts, but I didn't connect. I apologize for the negative vibe, not writing DaivdOR off, but that's the gut reaction.

i just cant believe this was made by the same guy who made three kings.  and made AFTER!!  its just so awkward and amateurish, i refuse to believe the same guy went onto make this (when it seems like an oddity that should've already fallen earlier in a career).  its not that the subject matter was too weird, the premise was great, it just didnt deliver.  the movie was either A. not funny enough or B. not thoughtful enough.  it was just too --- blah.  i dunno.  jason s. seemed underused as did most of the cast.  jude law didnt quite seem as good as normal.  there seemed to be a lot of halfbaked ideas that made a weird as hell incoherent movie.  i'm guessing everyone signed on because of who the director was hoping they could pull something together from the premise and russell was hoping the same.  but he just didnt have a handle on the thing.  the movie didnt seem to take place anywhere near reality.  you dont care about any of the characters because its so oddball you dont feel like you should, but then, its not so funny that you dont mind.  its really not even that entertaining.  i dont think it will have a very good rewatchability, like i dont know that i want to see it again.  its just a mess.  drop all comparisons to PT now.  this is a misfire.  its okay.  lofty ambitions not reached by a long shot.  this review at AICN is pretty much how i feel... http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17036

While I take a glass half full approach and wasn't disappointed by the movie, I think I sort of can agree with themodernage on his opinion, without necessarily sharing it. Except on these points:

a. the movie is not at all amateurish
b. that there should ever have been any comparisons to PTA at all, save for the score

Anyway, here's my full review. (http://www.road-dog-productions.com/huckabees.html)

the more i've thought about this movie today, the more i think it was probably just plain bad and i was in denial last night.  my shock at the initial letdown was so great that i was being nice and trying to make excuses for the movie.  but i really think i dislike it despite its best efforts.  i guess i meant amateurish in the fact in how badly i thought he mishandled the movies ideas.

Well, I'm torn in my reaction to this film.

I certainly wasn't disapointed because I didn't expect greatness (I knew people would want to much from this movie, considering the reaction to Three Kings... which is good, but slightly overrated).  

Now... I think this movie was GOOD.  Which makes it surprising that so many people have reacted the way they have.  I think you kids were expecting too much and were disapointed.  

This movie only tried a little too hard (my MISprediction was that it would try WAY too hard and therefore end up sucking)... it had some great laughs... see, because it's a pretty light-hearted comedy... I don't think it was really going for much more than that.  Just because it involves existentialism doesn't mean it's a heavy drama or even a "thinker".  If you look at it from the right point of view (the one I think it was going for) it's just a light hearted comedy that works pretty well.

No oscars here... no three disk dvds... probably not even a second viewing, but a good film.

Quote from: RegularKarate

Now... I think this movie was GOOD.  Which makes it surprising that so many people have reacted the way they have.  I think you kids were expecting too much and were disapointed.  

exactly.
I really enjoyed it. I love having my mind toyed and boggled with, playing on my nerves and all that (just like when I dream). I love that I don't know what it was exactly. I was attracted to the characters and was entertained by all.
And may I add that this is Marky's best work next to Boogie Nights. He was highlarious.

So I go to pick up an application at the local theater, and they have these I Heart Huckabees stickers in the window and they have this huge stack os I Heart Huckabees posters and I'm extremely excited to see it, so I grab a poster (or 4, but who's counting) and they tell me they might NOT get it.  They don't know when they should get it, and there's a possibility that they won't.

Bastards.

I will be seeing this on friday.

Just saw it.  To my surprise, I actually enjoyed it quite a bit, but-- and this is a huge BUT-- I was a little disheartened by the sloppiness of the direction.  I can't count the number of times I noticed an awkward cut, continuity error, or bad ADR (sometimes bridging scenes or to make up for the fact that someone wasn't even filmed delivering dialogue!).  I'm all for improv and freewheeling, but not when it hampers the movie's aesthetics.  But still, I can't deny the joy and laughter I had during many of the scenes (the African guy, any scene with Wahlberg-- especially the Richard Jenkins dinner scene, Law's breakdown).  And how can you not take some sick delight in SPOILER a film that shows Max Fischer slamming Isabelle Huppert's face in the mud, then fucking her from behind?  Well... I did at least.

Quote from: themodernage02its just so awkward and amateurish.... there seemed to be a lot of halfbaked ideas that made a weird as hell incoherent movie.....he just didnt have a handle on the thing...... its really not even that entertaining.  i dont think it will have a very good rewatchability, like i dont know that i want to see it again.

Disagree strongly with all of this.  Every single shot had something entertaining or quirky in it, totally fun to watch, will become moreso on repeat viewings.  Nothing is halfbaked either, every scene fits the "existential dilemma" profile, there's not a shred of incoherence (plot/script-wise, on the direction/cinema art side, yeah, see below) but go ahead and point out what you felt did not "cohere."

Quote from: Ghostboya. the movie is not at all amateurish
b. that there should ever have been any comparisons to PTA at all, save for the score

a.  Agreed.
b.  Dude, did you even see the early scene where Schwartman's lost in the office building-white-halls-and-doors maze?  How could you not see Punch-Drunk Love in that?  Barry was searching for the girl that'd give his fucked life meaning; Albert was searching for people to search for his existential meaning for him.  Brilliant.

Other PTA touchpoints:

- Ensemble cast
- Wahlberg as Alpha Male (one of them anyway) who descends into existential sorrow (totally uses Boogie Nights as background)...

Maybe I'll come up with more.

Quote from: Weak2ndActI was a little disheartened by the sloppiness of the direction.  I can't count the number of times I noticed an awkward cut, continuity error, or bad ADR (sometimes bridging scenes or to make up for the fact that someone wasn't even filmed delivering dialogue!).  I'm all for improv and freewheeling, but not when it hampers the movie's aesthetics.  

This I have to regretfully agree with 100%.

i wasnt talking about the way it was shot that made it amateurish, i was talking about what a mess of storytelling the movie was.  the characters were all cartoons, and yet the movie wasnt that funny.  it didnt have much of a point and wasnt all that entertaining.  dustin hoffman and lily tomlin were totally wasted with only had a handful of lines or anything to actually do, most of which was in the trailers.  the movie seemed like a waste of time.  it didnt go anywhere, it didnt mean anything and it didnt do anything for me but make me disappointed.  i agree with most of this...

Quote from: Roger EbertI went to see "I Heart Huckabees" at the Toronto Film Festival. It was on the screen, and I was in my chair, and nothing was happening between us. There was clearly a movie being shown, but what was its purpose and why were the characters so inexplicable? Individual moments and lines and events in "I Heart Huckabees" are funny in and of themselves. Viewers may be mystified but will occasionally be amused. It took boundless optimism and energy for Russell to make the film, but it reminds me of the Buster Keaton short where he builds a boat but doesn't know how to get it out of the basement. The actors soldier away like the professionals they are, saying the words as if they mean something. Only Wahlberg is canny enough to play his role completely straight, as if he has no idea the movie might be funny. The others all seem trying to get in on the joke, which is a neat trick. I will award a shiny new dime to anyone who can figure out what the joke is.

Quote from: David DenbyMovie disasters (not to be confused with disaster movies) come in many styles. There are the leaden, twelve-footed monsters ("Pearl Harbor," "King Arthur"), the relentless whirligigs ("Men in Black II," the remake of "Planet of the Apes"), the attempts to wash the audience's brains out with pedagogic soap (the collected work of Lars von Trier). And then there's the special case of the film that goes so far into obsession that moviegoers are left staring at the screen in veneration or disbelief. David O. Russell's "I ♥ Huckabees" is definitely one of the latter. It's a comedy of the manic school, in which the characters, skittering along the edges of the frame, speak only about Big Ideas, say everything four times, quarrel at the drop of a non sequitur, and have sex in uncomfortable places. There are diatribes, freak-outs, instant revelations, and much talk about "your perception of reality." In the sixties, "Huckabees" might have arrived on the wings of hash, but Russell, in his jabbering, everything-going-on-at-once way, is not searching for the ineffable. Nor is he trying to be hip. He seems, on the contrary, to be searching for answers. He throws in visual divertissements in which people's eyes leave their faces and float in the air—digital surrealism by way of Man Ray and Manfred Kriegelstein—but, in the end, he wants to put those faces back together. Russell and the screenwriter Jeff Baena garble their philosophical themes, goosing them for comic effect, yet in some daft way the movie is serious, which may be the most curious thing about it. "Huckabees" is the real thing—an authentic disaster—but the picture is so odd that it should inspire, in at least a part of the audience, feelings of fervent loyalty.

"I ♥ Huckabees" is Hurricane David O., and there's nothing to do but enjoy the flashes of lightning and wait for the rest of it to blow over.

keep in mind, the first post in this thread was this...

Quote from: themodernage02this will rule in 2004.  i cant wait.

Quote from: MeshDude, did you even see the early scene where Schwartman's lost in the office building-white-halls-and-doors maze?  How could you not see Punch-Drunk Love in that?  Barry was searching for the girl that'd give his fucked life meaning; Albert was searching for people to search for his existential meaning for him.  Brilliant.

The scene also reminded me of Tom Cruise walking down the hallway in magnolia cause Shwartsy looks a little like Tommy did in that movie.

Quote from: MeshDude, did you even see the early scene where Schwartman's lost in the office building-white-halls-and-doors maze?  How could you not see Punch-Drunk Love in that?

I honestly didn't think of PDL during that scene, but sure, I see the point of comparison. What I meant was that I got vibe of 'this is the next bext thing to PTA until PTA makes a new movie.'

The more I think about the movie, the more I like it -- it exists so purely in its own ideals, it's wonderful. Everything Ebert wrote about in his review -- which were the same things I had trouble with it -- are what I'm growing to appreciate more and more.

Quote from: Ghostboy

Quote from: MeshDude, did you even see the early scene where Schwartman's lost in the office building-white-halls-and-doors maze?  How could you not see Punch-Drunk Love in that?

I honestly didn't think of PDL during that scene, but sure, I see the point of comparison. What I meant was that I got vibe of 'this is the next bext thing to PTA until PTA makes a new movie.'

The more I think about the movie, the more I like it -- it exists so purely in its own ideals, it's wonderful. Everything Ebert wrote about in his review -- which were the same things I had trouble with it -- are what I'm growing to appreciate more and more.

Ebert's review is a lazy, unthoughtful piece of bad-synopsis crap.  I honestly think a lot of it went over his head; he thinks there's some hidden, secret "joke" about it and there's not....not at all.  It's just sophisticated and subtly on-topic at all times.  This is especially dumb of him:

QuoteThere was clearly a movie being shown, but what was its purpose and why were the characters so inexplicable?

None of the characters or their actions were "inexplicable."  I'd like an example of how they were.

BTW, this is good stuff, gb:

Quote from: ghostboyI suspect that filmgoers across the country, in talking about I © Huckabees, will bandy about that horrid word referred to by people when talking about odd things they don't understand: quirky. This movie is most definitely not quirky; it is unusual, but not for the sake of being so. It is very funny, but it also takes its subject matter very seriously.

But I have to wonder why you concern yourself in your review (Ebert's guilty of same) with the film's broader "success"?  I mean, really, who cares? If it works, it works, right? Originality and humor are their own rewards, to my mind.  Cassavetes invented independent filmmaking, but have you ever met an non-film dork who's seen one of his films?  Still, you do good synopsis and make some good points, though I have a core disagreement with you re: the Tommy/Dawn scene.  That's where the film transcends: they fall in love in that moment, find each other, give each other new meaning, if only for a moment.  That moment shows how, yeah, "everything is the same", two people can have the same needs in the same moment, and that's OK.  For a little while, existence (the topic of the film) is good.

Quote from: MeshBut I have to wonder why you concern yourself in your review (Ebert's guilty of same) with the film's broader "success"?  I mean, really, who cares? If it works, it works, right?

At the time I wrote that, I still hadn't decided if it worked. I wasn't sure if Russell was reaching for something different then what I ultimately decided he was trying to accomplish. If it works, it does indeed work, and I'm very quick to hand out positive reviews to movies that display a bold sense of originality -- but I also always try to make sure I seriously question whether or not it could work better. Just a good way to keep one's head sharp, you know.

Quote from: themodernage02
keep in mind, the first post in this thread was this...

Quote from: themodernage02this will rule in 2004.  i cant wait.

'twas a good post.

i bought the soundtrack today for love of the Brion's song in the trailer.
i have yet to see the film.
DOR thanks Brion for a long time and at the end he thanks PTA for helping him find Brion by using him for his films.

I haven't the slightest clue where to begin. Easily one of my favourite films this year. The continuity errors of Wahlberg's facial hair was so obvious it seemed like it could've been intentional. But distracting nonetheless. I honestly don't know where to start on this film. Once again, samsong nails it in terms of how the film is, and don't let modernage make you think otherwise.

This film is dubbed an "existential comedy". People, stop walking in with high expectations! It's about existentialism... unless you're an avid reader of Sartre, you probably won't care for the content. But whether you like philosophy or not, the concept of the film is clear as day. No clue why Ebert said you'd wonder what it was really about. When you break down the film for what it was essentially, it was characters that were intertwined based on their own philosophies. Simple as that. And from their questions about what existence is, etc, they meet each other and change each other's lives. Simple, beautiful, refreshing. How was this trying too hard?

The characters want to find themselves and in the end, they all do. This is me speaking very simplistically about the film's 'plot'. What I don't get is the harsh criticism that the film wasn't "funny enough." Here's how I see it. PDL was a "romantic comedy." But in that it actually meant: "less comedy, more romance."  So in the case of I Heart Huckabees, take it into consideration that this film is "less comedy, more existentialism". But if I am to keep comparing PDL to IHH, let me just say that there are many more funny moments in this film than PTA's. Anyway, that's it for comparisons as I don't feel they should be discussed in the same sentence.

To some people, this is going to be heavy material. Like RK said, if you take it as a light-hearted comedy, you will enjoy it. The main thing that's turning people off is the philosophical dialogue. Yes, it's pretty deep with that content but really, just let your mind go and not try not to predict what the hell is going to happen.. and chances are you'll start seeing that you think of these things all the time. Who am I? How am I not myself? What is existence?

The way everybody is interconnected makes it all the more fun. The realization of Naomi Watts and her relationship with Jude Law. Wahlberg and Schwartzman, although are existential soulmates, one is on the philosophical left (Hoffman and Tomlin) while the other is on the right (Huppart). Again, when you let yourself go and enjoy the film for what it is, you sink into these characters and their internal conflicts.

Now there's a lot of things modernage said that I'd love to disagree but I don't really want to go back and quote just about everything. I already addressed a couple, namely the comedy. But the other things I recall worth arguing is how he's so bewildered that O'Russell is the same guy who did Three Kings.  If you've read anything on DOR, you know his stance on war. And if you know anything else on DOR, you know he is a HUGE philosophy buff. I read in a magazine that when he asked Wahlberg to do it, they both spoke of their beliefs on life, chanted together, meditated together, etc. DOR loves philosophy more than anything. To make some people happy by comparing him to PTA, this film is his Magnolia.

On the issue on whether one can rewatch it, I would sure say so. It's a very pleasing film and as samsong pointed out, its optimistic and life affirming. These characters aren't shallow people by any means. They all have a deep spot in their hearts and they all want the answers to who they are. Just like all of us.

It's a truly feel-good film and there's no reason not to go out and see this and knock yourself out.

goddamn, i cant believe i'm alone on this?  what film did i watch here?  what am i, the new gt?  why am i here?  what is the meaning of life, and so on....

Haha.  I still haven't seen it, so you're not totally alone yet.

Quote from: themodernage02goddamn, i cant believe i'm alone on this?  what film did i watch here?  what am i, the new gt?  why am i here?  what is the meaning of life, and so on....

you're not.

it's me and you against the world.

lol, i'm washed up.

-sl-

great movie. i was taken off guard the first few seconds, but it's all good. during the hall scene, my dad said "so is this the punch drunk love guy?" marky mark's best performance since boogie nights

Fuckabees

Quote from: BethieFuckabees

What does that mean?!

I can't believe I haven't seen this movie yet.

Quote from: meatballWhat does that mean?!

I can't believe I haven't seen this movie yet.

Quote from: Cinephile

Quote from: meatballWhat does that mean?!

I can't believe I haven't seen this movie yet.

Yeah.

Quote from: POZER

Quote from: Cinephile

Quote from: meatballWhat does that mean?!

I can't believe I haven't seen this movie yet.

Yeah.

well, the last couple of days i've been seeing a trailer for the film stating, "in theatres everywhere Oct 22nd!"

i wonder if everywhere means around here......hopefully so.

Yeah, it'll open wide this Friday.  It's coming here, finally.

You SHOULD be able to go to any theater showtimes website and check the schedule for this Friday to find out for sure.

Quote from: BethieFuckabees

I love that book, the adventures of fuckaberry finn.

I really, really enjoyed this film.  Easily one of my top 3 films of the year thus far, I need to see it again to decide where among the top 3 it lands.  I'm reading some of the criticisms and I am just wondering if you were watching the same movie as I was.  It was brilliant, I would say it's the most innovative film I've seen since Being John Malkovich.  The cast is amazing, Marky Mark especiailly.  The movie also takes a lot of chances, not just in the writing but in the directing.  For those of you who are surprised that David O Russell did this film, watch Flirting with Disaster and I think you'd be able to see the comparisions.

Now there are a few moments that went a little too far (ie Mud scene and Law/Schwarztman/Milk dream) and made me think I was watching Team America for a second.  These scenes are short and quickly forgotten.  Also, I believe the dinner table scene in this flm is the best written scene I've seen all year.

****1/2 out of 5 stars (It needs another viewing for me to decide on giving it that extra 1/2 star).

An alternative take contrary to critics fawning all over the flick: http://www.indyweek.com/durham/current/movie.html

very uneven -- the good parts were delightful, the others were dreadful -- my biggest problem was with jason schwartzman -- i thought he was terribly mis-cast -- whalberg was the pinnacle of the movie -- hoffman the man as always -- jude law didn't work for me  -- coudlnt get past his attempts to veil the british accent  -- became distracting, it would come out here and there -- the script was great, but poorly executed -- lacked imagination with the directing -- those dream sequences in the bag were so distasteful -- would have loved to see them use practical sets and effects. all in all good, but didn't live up to expectations -- the soundtrack is brilliant -- if youre a j brion fan at all pick it up -- astounding really.

Mark Wahlberg made me laugh out loud.  I have always sort of hated him... you know... overrated... Fear...  The Funky Bunch...

But now I've got the respect.

I really can't wait to see this tomarrow, see what all the hoopla is all about. I love the cast but I've read in the paper that this is a movie you'll either love or hate. Here's hoping I love it....ummm...cheers...

it was ok. i liked everyone but Jason Schwartzman who was yelly always but for no reason. if it could only slow a little to let itself expand.. but it didn't. and a lot of the story and ideas and sub plots end up hidden. funny how i saw Spun yesterday and that was the same idea i got from it, only more.. though Schwartzman was good in Spun. anyways.. i could feel it had a lot of great ideas and characters and stories.. but it took them for granted. it assumes you've already seen it once is its problem, pretty much. or it's kind of like seeing your mind remembering this time you saw it, so it leaves out stuff like the plausible development of certain relationships. and it tried to be funny more than it was. i find there's this weird unmentioned culture out there that finds stuff funny just as long as it's something and it's random. this is a good example (http://www.weebl.jolt.co.uk/pie.htm). there were some laughs Huckabees got in the theatre from these kinds of people. it's not the worst offender, but i thought i'd bring the observation up while i was thinking of it. i think the success of Three Kings inflated O. Russell's dir/wri self to a point where it forgot certain things.

Great movie but a little talky. It had some really interesting ideas but I felt it could have used a little more plot but overall great flick, definitely be getting this DVD for the commentary, now THAT should be an interesting one...

just got back from it, want to see it again, easily going to be on my top ten for this year...made me really happy...

I agree with Silias. Great movie, alittle talky but i thought it added to the comdey. Could have used alittle more plot but defintely had good ideas. Plus there was some good camera work. I recall one scene with Schwatzman in the car, talking with that women, I can't remeber her name. But I remeber a shot of the car driving up as the camera trucks back. I really liked that. Good movie....go see it.

Quote from: picolasi find there's this weird unmentioned culture out there that finds stuff funny just as long as it's something and it's random.

Oh God, I hate that shit, is that really a fair comparison (no spoilers please)?

Quote from: Dtm115300I agree with Silias.

You see that boys and girls? Somebody agrees with me....

Quote from: SleuthOh God, I hate that shit, is that really a fair comparison (no spoilers please)?

naw.

I saw it twice, and both times I left feeling happy.  I love the the whole "Pure Being" thing.

did anyone else catch the Peter Bradley interview with DOR, Dustin H, and Lily T? they didn't really talk about the film much, they kept getting sidetracked in talk of philosophical things.
Film Comment also has an interview with DOR in the latest issue.
so i've seen the PB interview, read the FC interview, but i haven't seen the freaking movie.....aaaaarrrrgggggghhhhhh

Quote from: Sleuth

Quote from: picolasi find there's this weird unmentioned culture out there that finds stuff funny just as long as it's something and it's random.

Oh God, I hate that shit, is that really a fair comparison (no spoilers please)?

i think that accounts for Family Guy's popularity, and might hav reached overkill with Rejected.. which still sum idiots quote and (FAKE) laugh hysterically over. that reminds me, gotta post that in movies assholes dig.

Quote from: Pubrick

Quote from: Sleuth

Quote from: picolasi find there's this weird unmentioned culture out there that finds stuff funny just as long as it's something and it's random.

Oh God, I hate that shit, is that really a fair comparison (no spoilers please)?

i think that accounts for Family Guy's popularity,

and pretty much everything else that airs on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.

by the way, this movie is 10/10

Quote from: Sleuthand pretty much everything else that airs on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.

I definitely agree with you about Adult Swim. I think people enjoy the idea of liking those shows more than the shows themselves.

Or they're just better than me.

As for I Heart Huckabees - fantastic movie. Daring writing, exciting performances, mostly interesting and solid directing. It was really fun to see Dustin Hoffman in a good movie. It's been awhile. Second best movie of the year so far after Eternal Sunshine.

Quote from: UncleJoey

Quote from: Sleuthand pretty much everything else that airs on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.

I definitely agree with you about Adult Swim. I think people enjoy the idea of liking those shows more than the shows themselves.

Or they're just better than me.
.

Although I'm not much of an Adult Swim fan, I'm pretty sure that the people who like them genuinely do enjoy the shows.

I see nothing wrong with the idea of random stuff happening being funny, I think it's funny.

You're both wrong about Adult Swim.

I've been with Adult Swim for quite some time now.  And some of it (the more boring stuff) IS just random crap and everything thinks it's funny, but a lot of it is imaginitive and effin hilarious.

And Uncle Joey, because you tried to lay some bullshit like that, I AM better than you.

Hm, is Bear City somehow related to Adult Swim?

damn, i better change my name quick

Quote from: RegularKarateAnd Uncle Joey, because you tried to lay some bullshit like that, I AM better than you.

That must be comforting to know.

so, can we still agree that "Mr. Show" is great?

No way, Mr. Show is WAY too random.  We now strictly demand humor that is obvious and boring.

Quote from: RegularKarateNo way, Mr. Show is WAY too random.  We now strictly demand humor that is obvious and boring.

Now you're talking!
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmortystv.com%2Fshowcards%2Fwhos_the_boss.jpg&hash=205ccdbc39ffe4fd4bab778672ecdb34ece6d073)


I just don't like most of the shows on Adult Swim (I say most because I love Family Guy, which I believe is featured on Adult Swim now. Might be wrong). Sorry. Personally, I see a big difference between Adult Swim and programs like Mr. Show. Perhaps, my beef is less with the style of Adult Swim and more about how they use it. Anyways, I think you have to admit that there are a lot of people that just enjoy the image of liking Adult Swim style shows, rather than actually having a genuine appreciation for them. I'm not pointing the finger at you personally, just pointing out that there are a lot of people like that out there.

I don't think you're right though... maybe you have had some weird experiances with Adult Swim fans, but I just don't see many people who pretend to like it.

There are a lot of shows on Adult Swim that are just okay or are bad, but Aqua Teen Hunger Force... especially the first two seasons is great.

And you can NOT complain about random bullshit getting easy laughs if you like the Family Guy because half that shit is just *kinda lame joke* WHAM - Gorilla bursts through the door and poops in the kitchen * WAHAHAHAHAHAAHHA!!!!!

and Trem, Bear City is more Conan Obrien style than Adult Swim Style and I wouldn't call it random humor either, it's pretty upfront about what's going on... there isn't anything that odd in it, really.

Quote from: UncleJoey. Anyways, I think you have to admit that there are a lot of people that just enjoy the image of liking Adult Swim style shows, rather than actually having a genuine appreciation for them. I'm not pointing the finger at you personally, just pointing out that there are a lot of people like that out there.

There are people like that no matter what the topic.

Quote from: RegularKarateand Trem, Bear City is more Conan Obrien style than Adult Swim Style and I wouldn't call it random humor either, it's pretty upfront about what's going on... there isn't anything that odd in it, really.

I know, but I just hated it so much and I needed to vent.  Thanks for listening bro

We all need a place to vent, sleuth.

Quote from: RegularKarateAnd you can NOT complain about random bullshit getting easy laughs if you like the Family Guy because half that shit is just *kinda lame joke* WHAM - Gorilla bursts through the door and poops in the kitchen * WAHAHAHAHAHAAHHA!!!!!

Well, I wasn't really complaining about random stuff getting laughs. I was complaining that I don't laugh at most of the random stuff some Adult Swim shows use. I laugh at Family Guy's. It's just a matter of taste. Like I said in my last post, I was complaing about how Adult Swim uses the style, not the style itself.

Quote from: SHAFTRThere are people like that no matter what the topic.

Well, obviously. That portion of the population just seems over-represented among Adult Swim fans.

Fuckabees

Quote from: CinephileFuckabees

What does that mean?!

WATCH THE MOVIE AND THEN COME BACK TO THE THREAD AND ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU LIKE.

THANK YOU!  :-D

I was just fuckabeein' about

This will become a thing, won't it?

Quote from: themodernage02its just so awkward . . . the movie was either A. not funny enough or B. not thoughtful enough.  it was just too --- blah.  i dunno.

Although I loved the movie (I had no expectations and have completely avoided this thread until now), your description is somewhat accurate. The movie deals in philosophical ambiguities, and the only way for it to work as mysteriously as it does is the selective use of strategic awkwardness. The movie is not at all consistent, in the dialogue, in the story, in the characters, in the plot, in the tone, even in the frequency of randomness. It was consistently inconsistent... that's completely the point, and I think it worked beautifully. In that way it was almost exactly like a Wes Anderson movie. And the opening scene was a direct PTA homage. And (SPOILER) Naomi Watts' transformation was kinda like the one in Mulholland Drive.

I enjoyed the movie a bit, reminds me a lot of 70s screwball films (maybe it's because there are detectives involved) but I didn't think it was deep or brilliant, it was witty, that was about it.  mark whalberg's speeches could've come right out of those Good Will Hunting monologues (about clubbing a baby seal).  it used a lot of words to draw on an overtly simple conclusion.  whereas someone like Woody might've been able to take it further (as he did in Crimes and Misdemeanors).  I thought it was going to be pretentious but it was never too pretentious, I liked that.
it thought itself to be too clever though.  every star was constantly winking at me.  I didn't like that.  I feel that way for a lot of these retro ensemble comedies--like Ocean's 11, have a bad habit of getting big stars to "show off" how not seriously they can take themselves.  it then lowers the material to this SNL level.

Quote from: Jeremy BlackmanThe movie is not at all consistent, in the dialogue, in the story, in the characters, in the plot, in the tone, even in the frequency of randomness. It was consistently inconsistent... that's completely the point, and I think it worked beautifully. In that way it was almost exactly like a Wes Anderson movie.

so the fact that it sucked is what makes it great?  lets not go dragging wes andersons good name through the mud by comparing it to this dreck.

Quote from: themodernage02so the fact that it sucked is what makes it great?

The fact that it's inconsistent (and strategically awkward) makes it, well, what it wants to be... which you can like or dislike.

consistently inconsistent?

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You're such a psychoanalyst.

of the cheapest sort

I actually got return tickets to the Huckabees UK premiere last night. Great night. Made even greater when "bloody hell thats Jon Brion stood next to me in the isle. And with a guitar!". Great performance of 'Knock Yourself Out' which I've been listening to all week. Just him, a little guitar, an accordian strapped to his neck, and some foot stomping.

I (https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.highlanderweb.co.uk%2Fmuileann%2Fdubh%2Fimages%2Fheart.gif&hash=7f04d1a6afc0c47d281b206547b055b3755e4358)'d the film.

Russell Bases Character on Thurman's Dad

Director David O. Russell is so grateful to Uma Thurman's father Robert Thurman for inspiring his latest movie I Heart Huckabees, he based the central character on him. The Kill Bill star's dad taught Russell ancient texts at college, and was such a profound influence on the young film-maker, Russell used Dustin Hoffman's detective character to pay homage to him. He tells British magazine Empire, "I was taught by Robert Thurman. He's one of the most brilliant scholars in the world, completely unpretentious but an expert in Sanskrit and all these ancient texts. The detective played by Dustin Hoffman is actually based on him."

Ebert said this is the only film that can exist without an audience in front of it, sounds pretty existential to me... which people usually take as self absorbed, but i want to see this and see how ridiculous or random it is. every time i hear "existential detectives" i think of schizopolis. now that i think of it, isnt schizopolis kind of existential as well? hmm, ill have to look into that.

I finally saw it and really liked it. It was kinda like Schizopolis where it seemd to be off the wall just for the sake of being different. But that was the point of the movie. The whole cast was great but particularly Mark Wahlberg and Jude Law.

Didn't care for it.  It had some funny moments but I thought the whole thing was a mess.

i guess i'll get to see it when it comes out on DVD
:cry:

Quote from: RaviDidn't care for it.  It had some funny moments but I thought the whole thing was a mess.

I think it's good to be disappointed with this movie, because it's a movie that's generally disappointed with existence, including its own existence. Isn't it essential for it to be messy, inconsistent, and awkward?

Really, the more I think about this movie, the more I love it.

you're reaching jeremy.

There's nothing wrong with reaching.

Once I figured out why I was kind of disappointed with the movie, I thought it was funny, and my interpretation changed. What's wrong with that?

Maybe the strategic awkwardness was intended... maybe it was subconscious... maybe it was a cosmic accident... but it works.

This is going to be the underdog movie of the year. I can tell already.

thats like saying a horror movie thats horrible is great.  because it intends to show you horrors, including making you watch how terrible it is.  or comedies that are so unfunny theyre hilarious.  you could pretty much justify any bad movie with reasoning like that if you wanted to.

Quote from: themodernage02thats like saying a horror movie thats horrible is great.  because it intends to show you horrors, including making you watch how terrible it is.  or comedies that are so unfunny theyre hilarious.  you could pretty much justify any bad movie with reasoning like that if you wanted to.

Your analogies are not fair. "Horror" and "horrible" mean two different things. And nothing in I Heart Huckabees can be as simple as the  "funny" / "not funny" dichotomy.

You're assuming that this movie is meant to be consistent and coherent. I think that's a huge mistake.

Quote from: Jeremy Blackman

Quote from: RaviDidn't care for it.  It had some funny moments but I thought the whole thing was a mess.

I think it's good to be disappointed with this movie, because it's a movie that's generally disappointed with existence, including its own existence. Isn't it essential for it to be messy, inconsistent, and awkward?

Really, the more I think about this movie, the more I love it.

I haven't seen this yet, but your comment reminds me of a portion of the Stanley Kauffmann review:

"All the hustle and bustle seems to be confined behind a pane of glass that cuts off the jokes and dulls the action. (At one point someone actually talks about a pane of glass.)"

I loved this movie from the start.  :(

And now we can start the I Heart Huckabees Redemption Coalition.

"The most daring thing about the film in some respects is that it's sincere. Because films about these matters are typically very dark like The Matrix, either wrapped up in some dark mythology, like the Matrix, or are satirical. This is neither of those. It's a big risk not only for regular audiences. It's a different movie. But for smarty pants writers, it doesn't fit their criteria. We've been embraced lovingly by some, but it's definitely divided them, I wasn't surprised by that all. It breaks all the rules for what the so-called smart people are supposed to do.  If you're gonna be smart you have to be pretentious about it or very ironic about it, if you're gonna be sincere about it or fun about it then you must be an idiot. "

David O. Russell, Empire Magazine

Quote from: themodernage02thats like saying a horror movie thats horrible is great.  because it intends to show you horrors, including making you watch how terrible it is.  or comedies that are so unfunny theyre hilarious.  you could pretty much justify any bad movie with reasoning like that if you wanted to.

I think you secretly heart huckabees

I don't think sincerity in and of itself is a virtue.  Sincere pictures can be just as bad as ones that try to be hip or ironic.  I did like that IHH had a creative starting point, but I never felt that the rest of the film lived up to the beginning of it.

What does fuckabees mean?

Quote from: StefenWhat does fuckabees mean?

Don't you know Stefen, it's the new hip slang....everybody's saying it.

Quote from: StefenWhat does fuckabees mean?

How exactly does one fuck a bee?

STOPABEES

Quote from: Sidewalrus, Kookookajoob

Quote from: StefenWhat does fuckabees mean?

How exactly does one fuck a bee?

Very Carefully

Quote from: Sidewalrus, Kookookajoob

How exactly does one fuck a bee?

actaully, if you were one of these then a bee would fuck the shit out of you
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classic.

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Fuck Aunt Bee!

Quote from: MacGuffin(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tvland.com%2Fshows%2Fgriffith%2Fgfx%2Fnavigator_photo_aunt_bee.gif&hash=518f9e1b53edc48e67fae54ccf35419dbf1361c3)

Fuck Aunt Bee!

I don't think I'll ever be able to hear her say "You boys will have to wait for my pie to cool" the same way again.

Quote from: Sidewalrus, KookookajoobI don't think I'll ever be able to hear her say "You boys will have to wait for my pie to cool" the same way again.

Mac, you can top that.

Quote from: Sidewalrus, Kookookajoob

Quote from: MacGuffin(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tvland.com%2Fshows%2Fgriffith%2Fgfx%2Fnavigator_photo_aunt_bee.gif&hash=518f9e1b53edc48e67fae54ccf35419dbf1361c3)

Fuck Aunt Bee!

I don't think I'll ever be able to hear her say "You boys will have to wait for my pie to cool" the same way again.

or:
"ooooh Andy."

...

Mac, you got anything?

because i heart xixax...

Title: I Heart Huckabees
Released: 22nd February 2005
SRP: $39.98

Further Details
Fox Home Entertainment has just announced comedy I Heart Huckabees which stars Dustin Hoffman, Isabelle Huppert, Jude Law, Jason Schwartzman and Naomi Watts. The film, from Three Kings director David O. Russell, will be available to own from the 22nd February next year. The retail price will be set at around $39.98. The dual-sided disc will carry both anamorphic widescreen and full screen presentations along with English Dolby Digital 5.1 and Spanish Dolby Surround tracks. Extras will include a director commentary, a cast audio commentary with Jason Schwartzman, Mark Wahlberg and Naomi Watts, a production featurette, twenty-two extended and deleted scenes, five cast outtakes and a segment of the Charlie Rose Show. Completing the package will be an Infomercial (long version, Informercial Extra Dialogue tangents and Jon Brion's performances, a behind the scenes of the Detective's Infomercial featurette, six Open-Spaces Coalition PSA's, a photo montage, an inside look at 'In Her Shoes', TV spots and trailers. The artwork hasn't yet been released I'm afraid, but we'll bring you that shortly. Stay tuned.

This is how they all should be.

CONSIDER IT PURCHASED.

So why isn't it a Criterion? That might justify the $40.

Quote from: Jeremy BlackmanSo why isn't it a Criterion? That might justify the $40.

Everyone (Fox, Warner, Paramount, etc.) will start releasing their own home made Criterion DVDs just to make an extra 20 bucks... its not so difficult to imagine really...

Maybe its a typo.  The 2 is right next to the 3 on the keyboard, and its not even a 2-disc set.

EDIT:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents

20th Century Fox has announced I Heart Huckabees for release on 2/22. You'll be able to get the film in a single disc version (SRP $27.98 ) containing both full frame and anamorphic widescreen video, as well as a 2-disc set (SRP $39.98 ). The 2-disc set will also include the film in both anamorphic widescreen and full frame video with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Extras (on the 2-disc edition) will include audio commentary by director David O. Russell, a cast commentary by Jason Schwartzman, Mark Wahlberg and Naomi Watts, the Inside Look: In Her Shoes featurette, an I Heart Huckabees production featurette, a Charlie Rose Show segment, 22 extended and deleted scenes, 5 outtakes, 6 Open-Spaces Coalition PSAs, a photo montage, 3 infomercials, a Jon Brion music video, TV spots and the film's teaser and trailer trailers.

Quote from: Sidewalrus, Kookookajoob
Mac, you got anything?

I got nothing.


I was never into Andy Griffith or Mayberry, RFD.

i still hate huckabees

Quote from: cowboykurtisi still hate huckabees

i can't wait to see this movie so i can love it and hate u.

Quote from: ©brad

Quote from: cowboykurtisi still hate huckabees

i can't wait to see this movie so i can love it and hate u.

i hate you without the film, you alone is enough.

also, if one of the respected mods can explain why im a sell out, it would be most appreciated. best regards.

Sell Out is just the next rank up depending on how many posts you have.

good one

SPOILER.

I liked that part in the movie where Watt's says fuckabees ( :?: )

I still crack up everytime I recall this exchange:

Vivian Jaffe: Have you ever transcended space and time?
Albert Markovski: No. Yes. Uh, Time not space. No, I have no idea what you're talking about.

Thats great. I love that bit, also:

"...there are no gazelles in north America, Brad, just so you know. And the building squashing nature is my imagery."
&
Is it a crime? Is it a crime to look at Lange?

Quote"The most daring thing about the film in some respects is that it's sincere. Because films about these matters are typically very dark like The Matrix, either wrapped up in some dark mythology, like the Matrix, or are satirical. This is neither of those. It's a big risk not only for regular audiences. It's a different movie. But for smarty pants writers, it doesn't fit their criteria. We've been embraced lovingly by some, but it's definitely divided them, I wasn't surprised by that all. It breaks all the rules for what the so-called smart people are supposed to do.  If you're gonna be smart you have to be pretentious about it or very ironic about it, if you're gonna be sincere about it or fun about it then you must be an idiot. "

David O. Russell, Empire Magazine

I finally got arount to seeing this this afternoon.  About time, too, I was surprised it was still in a theatre here.  Needless to say, this is a brilliant film, one of the best of the year, tussling for second place with Eternal Sunshine and The Dreamers.  (Sideways still holds first in my heart.)

A gag reflex ensued when I read David O. Russell's comments on his film.  So going into I Heart Huckabees I was a bit skeptical.  Skepticism is good when going to a movie.  It keeps your hopes down, and opens your mind so you can be pleasantly surprised.  And I was.

This is not a comedy in the conventional sense.  This is a comedy in the Punch-Drunk Love/The Royal Tenenbaums intelligent new cinema sense.  Anyone going into this film looking for laugh-out-loud guffaws will be greatly disappointed.  Ebert has seen way too many movies for him to be as disengaged as he was.  I was engaged from frame one.  People do view movies differently though.

To explain, I guess, the split: people who go in wanting to make sense of this, wanting to understand it all, will be let down.  You've really gotta let it wash all over you and laugh at the absurdity of it all.  As said, I was annoyed by Russell's condescending comments, him saying that if we didn't get the joke, the joke's on us, but somehow he's succeeded in both lampooning and praising an idea at the same time.

A lot of the visuals and editing were inspired.  I loved the sequences where Schwartzman's character went into himself.  The editing there was excellent.  Also, I loved the floating squares of space at the most random moments.  There's just too much for me to try to suck it all out and put it in one post, without having seen it again.  With this one, I want the DVD.  And well, if you don't get the joke, then, well, I guess the joke's on you.

So modage, you are alone on this one.  Closer, OTOH, is (comparatively) a pile of crap.  And on that, I feel, I am alone.

Quote from: Ravi20th Century Fox has announced I Heart Huckabees for release on 2/22. You'll be able to get the film in a single disc version (SRP $27.98 ) containing both full frame and anamorphic widescreen video, as well as a 2-disc set (SRP $39.98 ). The 2-disc set will also include the film in both anamorphic widescreen and full frame video with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Extras (on the 2-disc edition) will include audio commentary by director David O. Russell, a cast commentary by Jason Schwartzman, Mark Wahlberg and Naomi Watts, the Inside Look: In Her Shoes featurette, an I Heart Huckabees production featurette, a Charlie Rose Show segment, 22 extended and deleted scenes, 5 outtakes, 6 Open-Spaces Coalition PSAs, a photo montage, 3 infomercials, a Jon Brion music video, TV spots and the film's teaser and trailer trailers.

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The cover could've been a lot worse...

That cover is better than the poster, I don't know what you're talking about..

It's not better than the poster, but it's fine for a dvd cover.

Quote from: wantautopia?Closer, OTOH, is (comparatively) a pile of crap.  And on that, I feel, I am alone.

ehhh, no you're not. i still need to see this one though.

actually, piece of crap is a bit too harsh. not really all that great is what i was thinking. i grew up on melrose place and 90210, so i enjoy shitty soap operas.

he sold out!  they dropped 'existential' from the tagline!  :lol:

I doubt he had anything to do with that/sold out.

New Huckabees artwork:
Source: dvdtimes.co.uk

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I like this one better. It looks very Huckabees Corporate

I really like that new cover

new:

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old:

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I like the new one. It's like a Warhol.

Finally saw this. This is really just one big intelligent movie about drug addicts. With Hoffman, And Tomlin being the drugs, and ripping through everyones lives they enter, making them think they are on some other universal level and superhuman. Good stuff.

A load of cool snippets from the DVD special-features: http://www.aintitcoolnews.com/display.cgi?id=19418

Quote from: ®edlumA load of cool snippets from the DVD special-features: http://www.aintitcoolnews.com/display.cgi?id=19418

Offtopic, but:
Is AICN possibly the WORST-looking page ever?  Other than someone's tribute to their shi-tzu on Geocities or something?

Sometimes (sometimes) there's good info on there, but the bad writing and awful layout always drive me away within seconds of visiting the site.  Ugh.  

2LB

It has a honest charm to it. The talk-back and geeking-out can sometimes be a bit much but there's a lot of love there.

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?id=14456

wow, this will have an Jon Brion acoustic performance of two songs, as well as a music video Knock Yourself Out. a doc on the film by Spike Jonze............a commentary with Naomi Watts on it.............i still haven't seen it, but i'm a-gettin' dis.

I got Huckabees

i got it too. i don't understand the need for the outer box. it's exactly the same as the actual dvd case cover. Hasting's also put their sticker directly on the outer box.  :(

I bought a copy of the two-disc from Best Buy only to get home and find out that the first disc was missing! Now I've got to wait til tomorrow to go return it...and I hate those cardboard slip-cases that seem to be all the rage now...stupid waste of paper.

Quote from: bigideasHasting's also put their sticker directly on the outer box.  :(

hm, yeah i had that too.. but all of it came off quite smoothly.  8)

Quote from: cinemanarchistI bought a copy of the two-disc from Best Buy

Circuit City's price was $5 cheaper at $25.

Quote from: MacGuffin

Quote from: cinemanarchistI bought a copy of the two-disc from Best Buy

Circuit City's price was $5 cheaper at $25.

Ah yes but at Best Buy you got half the dvd...and that's true value.

Quote from: cinemanarchistI bought a copy of the two-disc from Best Buy only to get home and find out that the first disc was missing!

yeah, i saw that the Circuit City price was $5 cheaper, so i went there first and after seeing that they still hadn't put out the new releases (it looked to me like it was last week's and this was 1:30 in the afternoon!) and no worker came around or offered help, i decided to go to Hasting's because i was also looking for the new Iron and Wine EP as well.

Here's a slick trick for you all looking to get the 2-disc version.

At Borders the single disc is on sale for $19.99. They place bar codes on the slip covers, not the actual dvd cases. Simply swap the slip covers of the single disc and the 2 disc. voila, 2 disc version for $20. it worked for me.

at Hasting's only the 2 Disc Edition had a slip cover.

uh oh. just watched huckabees for the second time since the theater and didn't care for it as much. Must admit it annoyed me quite a bit this time around.
Enjoyed aspects, but forgot what I liked about it during the first viewing. maybe i should go check some old posts.
am I slowly starting to hate huckabees?

Quote from: cinemanarchist

Quote from: MacGuffin

Quote from: cinemanarchistI bought a copy of the two-disc from Best Buy

Circuit City's price was $5 cheaper at $25.

Ah yes but at Best Buy you got half the dvd...and that's true value.

Quote from: cinemanarchistI bought a copy of the two-disc from Best Buy only to get home and find out that the first disc was missing!

If you get the Circuit City ad and take your receipt back to Best Buy they will refund you 110% the difference. Was just trying to save you money, that's all.

I was just messing around with ya...thanks for the advive but I already went to the trouble of returning it to best buy...I'll prob just live with it...but I'll def. check that out next time.

Quote from: POZERuh oh. just watched huckabees for the second time since the theater and didn't care for it as much. Must admit it annoyed me quite a bit this time around.
Enjoyed aspects, but forgot what I liked about it during the first viewing. maybe i should go check some old posts.
am I slowly starting to hate huckabees?

What are you, mini-mini-mini-Mac?

Quote from: POZERuh oh. just watched huckabees for the second time since the theater and didn't care for it as much. Must admit it annoyed me quite a bit this time around.
Enjoyed aspects, but forgot what I liked about it during the first viewing. maybe i should go check some old posts.
am I slowly starting to hate huckabees?

Did you buy the 2 disc?  I'll buy it from you.

I saw a sign advertising "I Love Huckabees"
they're such squares.

p.s. i wonder how many times in production meetings DOR had to say, "It's I HEART Huckabees."

Quote from: bigideasat Hasting's only the 2 Disc Edition had a slip cover.

they're hip to the scam

Quote from: SHAFTR

Quote from: POZERuh oh. just watched huckabees for the second time since the theater and didn't care for it as much. Must admit it annoyed me quite a bit this time around.
Enjoyed aspects, but forgot what I liked about it during the first viewing. maybe i should go check some old posts.
am I slowly starting to hate huckabees?

Did you buy the 2 disc?  I'll buy it from you.

I did, but I still want to keep it. Enjoyed the xtras and I don't really hate the movie. just don't find it rewatchable I suppose. and it makes me tired. and it gets on my nerves quite a bit...no, no. I truly hate it.

My thoughts after a first viewing is that the film tries and tries hard to be intelligent, to be funny, to be quirky. If it wasn't for some good ensemble acting, this would be another Life Aquatic -- a disappointment.

I really enjoyed this film. I'm not sure how much. I have already watched it twice since it was released Tuesday, but this film struck a chord with me the way Dr. Strangelove did: both seem like they come from the nervous centers of their own society that the characterizations aren't exaggerated, but hyperboles of people and how they are connected with society. There are some drawbacks: the film seemed unable to really tap into that without a ploy set up, thus the "existential detectives". I also felt many times the film wore its intelligence too much on its sleeve. I feel I understand too much after the second viewing with little to gain on a third.

I was also let down by this film the way I was initially let down by Three Kings: the happy ending felt contradictory to the story. The ending does make sense, but I think instead of a resolution, the film should have further dove deeper down into the energy it tapped into to reveal some greater truths. I also could be interpreting what is a personal film of character relation as only a societal film.

It really is an excellent film. It's just this film is the typical film from last year. I find myself liking many parts, but also criticizing some as well. I really only have a few complete great films to claim from last year. Its really sad.

Quote from: The Gold TrumpetI was also let down by this film the way I was initially let down by Three Kings: the happy ending felt contradictory to the story. The ending does make sense, but I think instead of a resolution, the film should have further dove deeper down into the energy it tapped into to reveal some greater truths. I also could be interpreting what is a personal film of character relation as only a societal film.

And what would those greater truths be that you hoped Russell would have tapped into?  I got that same sense that he was really going somewhere here, but it was a much lighter ride, and I really enjoyed it for that.  The more I think about it, the more of a farce it really is (in a good way).

Quote from: The Gold TrumpetIt really is an excellent film. It's just this film is the typical film from last year. I find myself liking many parts, but also criticizing some as well. I really only have a few complete great films to claim from last year. Its really sad.

Those films would be?  Did you make your list (http://www.xixax.com/viewtopic.php?t=7198&highlight=top+ten+2004) yet?

Quote from: ono mo cuishle

Quote from: The Gold TrumpetI was also let down by this film the way I was initially let down by Three Kings: the happy ending felt contradictory to the story. The ending does make sense, but I think instead of a resolution, the film should have further dove deeper down into the energy it tapped into to reveal some greater truths. I also could be interpreting what is a personal film of character relation as only a societal film.

And what would those greater truths be that you hoped Russell would have tapped into?  I got that same sense that he was really going somewhere here, but it was a much lighter ride, and I really enjoyed it for that.  The more I think about it, the more of a farce it really is (in a good way).

I'm not sure. Its just as the characters were on a downward spiral the film was picking up pace to have its own explosian of everything like Dr. Strangelove. Its just everyone ended up picking themselves up right at the end. David O. Russel said that he would have changed the ending of Three Kings if he could. He thought the tone was too light compared to the rest of the film. I somewhat see a similiar situation here.

Quote from: ono mo cuishle

Quote from: The Gold TrumpetIt really is an excellent film. It's just this film is the typical film from last year. I find myself liking many parts, but also criticizing some as well. I really only have a few complete great films to claim from last year. Its really sad.

Those films would be?  Did you make your list (http://www.xixax.com/viewtopic.php?t=7198&highlight=top+ten+2004) yet?

No, I haven't made a top ten list yet. The more I think about making one and squandering to a few titles I really don't believe are worthy of top ten placement, the more I feel prolly just won't make one. Something so trivial shouldn't take so much effort.

As with a title like The Incredibles, I'll just try to voice my enthusiam for it in other ways.

I just saw this and didn't understand it at all. Maybe it was trying to make fun of existentialism and philosphy (the scene where they hit eachother with the ball). But that doesn't really mather cause it was all worth seeing because of Mark Wahlberg. I can't believe how funny he was in this film. He was back in his favoirte dump-naive-funny-goodhearted-character.

i finally saw this. i liked it.
the Open Spaces PSA's on the 2nd disc are pretty funny.
so is seeing Hoffman, Law, and Schwartzman wearing fake breasts.

okay well i loved this. and i haven't really read through this thread and i probably never will, but--

original, funny, innovative, frustrating, mind-scratching, colorful, crazy, optomistic, sweet-- these are all eligible adjectives for the dvd cover (which i know already exists, but maybe they could be used for a criterion cover or sumthin)

isabelle hubert is 53 years old?!?!  how the hell is that possible?

I'd still give her a good scrogging.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsuicidegirls.com%2Fmedia%2Fauthors%2F1375%2Farticle.jpg&hash=2cf8820924478742cb9da4aa15dd8609b513b3aa)

I’ve been finding it very difficult to describe the film I Heart Huckabees to anyone. It’s a veritable mishmash of materialism, pop culture and very heavy on the vermouth, I mean existentialism. I was lucky enough to get an interview with its writer/director David O. Russell and it was a damn good thing because he describes the movie way better than I could.

I know of Russell from the dozens of times I’ve watched Flirting with Disaster and Spanking the Monkey. While Three Kings seems to be his most popular film to date I found it to be a bit preachy. Huckabees is another story all together. It’s a brilliant film that has translated many long and heavy modern philosophies into a film.

While talking to Russell I realized why he was the perfect man to make a film about existentialism. The conversation wanders off into tangents which are often very fascinating.

Daniel Robert Epstein: Hello David, I’m Daniel from SuicideGirls.

David O. Russell: I know SuicideGirls. My editor will be so pleased. Her name is Pam March and she’s been on SuicideGirls. She is one of those body pierced lesbians. She loves SuicideGirls and one of the best things I ever did for her was tape the special they did on them off HBO and give it to her. She provided me with what I think is the best metaphor for what a movie star is.

DRE: What is that?

RUSSELL: She went to a strip club in New York and she exchanged numbers with a stripper. She called her and they made a plan to meet at a party and when she got to the party she realized there were at least 20 other women who had gotten the same thing from the stripper. The stripper had her choice of who to flirt with and who to choose from. She was completely in power and when Pamela said that to me I realized that was what a movie star is. When you are in a movie or a magazine you are giving your number to millions of people and suddenly you have command attention from all the people you want to command attention from.

Thank you Pamela March and you’re going to be so excited because I’m doing an interview with SuicideGirls. I didn’t know you did movie coverage. When Lily Tomlin did her one woman show one of the thoughts I had that the lesbians she’s talking about, the ones who wear Birkenstocks, have been replaced by a new generation of lesbians who wear hot type clothes, have piercings, tattoos and blue hair. SuicideGirls is a way for women to take back the porn.

DRE: How do you describe I Heart Huckabees?

RUSSELL: Here’s how I described it to the people who financed the movie. Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin are existential detectives who you could hire to investigate the meaning of your life. They are formal, they wear suits, they are Paris-trained and their clients include Jude Law, Naomi Watts, Jason Schwartzman and Mark Wahlberg. Their nemesis is Isabelle Huppert. Hilarity ensues. I’m not going to try to tell the whole story but that’s the conceit of the whole thing. I’m going to make it funny and smart.

DRE: Do you think you wouldn’t have been able to make this movie without all those stars?

RUSSELL: No, Alexander Payne made his movie at the same time I did at the same studio for the same budget and there are smaller stars in his movie. I don’t mean to say anything against Thomas Haden Church but I haven’t seen him in much since Wings. That’s a more straight ahead story but this is anything but.

DRE: Was it difficult to get this film started?

RUSSELL: It’s a film I’ve been trying to make for about 13 years. I got a grant in 1990 from the New York State Council on the Arts to make a short movie about a consciousness investigator who conceals microphones on the tables of a Chinese restaurant and wrote insanely personal fortunes to the people who ate there. Then he ended up getting involved with them. When I got the money I decided that I couldn’t kill myself to make another short, I had to make a feature. I tried for 18 months to turn it into a feature script. I didn’t feel I did that successfully enough so I used that money to make Spanking the Monkey instead. I eventually had to give the money back because they said they gave me the money for the fortune cookie movie not the incest movie. Then after I made Three Kings I really wanted to go back to making personal movies. I wrote a movie for Jason Schwartzman who I had fallen in love with from Rushmore. I wrote it about a Zendo I had gone to for four years on East 67th street. I thought it would be a great hub for an ensemble comedy about consciousness because there is every kind of person who goes there from lawyers to architects to janitors to accountants. At 6 pm they go there, kick off their shoes and study consciousness. I thought it would be funny and serious as well. It took me 18 months to write the script then I put it in a drawer and told them I couldn’t make this movie and that’s why I told them I didn’t do a movie for five years. Then I had a dream which answered my conundrum. The dream had a woman detective in it that was following me but not for criminal reasons. I wrote that down and I realized that was funny and that was the conceit of the movie.

DRE: All of your feature films have been a search for self and Huckabees is no different. Do you see that?

RUSSELL: I think that’s just in my DNA. Flirting with Disaster was done after my sister found her birth parents while having a lot of miscues happen along the way. Three Kings was an investigation for those solder’s souls in a way. They are celebrated frat boys at the beginning of them film then they realize that they don’t know what they are celebrating and discover who they really are and who they want to be. SuicideGirls is coming through with some good questions and they’re not all about body piercing. In ten years SuicideGirls is going to be like CNN, the biggest network in America.

DRE: In Huckabees, on one hand you have all these people who are connected then you have the people who don’t believe people are all interconnected. What made you choose those two philosophies?

RUSSELL: For me they reflect two of the biggest attitudes that I think compete in our modern world. One that is ultimately non materialist and says you can’t take the material world at face value. Bob Thurman was a teacher of mine in college and was my main inspiration for the Dustin Hoffman character and he is the chair of religion at Columbia. He taught me at Amherst, wore rumpled suits and was very unpretentious while also being one of the greatest translators of ancient texts. He said to me that consciousness and the soul had been separated from science since the Middle Ages because when you raised any kind of questions about infinity or something called the number zero or any kind of metaphysical concept you would be burned at the stake. Since then scientists have dogmatically run from anybody who talks about consciousness. Thurman’s hope is that in this century it will be readmitted. You have that camp, where everything is interconnected, which is more affirmative then you have the Isabelle Huppert camp which is more Zen in a way. They talk about infinity or visions but just talk about what is right now. How does this chair feel on your ass, how does the air feel and that is the doorway to infinity. But as with many Zen things it can be taken farther into minimalism to say that there is nothing beyond this. I picked those two because I can feel either way on any given day. It’s basically, hope is hopeless in two different containers.

DRE: How have audiences reacted to the film so far?

RUSSELL: Two nights ago we had a screening at Mohegan Sun. because I will do anything for Mark [Wahlberg] we had a fundraiser for his Youth Foundation, because like the character in the movie he is devoted to inner city kids. The friendship in the movie he is involved with is our friendship. I went to college and he went to prison so we’re very different but we have a lot of love for each other. I don’t think that audience was the best first audience for the film. We were in this ballroom with a 1000 people with drinks and you can hear the slot machines and people could go to the bar. It was driving Mark crazy and I was just bemused. I thought it was an existential conundrum right there. Then the next night we did a screening at Columbia University very late at night. When we first started the film it was out of focus. I asked the projectionist about it and he said, not the answer I wanted to hear, “I know, we don’t really know how to project anamorphic here. So that’s about as good as it’s going to get.” I said that I didn’t think we should show it then because the film is hard enough to watch. These students figured how to fix the projector with paperclips or something. We played it and had a great screening. Then at the Q & A, a woman gets up to ask a question and says “I should tell you that I’m a reporter for The New York Times. I can leave if you want me to.” The whole room went “Yeah!” I asked her if she was like one of those Page Six people who infiltrates things. She said no but it is for a column that has been compared to Page Six then she left. That’s the end of that story.

DRE: What do you want audiences to walk away from this film with?

RUSSELL: A feeling of elation. I hope people come out tickled and thinking about things. What will make them able to do that is if they get on the ride from the beginning, then things will fly by them very fast but they’re ok with that. Maybe they won’t get them all the first time they see it but they will get it next time and they will also enjoy it at the same time. Some of the movies I’ve enjoyed the most have happened that way. It was a choice for us to do it that way.

I think it’s entertainment but you are also going to have to think as well. The people who enjoy it the most are the ones who experience it as a strange comedy. While I was trying to get Huckabees made my friend Adam McKay was trying to get Anchorman made. Adam was always saying to me that Huckabees was wacky and funny. Everyone takes it differently

DRE: How did you meet Adam?

RUSSELL: We met several years ago because we mutual admirers of each other’s work. We tried to write a couple of things together. I’ve never gone to the mat for something that wasn’t mine but I went to these guys and told them that Will Ferrell is the next big thing. This is quality comedy and I am a snob about comedy. Now I have the last laugh.

DRE: After Three Kings I’m sure you must have had a lot of opportunities for mainstream movies. What made you go with Huckabees?

RUSSELL: I had a free ticket after Three Kings so I decided to take a risk. To make a movie that was most near and dear to my heart. If this movie makes its money back I will get another ticket.

DRE: Did anyone tell you not to make this movie because it wouldn’t be good for your career?

RUSSELL: Damn SuicideGirls, I think this movie is going to be good for my career. We did an infomercial for this movie with Dustin and Lily advertising their services. It’s going to run on the Independent Film Channel. We had Professor Thurman and Professor Joe Rudnick the Chair of physics at UCLA. One of the people in it is Pamela, you can pick her out because of the blue hair. She is one of the cases and says “What does all this have to do with me? I don’t understand this fifth dimension.”

DRE: Could you talk about, Soldiers Pay, the documentary you did on Iraq?

RUSSELL: It’s now been distributed Cinéma Libre, who also distributed Robert Greenwald’s documentaries. You can see it at the Quad Cinema [in Manhattan]. It’s 45 minutes long and it’s been distributed with Robert Greenwald’s Uncovered: The War on Iraq. Warner Bros gave me the money to make it. I interviewed veterans coming home from Iraq, a two star republican general who has a lot of questions about this war and doesn’t like it. I interviewed Iraqis who were in Three Kings. There is a big culture over there that is more of a conquest culture than a liberation. Supply sergeants will go into your home and take your microphone and TV for the recreation use of the army which is not exactly winning hearts and minds. There was an article in Harper’s which said that was a conscious policy to destroy the culture of Iraq.

I had hoped that this film would have gotten a release before the election but Warner Bros said they wouldn’t do it. They even cancelled their plans to release Three Kings on DVD before the election. I don’t even know if I would be able to make Three Kings today. They weren’t owned by AOL five years ago and they were more independent. When I came to them I asked if they were really going to make Three Kings. They told me that they make Oliver Stone movies and they aren’t afraid of it.

DRE: Is it important to mix heavy subjects with comedy?

RUSSELL: It’s not as if I see as a spoonful of sugar making the medicine go down. I think that the serious material is funny to me. A Zen monk once said to me “If you’re not laughing then you’re not getting it.” My favorite surrealists like Duchamp and Magritte are implicitly funny while also challenging what reality is to you. Bob Thurman is like that, he has a glass eye that kind of looks away, he will read these ancient texts in voices that are just hilarious. I think it’s Reader’s Digest that says “Laughter is the Best Medicine.” I think Will Ferrell is sublime when he sings Afternoon Delight.

DRE: How was directing Dustin Hoffman?

RUSSELL: Dustin Hoffman was the dream guy to play this part. He had been asking to make a movie with me since Flirting with Disaster. When I made Three Kings I even considered giving him the Clooney role. But I saw him running around in the fatigues in Outbreak and it didn’t feel right. He was upset by that so I went to apologize. I told him I was still devoted to him and he was the reason I got into cinema that The Graduate had a profound effect on me. He looked at me and said “That’s it? You’ve got to do it the Jewish way and give me something.” I said ok, so five years went by and I came back to him and said this part is for you. He asked me to come to his house and read it to me out loud because he wanted to hear how I hear it. It took us two days because we would stop, talk then eat and then talk some more.

Also he taught me something about directing. I asked him one day if he was listening to me because he was looking down. He said “No I’m listening to your rhythm. You have three of them. The first one is that you talk very staccato and very intensely. The second is you talk slowly and deliberately when you want something to be understood. Three is that you listen very intently.” I always thought that dialogue in a movie isn’t supposed to have a rhythm but Dustin told that it is important to have that because that’s the rhythm of the movie. You have to give that to the actors and that’s what Ratso Rizzo was based on.

We shot on a set at The Ambassador Hotel which he had not stepped in since he shot The Graduate. There was a piece of wood at the front desk that Buck Henry sticks his head through in the movie and says, "Are you here for an affair?" I got Dustin that piece of wood because they are going to demolish that place. That was my way of repaying him for doing this movie for no money.

DRE: What was it like showing this film to Professor Thurman?

RUSSELL: I was nervous. He came to see it at my house right after he saw The Passion of the Christ. The first thing he told me was “Wow that guy really hates Jews.” We had dinner than watched the movie. He had a lot of good suggestions like encouraging me to more with the cubes. Since then he’s seen it many times and told me he loved it.

DRE: How much different would Flirting with Disaster be if you did it now?

RUSSELL: Everything I made I would make very different. I’m always picking at works. I could tell you everything that’s wrong with Huckabees but I won’t.

I would deepen Flirting with Disaster. I didn’t have the confidence or the chops to go deeper into the narrative and the identity issues. There were funny things I wanted to do at the time as well. When Ben Stiller meets his truck driver ersatz dad I wanted to have them break into Taking Care of Business by Bachman Turner Overdrive.

so i rewatched I Heart Huckabees tonite.  i liked it.  :oops: :doh: :ponder: :yabbse-undecided:

Pourquoi?  *flaps arms like a French, existentialist seagull*

Quote from: modage on February 15, 2004, 11:00:19 PM
this will rule in 2004.  i cant wait.

Quote from: modage on August 13, 2004, 06:25:27 PM
Mark your calendars.  According to the new Premiere, I Heart Huckabees will be released October 15th.

Quote from: modage on August 15, 2004, 04:05:44 PM

Quote from: bonanzatazi'm convinced. this will rule and this thread will exceed 18 pages. here's to page 2...

god i hope so.

Quote from: RegularKarateI hear this movie is only going to be kind of funny because it tries too hard.

god i hope not.

Quote from: modage on October 04, 2004, 10:40:20 PM

Quote from: samsongAs expected its one of the best films of the year.

good.  the mixed reviews are killing my buzz.  this has been one of my most anticipated for the year and i cant wait for friday...

Quote from: modage on October 09, 2004, 12:34:55 AM
well since this was one of my most anticipated movies for the whole year, i'm pretty massively letdown right now.  i really really really wanted to love this movie, i thought the trailer was great, it just wasnt meant to be.  it was a noble mess. it was also the strangest movie i've seen all year.  its so weird it makes Eternal Sunshine look like a 'normal' jim carrey movie.  its so weird it makes Punch-Drunk Love look like a 'normal' adam sandler movie.  it will make $0 at the box office, my theatre was almost empty on opening night.  lets see what else...

Quote from: RegularKarateI hear this movie is only going to be kind of funny because it tries too hard.

Quote from: socketleveleven though there are some really funny bits it comes off like pretentious garbage. i'm a big o. russell fan and tried my best to like the film, but just couldn't bring myself to it when the end credits rolled.

Quote from: bigpermMy initial reaction was not too good. Look, there are a few films I do anticipate, and this was one of them, but it was just flat in my opinion. I really had a hard time with the casting, and felt JasonS didn't work for me. Honestly none of the cast did, but I didn't really like the script much either. Quirky? Screwball? I don't know, didn't really seem like it knew what the hell it wanted to be, and maybe that's the point. Yes, it had some funny parts, but I didn't connect. I apologize for the negative vibe, not writing DaivdOR off, but that's the gut reaction.

i just cant believe this was made by the same guy who made three kings.  and made AFTER!!  its just so awkward and amateurish, i refuse to believe the same guy went onto make this (when it seems like an oddity that should've already fallen earlier in a career).  its not that the subject matter was too weird, the premise was great, it just didnt deliver.  the movie was either A. not funny enough or B. not thoughtful enough.  it was just too --- blah.  i dunno.  jason s. seemed underused as did most of the cast.  jude law didnt quite seem as good as normal.  there seemed to be a lot of halfbaked ideas that made a weird as hell incoherent movie.  i'm guessing everyone signed on because of who the director was hoping they could pull something together from the premise and russell was hoping the same.  but he just didnt have a handle on the thing.  the movie didnt seem to take place anywhere near reality.  you dont care about any of the characters because its so oddball you dont feel like you should, but then, its not so funny that you dont mind.  its really not even that entertaining.  i dont think it will have a very good rewatchability, like i dont know that i want to see it again.  its just a mess.  drop all comparisons to PT now.  this is a misfire.  its okay.  lofty ambitions not reached by a long shot.  this review at AICN is pretty much how i feel... http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17036

Quote from: modage on October 09, 2004, 11:48:26 PM
the more i've thought about this movie today, the more i think it was probably just plain bad and i was in denial last night.  my shock at the initial letdown was so great that i was being nice and trying to make excuses for the movie.  but i really think i dislike it despite its best efforts.  i guess i meant amateurish in the fact in how badly i thought he mishandled the movies ideas.

Quote from: modage on October 16, 2004, 11:58:07 AM
goddamn, i cant believe i'm alone on this?  what film did i watch here?  what am i, the new gt?  why am i here?  what is the meaning of life, and so on....

Quote from: modage on November 01, 2004, 10:26:30 PM

Quote from: Jeremy BlackmanThe movie is not at all consistent, in the dialogue, in the story, in the characters, in the plot, in the tone, even in the frequency of randomness. It was consistently inconsistent... that's completely the point, and I think it worked beautifully. In that way it was almost exactly like a Wes Anderson movie.

so the fact that it sucked is what makes it great?  lets not go dragging wes andersons good name through the mud by comparing it to this dreck.

Quote from: modage on November 27, 2004, 10:23:03 PM
you're reaching jeremy.

Quote from: modage on November 27, 2004, 10:46:50 PM
thats like saying a horror movie thats horrible is great.  because it intends to show you horrors, including making you watch how terrible it is.  or comedies that are so unfunny theyre hilarious.  you could pretty much justify any bad movie with reasoning like that if you wanted to.

Quote from: modage on December 05, 2005, 11:22:24 PM
so i rewatched I Heart Huckabees tonite.  i liked it.  :oops: :doh: :ponder: :yabbse-undecided:

Was it really worth it?  I think his first bashing of it and his commendation of it would've gotten the point across.

Bravo, though.

Quote from: w a l r u $ on December 06, 2005, 12:37:32 AM
I think his first bashing of it and his commendation of it would've gotten the point across.

no. that is the difference between you and pozer.

well, dammit, now i need to get this bitch to the 18th page.

i missed it in theaters. i sawed it on home video. this movie was funny.

hehe. tuna salad.

we only need two more posts, people. WE CAN DO THIS!

[/tt]

one more?

It went like this for me:  liked it...didn't like it...loved it...and now i just really like it.  

Maybe on the eighteenth page I'll explain why.  

EDIT:  Hot Damn!   Eighteenth page.

Quote from: bonanzatazi'm convinced. this will rule and this thread will exceed 18 pages. here's to page 2...

Quote from: JimmyGator on December 06, 2005, 01:47:50 PM
EDIT:  Hot Damn!   Eighteenth page.

Then the prophecies have come true....   :shock:

This movie constantly skated the line between failing and succeeding, and ultimately it all boils down to whether or not you care if a movie makes sense.  I didn't, and I liked it.  Mark Wahlberg's second-best performance.

Quote from: polkablues on December 06, 2005, 02:51:03 PMMark Wahlberg's second-best performance.

Nothing will ever top The Italian Job.

Quote from: JimmyGator on December 06, 2005, 01:47:50 PM
It went like this for me:  liked it...didn't like it...loved it...and now i just really like it.

I just watched it a second time after liking it the first and I didn't like it as much; I thought maybe I switched places with modage.  But I'll give it a third shot to be the tiebreaker.

Quote from: Gamblour on December 06, 2005, 03:40:40 PM

Quote from: polkablues on December 06, 2005, 02:51:03 PMMark Wahlberg's second-best performance.

Nothing will ever top The Italian Job.

Umm... The Big Hit?... Hel-lo!

Rock Star.

Rock Star was one of the most painful movies I've seen. Mostly because I wanted to walk out of the theater for most of the duration but on principle forced myself to stay. I've seen worse movies on video, but none more painful theatrically.

F you Dustin Hoffman!
Source: Defamer    

Before I present to you the absolutely fantastic clips of Lily Tomlin freaking out on the set of I HEART HUCKABEES, let me give you a little backstory. Director David O. Russell is known for his unorthodox directing style, which can be a little, um, confrontational (see, fist fight with George Clooney on the set of THREE KINGS). The set of HUCKABEES was no less tense. I'd like to link you to the original New York Times article (http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F30915FB385D0C7A8DDDA00894DC404482) detailing all this but it's only available to Times Select members, which means you have to pay a monthly fee to read it. Basically, Russell was trying to coax performances out of his actors by taking them out of their comfort zone. For Lily Tomlin this meant completely pissing her off. Thankfully the cameras were rolling. This is why the internet is the best thing since, well, anything. Buy all the DVDs you want friends, you're never going to get deleted scenes quite like this. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_OyW71AJ8E&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjoblo%2Ecom%2Ff%2Dyou%2Ddustin%2Dhoffman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9iEm2qdJpE&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjoblo%2Ecom%2Ff%2Dyou%2Ddustin%2Dhoffman

those are the craziest clips i have ever seen!

I was able to watch them before they were deleted. It's a wonder Tomlin didn't just walk off the movie.

Aaaaawwww fuck!

I'm at work sans speakers....

I didn't think this would disappear so quickly, you know?

I was looking forward to it.

First one who finds an alternate link, or has these somehow saved on their computer gets an extra gold star.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biol.andrews.edu%2FBIO%2Fgif%2Fgold.star.gif&hash=0b3e000df2178b8ea47bbec976f43218df86435b)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlhKsizs62c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I79ytf15fYQ

Doesn't it remind you of her scene in The Player?

Holy shit! That almost seems to crazy to be real. Aside from the hystrionics, I loved the little details -- the way the AD cleared the set, the way Tomlin tried to get out of the car but couldn't because she was trapped and the way Dustin Hoffman just didn't do anything.

that's unbelievable. i am completely amazed by their behavior.

my favorite parts of the car freakout
- trying to get outta the car
- *chortle in the background*, tomlin: "yeah fuck you too"
- lily to dusty: "you shut the fuck up"
- dusty: "that's .. nutty"

favorites from the cunt clip
- THE WHOLE THING
- efficient? impatient? oh, patient.
- david o nutty: bitch, bitch, fucking cunt, Fucking, fucking, fucking help you, bitch, fuck yourself, fuck
- yelling the words "have i fucking yelled at you before right now?" louder than anything else
- knocking over the lamp
- lily DOESN'T LEAVE, i am still amazed

Quote from: Ghostboy on March 19, 2007, 06:36:51 PM
Holy shit!

delicious.

Wow. Just got home. Clicked on the first video... it took too long to load... clicked on the second...loaded up, watched it....clicked back on the first and they were both gone.

Apparently this is some catch 'em while you can type shit and, thankfully, I caught half of it.

It's silly that this is going to be how D O Russell is viewed by a lot of people from here on out...compunding with the CLooney bit years ago.

I'vehung out with the cat a couple times and he's always been the most welcoming, sweetest mellow guy possible. Even emailed me back and forth on what camera to purchase. I'm not the most social motherfucker in the world, and he's made me feel very welcome in very crowded places, and I'd have to imagine that translates to the set of his films - which I've never been on - more often than not.

So, aside from being amicable and making great films, the dude flipped his shit on set a couple times.

Whatever.

We all go a little mad sometimes.

Hell of a clip, though.

It's been deleted again.

They're still up here.

http://wwtdd.com/post.phtml?pk=2046

wow.
is there Clooney fistfight footage?

he's an asshole. talented sure, but what he did in that first video is inexcusable. people losing their temper is one thing, but calling someone "a fucking cunt" over and over again, throwing props and furniture... if i were the studio head i would've fired his ass.

this is disgusting. it's not even an intelligible flip-out. it serves no purpose other than to show that he can yell very loudly and throw props and scare that one person. the way he awkwardly assaults the lamp shows it's pure, attention-seeking crap. there's an odd justice in its leaking though.

in the beginning, he's so calm with her as she's going off.  example: "I'm trying to be patient with you."  "You're being impatient!"  "I said patient, not impatient."  then the second part shows him exploding of course.  it is odd.  and she was quite fond of him in the end, in the behind the scenes, charlie rose interview etc.

yeah, it looks like there's a piece missing.

tomlin: i couldn't understand you. it's not the first time..
----------------  CUT  ----------------
russell: fuck you, i'm just trying to fucking help you, etc.

we need the outtakes of this outtake.

yeah i'm sure its all just context.  in between those clips Tomlin raped and murdered Russells mother.  so really, its all pretty justified.  if you think about it.  now where is THAT clip!

what's funny/crazy is that this was the 2nd film she had worked with him.

Quote from: modage on March 20, 2007, 04:43:35 PMso really, its all pretty justified.  if you think about it.

context my skinny ass. i do not see how you can justify his actions. i mean they're not curing cancer here, they're making a movie, a stupid meaningless movie. i don't care how talented you are or important you think your work is. unless she killed david o'russell's mother or set his dog on fire during that gap in the clip, it's inexcusable behavior.

Quote from: Bethie on October 18, 2004, 02:41:29 AM
Fuckabees

here's what it all comes down to: Lily Tomlin attitude, enough to make anyone lose it!

Quote from: ©brad on March 20, 2007, 04:56:36 PM

Quote from: modage on March 20, 2007, 04:43:35 PMso really, its all pretty justified.  if you think about it.

context my skinny ass. i do not see how you can justify his actions. i mean they're not curing cancer here, they're making a movie, a stupid meaningless movie. i don't care how talented you are or important you think your work is. unless she killed david o'russell's mother or set his dog on fire during that gap in the clip, it's inexcusable behavior.

that's what he said:

Quote from: modage on March 20, 2007, 04:43:35 PM
yeah i'm sure its all just context.  in between those clips Tomlin raped and murdered Russells mother.  so really, its all pretty justified.  if you think about it.  now where is THAT clip!

YOU RESPONDED TO MODAGE'S POST OUT OF CONTEXT, CBRAD. HE WAS BEING SARCASTIC. SERIOUSLY FUCK YOU, I'M JUST TRYING TO FUCKING HELP YOU, YOU FUCKING BITCH. YOU CAN GO FUCK YOURSELF, YOU FUCKING CUNT

Quote from: Hedwig on March 20, 2007, 05:19:43 PM

Quote from: ©brad on March 20, 2007, 04:56:36 PM

Quote from: modage on March 20, 2007, 04:43:35 PMso really, its all pretty justified.  if you think about it.

context my skinny ass. i do not see how you can justify his actions. i mean they're not curing cancer here, they're making a movie, a stupid meaningless movie. i don't care how talented you are or important you think your work is. unless she killed david o'russell's mother or set his dog on fire during that gap in the clip, it's inexcusable behavior.

that's what he said:

Quote from: modage on March 20, 2007, 04:43:35 PM
yeah i'm sure its all just context.  in between those clips Tomlin raped and murdered Russells mother.  so really, its all pretty justified.  if you think about it.  now where is THAT clip!

YOU RESPONDED TO MODAGE'S POST OUT OF CONTEXT, CBRAD. HE WAS BEING SARCASTIC. SERIOUSLY FUCK YOU, I'M JUST TRYING TO FUCKING HELP YOU, YOU FUCKING BITCH. YOU CAN GO FUCK YOURSELF, YOU FUCKING CUNT

ok now that was justified.

that was some trashy fun, but whatever, they all got a great movie in the end and they were all happy in the end.  I'm sure everyone involved is way over it by this point.

Yeah, Lily Tomlin's made two movies with the guy, Mark Wahlberg's made two movies with the guy... apparently they can overlook the occasional shitstorm.

That was great...

What I'd like to see is the fist fight on the set of Three Kings, or did I miss that for good?

Quote from: overmeunderyou on March 21, 2007, 02:02:28 PM
What I'd like to see is the fist fight on the set of Three Kings, or did I miss that for good?

i hope i'm wrong but i think anyone who wasn't on set that day missed it for good.

Updated link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Qls1rAfYs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Qls1rAfYs)

Lily Tomlin Reacts to Leaked Videos
Source: Miami New Times

Even 67-year-old actresses can have their moments of Internet infamy, as Lily Tomlin discovered this week, when the sister blogs of celebrity snark, Gawker and Defamer, posted guerrilla video shot on the set of I Heart Huckabees, the 2004 film in which Tomlin clashed with director David O. Russell. Along with the sparks, F-bombs and even the "C" word fly.

The video was the subject of a New York Times article in 2004, when it was rumored to be making the rounds of West Coast talent agencies.

Miami New Times spoke to Tomlin the day after it appeared online for the first time. New Times was interviewing the actress in advance of her upcoming show at the Carnival Center, but we couldn't resist a mention of the formerly clandestine video, which has since migrated to YouTube.

"Oh my God, the one in the car is on there too?" Tomlin asked, referring to one of the two videos, which were shot during two different scenes. In "the one in the car," Tomlin tells Russell: "Leave me the fuck alone! Do you know what the fuck is going on, period? Fuck you! Fuck you motherfucker!"

"I can't believe the damn car is in there. I've never seen it. Is that when I'm sitting in the seat and really going nuts? Oh my God, I'm gonna die when I see that," Tomlin told New Times, laughing.

"I love David," she said. "There was a lot of pressure in making the movie — even the way it came out you could see it was a very free-associative, crazy movie, and David was under a tremendous amount of pressure. And he's a very free-form kind of guy anyway."

In the second video, shot on the set of the office of Tomlin's detective character, Russell turns the freak out around on Tomlin: "Fuck you! I'm just trying to help you, you understand me? I'm not here to be fucking yelled at!" He sweeps his arm across the desk at which Tomlin sits, scattering its contents. "I've been working on this thing for three fucking years, not to be yelled at by some fucking cunt! So just fuck yourself!"

"Adults have fights and go through stuff," Tomlin said Tuesday. "I know some people are more dignified in the world, that if you transgress against that kind of professionalism, that it's some kind of great sin, but I don't see it that way."

She called the episode "in a way liberating... now it's all over, and so what, and I don't have to keep up some great pretention I'm the most dignified, eloquent, elegant, perfect, smart-thinking, kind, generous person. I'm just a plain old human with a whole bunch of flaws."

Tomlin mostly laughed off the incident, and the leak of the video from the set. "After poor Britney Spears, with her poor little legs open ... I'm not the least bit upset about it," she said. "That's part of the upside and the downside of the Internet."

that's a really cool reaction. i love lily tomlin. she's a dignified, eloquent, elegant, perfect, smart-thinking, kind, generous person. :shock:

Lights, Camera, Tirade! Hollywood's Elite Seen Online
Source: New York Times

In the YouTube age, Hollywood celebrities might want to rethink whether to have temper tantrums — or, at least, have them far from the cameras on movie sets.

A video clip from the filming of "I Heart Huckabees," the 2004 existential comedy directed by David O. Russell, surfaced on YouTube and several gossip blogs last week. The 2 1/2-minute video shows the actress Lily Tomlin expressing her frustration at Mr. Russell, who retaliates by sweeping papers off the desk in front of her, kicking a part of the set, and knocking a lamp to the floor. The tirade is so abusive that only one sentence — "Act like a grown-up; you're not a baby" — is printable.

Another video clip that was posted online last week shows Ms. Tomlin losing her temper during a shoot and cursing at Mr. Russell and her fellow actors.

The set of "I Heart Huckabees" was notoriously fractious, with Ms. Tomlin and Mr. Russell clashing on several occasions. And Mr. Russell is well known for his violent conflict resolution: He was in a fistfight with the actor George Clooney on the set of the 1999 film "Three Kings," and once resolved a casting dispute with the director Christopher Nolan by putting Mr. Nolan into a headlock at a Hollywood party.

Reports of the video's existence first surfaced in a 2004 article in The New York Times about Mr. Russell and the movie's filming, but last Monday marked the first time that either video was made available to the public. Almost as soon as they were posted, efforts were made to quash the leak. The original versions of the two videos, named "Screaming Huckabees" and "Screaming Huckabees 2," were soon removed from YouTube, apparently by their original poster.

The videos were reposted and removed several times over the week, but by the weekend, they appeared to be firmly entrenched in the blogosphere. One version of Mr. Russell's tantrum that was posted on YouTube on Tuesday had been played more than 150,000 times by Saturday, making it one of the week's 50 most viewed videos.

Mr. Russell and his representatives did not respond to requests for comment on the clips. Neither did Ms. Tomlin's representatives, although the actress addressed the matter in an interview published Thursday with The Miami New Times, an alternative newspaper.

"There was a lot of pressure in making the movie," she said, adding that she was "not the least bit upset" about the leaks. "Adults have fights and go through stuff."

"He was in a fistfight with the actor George Clooney on the set of the 1999 film "Three Kings," and once resolved a casting dispute with the director Christopher Nolan by putting Mr. Nolan into a headlock at a Hollywood party."

This guy is truly a life loser.

Clooney denies Huckabees leak
Source: Guardian Unlimited

George Clooney has denied being responsible for the public release of embarrassing out-takes showing I Heart Huckabees director David O Russell yelling at actor Lily Tomlin.

Clooney contacted the US gossip sites Radaronline.com and Defamer.com late last week to make clear it was not he who released the footage of the dustups, which found its way on to many websites and blogs.

Both sites had suggested the Oscar-winning actor might be the source because of his well-publicised feud with Russell, which began on the set of the 1999 (first) Gulf war drama Three Kings. Clooney had also recently been working with sound mixer Ed Tise, who worked on Huckabees.

In his missive to the sites, the actor wrote: "Contrary to popular opinion, neither the sound man, Ed Tise, nor yours truly sent in the David O Russell tape.

"I saw it when we were working on Ocean's 12 and there have been quite a few copies travelling around town for the last couple of years. Any rumour that either of us put it on the internet is simply false. And I'd offer a million bucks to anyone who would prove otherwise."

Paul Rudd and Michael Showalter re-enact the Huckabee's "fiasco".

http://www.collegehumor.com/picture:1750993/ (http://www.collegehumor.com/picture:1750993/)

This is funny stuff. If you haven't watched any of Michael Showalter's showalter then you're missing out (previous guests include Galifinakis, Michael ian black, and david cross)

''Huckabees'' Whacks
EW.com Exclusive: George Clooney says that while notorious Web clips of David O. Russell's blowup at Lily Tomlin give context to his own run-in with the director, he condemns posting such material online

Director David O. Russell's 2004 film I Heart Huckabees is, in large part, a meditation on the quest for spiritual enlightenment. But there was little meditative about two behind-the-scenes clips shot during the film's production that turned up on the Internet last month, showing one of the film's stars, Lily Tomlin, at loggerheads with Russell.

In the more memorable of the two, the director loses his temper with the actress, who is filming a scene with Jason Schwartzman and Dustin Hoffman. ''F--- you!'' he shouts. ''I'm just trying to f---ing help you, do you understand me? I'm being a f---ing collaborator.'' Russell then angrily pushes some papers off the desk behind which Tomlin is sitting and continues: ''I worked on this f---ing thing for three f---ing years not to have some f---ing c--- yell at me in front of the f---ing crew when I'm trying to f---ing help, you bitch.''

After the footage surfaced, a rumor began circulating that its emergence was in some way connected to George Clooney, who had gotten into a physical confrontation with Russell on the set of the 1999 film, Three Kings. Clooney subsequently issued a statement denying responsibility for leaking the footage and offering a $1 million reward to anyone who could prove otherwise.

While being interviewed about the forthcoming Ocean's Thirteen for EW, Clooney answered a couple of questions about the I Heart Huckabees clips.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You've denied leaking the Huckabees footage. But is it possible we will ever see any similar material from Three Kings?
GEORGE CLOONEY: The funny thing is that that tape has been going around for about two and a half years. And everybody's seen it. I saw it when we were shooting Ocean's Twelve. I felt bad for Lily but I also felt a little vindicated for anyone that thought that that had anything to do with me on [Three Kings]. But, you know, the last thing in the world I would have done is stick it on the Internet. I don't even know how to get onto YouTube. So there's not going to be any Three Kings things. There are pranks I like to play [but] that [posting this kind of footage online] falls into the world of screwing with people's careers. I'm up for a good fight, but not sneaky. I like 'em face-to-face.''

Do you think this kind of thing is going to happen more and more?
Sure. I just think the Internet is a free-for-all now. Ultimately a lot of crap comes out. There's going to be tons of things. You're going to have someone filming in somebody's hotel and get them when they have Spanktro-vision on and put that on the Internet and that will be a career-ender for somebody. There's gonna be plenty of that going on. Until someone figures out how to tame the wild wild west then I don't really know you can put the genie back in the bottle. Maybe it's good. Maybe it'll make people behave themselves on sets.

Friends defend Russell as 'Huckabees' video gathers steam
Director's on-set tirade against Lily Tomlin is a much-viewed video online. But it doesn't show the whole man, colleagues say.
Source: Los Angeles Times

As director David O. Russell's now infamous "I {heart} Huckabees" on-set freakout on Lily Tomlin, posted as a Web video, reaches the parody phase, his friends are coming forward to defend his shocking tirade — and his colorful directing style.

Sure, they say, he's "exacting" and doesn't suffer fools; to an outsider, they admit, his tantrum toward the film's costar captured on video might look like a madman's rant. But one obscenity-laden fit shouldn't define Russell, who, they point out, is also a brilliant writer and gifted filmmaker.

"He has his own unique bearing; you've got to know that going in," said "Smokin' Aces" director Joe Carnahan. "And he's not an apologist."

Some folks in the industry called Russell's behavior "unprofessional" and "irresponsible." To others in Hollywood, however, making such a clip public — leaking it from the set, then posting it on YouTube.com, for example — violated a basic industry code: What happens on the set, stays on the set.

"It's just hard to understand unless you're part of the club in a certain respect," said "I {heart} Huckabees" cinematographer Peter Deming. "When people see this clip, particularly if you're not in the film business, they'd think, 'This guy's insane!' But he's not. Things happen when you're in this machine that's been rolling along for several months."

The fight was almost comic in its melodrama, starting with Tomlin griping to Russell about his direction, saying, "We're not all as brilliant as you." Russell soon erupts, sweeping papers off Tomlin's desk, then stomps around, kicks a trash can, tosses a hat stand, storms out screaming, then stomps back in, still yelling. One crew member is seen ducking in the background to avoid flying objects.

Producer Greg Goodman, a longtime friend and producer on "Huckabees" and Russell's earlier film "Three Kings," said the clip was taken out of context.

"He's a very responsible filmmaker who wants to make sure we're coming in on budget," said Goodman. (And indeed, "Huckabees" came in on time and on budget). "He is an individual. You embrace that."

Carnahan said everyone knows Russell has a strong personality and that signing up for one of his films is "you know, in for a penny, in for a pound." "Huckabees" costar Mark Wahlberg and Tomlin herself have worked with Russell more than once.

Most people who know the business acknowledge that movie sets are often pressure cookers and that the directors are usually the first to blow. Sometimes, the argument goes, the creative process demands an ugly outburst. Consider the history of similarly "passionate" directors such as Stanley Kubrick, Sam Peckinpah and James Cameron.

For his part, Russell hasn't talked publicly about the episode since the video surfaced on YouTube last month, and he declined to comment for this article. But Tomlin has come forward to proclaim her enduring love for Russell, and George Clooney, who clashed with Russell during the making of "Three Kings," swiftly dismissed rumors that he was the one who leaked the footage. This week Clooney told Entertainment Weekly that the video was "sneaky" and that it was messing "with people's careers."

Meanwhile, amateur parodies have cropped up online, and recently actors Paul Rudd and Michael Showalter posted their own amusing version of the tantrum on Collegehumor.com.

Friends say Russell isn't too bothered by the publicity.

"His response was to sort of ignore it," said Deming. "Though I'm sure he's sort of disappointed that someone would do this. It's like someone selling naked pictures of Madonna. Things happen during your life, and someone captures it and exploits it."

The existence of the "Huckabees" video was first reported in a 2004 New York Times article, and the clip began circulating among talent agencies in summer 2003. Clearly its most recent release hasn't damaged Russell's career. In the midst of all the online Russell bashing, Columbia Pictures and Red Wagon Pictures announced his latest project: an adaptation of the book "Sammy's Hill" by Kristin Gore, daughter of former Vice President Al Gore.

Doug Wick, founder of Red Wagon Entertainment, said that Kristin Gore "knows him and also felt that he has such a unique comic vision that always kind of finds a reality and heightens it."

Russell made news as a hothead long before this video surfaced. He and Clooney famously came close to choking each other on the 1999 set of "Three Kings." In a 2000 interview in Playboy magazine, Clooney called the shoot "without exception, the worst experience of my life." He went on to say that the director grabbed him by the throat after Clooney confronted Russell about berating the crew, particularly an incident in which he threw an extra to the ground and kicked him.

(Goodman says Russell's reputation for outbursts is just "a bad bounce of the ball" and that the "Three Kings" shoot was high pressure due to the physical demands and filming conditions.)

In 2003, three months before Russell began shooting "Huckabees," Russell reportedly grabbed director Christopher Nolan at a Hollywood party and put him in a headlock because he believed the director was trying to poach Jude Law from his cast of "Huckabees."

As for the leak of the "Huckabees" footage, the culprit behind it is still a mystery. Goodman said there was an attempt back in 2004 to track down the person responsible.

"It's a symptom of technology and a change in our society that really troubles me," said producer Goodman. "It feels like nothing feels safe or private. You can take 30 seconds of the fight and make somebody look like anything you wanted. It would be impossible to show somebody 72 hours of tape, which could really show the nature of the professional relationship, which with Lily and David was largely incredibly positive. On that day in particular, we were back shooting in an hour. They completely reconnected, and we moved on."

Quote from: Deming on April 10, 2007, 10:43:51 PM
Though I'm sure he's sort of disappointed that someone would do this. It's like someone selling naked pictures of Madonna.

what? no. maybe if russell himself had released the clips..

the whole last paragraph is full of other stupid comments.

russell's not that great anyway, he's like the Travis of movies isn't he? that's how i've always thought of him.

Quote from: Pubrick on April 11, 2007, 02:35:49 AM
the whole last paragraph is full of other stupid comments.

russell's not that great anyway, he's like the Travis of movies isn't he? that's how i've always thought of him.

like..."Why does it alway rain on me?" Travis? Yeah, i guess i could see that...