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Moriarty reports on MYSTERY MEN, SUPERSTAR and CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND!!!!
Harry here with a short intro. I'll be doing more updates later today most likely, but right now I'm just dead tired. If ya have to blame some one, blame that dang Orson Welles. After watching his cut of TOUCH OF EVIL, me and my buds hung out talking about the film and the stupidity of idiotic studio chiefs that stand between a great film and a great film. Ahhhh... Anyway, I'll leave you in the capable hands of the most evil of all spies... Moriarty...
Hey, Head Geek...
“Moriarty” here.
Like all evil geniuses, I was once a budding genius, a kid, a mere
suggestion of what I have eventually become. For me, childhood was the
‘70s, a time that I have unbridled affection for, a time that shaped my
tastes and my ambitions. It was in those days that I saw STAR WARS, THE
EXORCIST, JAWS, and A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. It was in those days that I
read my first John Irving novel. And it was in those days that I first
watched SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.
In those late-’70s glory days, SNL was a show of unlimited potential and
real brains. Writers like Alan Zweibel, Michael O’ Donoghue, Al Franken
and Tom Davis, Tom Schiller, and Anne Beatts were all turning out really
wonderful work that tried to etch real characters and comment on who we
were, where we were at that moment. There was a sense that anything
could happen with these people. The on-air talent was up to the task,
too. Those original Not Ready For Prime Time Players (Belushi, Aykroyd,
Chase, Newman, Curtin, Murray, Radner, Morris) were working at the peak
of their form, and there was some indelible work done. As the ‘70s came
to a close, the show crashed and burned, and it’s never really recovered
since. Yes, there have been some powerful comedic talents to emerge
from the show since then. That’s almost inevitable, though. If you’re
any good and you’re willing to fight for your screentime, SNL is still a
unique showcase for actors, and the show’s alumni continue to make their
mark on the industry for better and for worse. For every unfortunate
NIGHT AT THE ROXBURY or BLUES BROTHERS 2000, there is still a SOMETHING
ABOUT MARY or AUSTIN POWERS.
I had moment to reflect on this recently as I took survey of where many
of the more interesting SNL alumni are at the moment. Jon Lovitz is
onscreen in the outstanding HAPPINESS (my pick as the year’s best so
far) in a great, memorable little supporting performance. I just sent
you my review on next spring’s LIFE with Eddie Murphy. I’m dying to see
Robert Downey Jr. in IN DREAMS since the script is such a powerful,
strange story. In particular, though, there are a couple of alumni
whose upcoming projects I’ve had a glimpse inside.
A while ago, I wrote you a review of the Michael Tolkin script for 20
BILLION, a project that Mike Myers flirted with briefly before dropping
in favor of AUSTIN POWERS 2 and SPROCKETS, a feature length treatment of
Dieter, host of the German public access show, as he takes a journey in
search of his missing monkey. In that review, I urged Myers to take
chances with his career. I compared him to Peter Sellers, a comparison
that I stand behind. His work in the original director’s cut of 54 (a
very different movie than what played theaters) is very good, even if
the movie is still flawed. As funny as he is, I believe he’s capable of
more than “just” comedy, and am delighted to see that he has officially
signed for the feature film version of Chuck Barris’ “unauthorized
autobiography” CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND.
Adapted by Charlie Kaufman, this is a surreal, funny, grotesque, and
fascinating trip through the life and psyche of Barris, known to most
people as the creator of shows like THE DATING GAME and THE GONG SHOW,
which he also hosted. Barris confesses, though, that he led another,
darker life, one in which he wrestled with sexual confusion, fear of
intimacy, a dangerously violent temper, and (last but definitely not
least) his longtime employment by the CIA as a dangerous assassin.
Barris confesses 33 total murders over the course of his career and
details many of the more memorable ones here. This material isn’t
remotely played for laughs, and the character of the older Barris
reflecting back on this ruined life is a horrible, pathetic figure, a
broken man trying to reclaim some control of his soul. I have
absolutely no idea what to make of anything in this script as far as
fact goes, and I absolutely 100% don’t care. As a story, as a character
study, this thing works. This is one of the best scripts I’ve read in a
long, long time. I read so many screenplays, Harry, that they do tend
to blur a bit as they go by. It takes something special -- some nicely
built piece of action or some effective, evocative description to make
me take notice. Rarely does the actual story hook me so completely that
I have to rip through the whole thing, cover to cover, desperate to find
out what will happen. This script never stops surprising or rewarding
the reader. I don’t know who’s directing this film, or who will be cast
around Myers, but they’ve got their work cut out for them. As far as
Mike goes, he’s a brilliant choice for Barris. This could be his step
up into the big leagues, his invitation to the Oscars. I’m surprised
how much I loved this script. It’s of the Alexander/Karasziewski school
of biopic writing, sprawling and eccentric, but it is even bolder than
anything they’ve done. Maybe it’s the material Kaufman had to work
with. Certainly it’s better than the other scripts by Kaufman I’ve read
(his BEING JOHN MALKOVICH gives me hives in particular). Whatever’s
responsible, this project is one to keep your eyes peeled for.
It’s much easier to make the call on AUSTIN POWERS 2: THE SPY WHO
SHAGGED ME. Written with Mike McCullers, the script for this film is a
home-run. It’s funnier than the original, with more room for the
relationship between Dr. Evil and his son Scott, and with a greater
sense of what’s funny about Austin. This thing is wild, all over the
map, and pretty much spares no effort in making you laugh. It’s a
rewarding read, and I can imagine it’s going to get even funnier in
production. Heather Graham, Kristen Johnson, and that Elizabeth Hurley
cameo guarantee it’s going to make me randy, baby, and multiple roles
for Myers always equals fun.
Another cast member is taking the route Myers did to make their big move
into film, translating one of their recurring sketches into a feature
length movie. WAYNE’S WORLD is one of the few examples of this working
to any degree. THE BLUES BROTHERS is probably the best example. Video
stores are bloated with the corpses of failed attempts, though, with A
NIGHT AT THE ROXBURY being just the latest stillbirth and IT’S PAT being
the most notorious. It’s a hard road to go, and it takes the right
character to make the transition right.
Molly Shannon might just have one of those characters with Mary
Katherine Gallagher, the Catholic schoolgirl whose unfortunate
combination of nervous hyperactivity, poor personal hygeine, and desire
for stardom all combine to make her the subject of SUPERSTAR. This film
is set to be directed by Bruce McCulloch, one of the members of the
great Kids In The Hall comedy troupe, and the one responsible for most
of the filmed segments on that show. His feature debut is making the
festival rounds right now, a romantic comedy (although a
more-skewed-than-average one) called DOGPARK, with Janeane Garafolo and
a very capable cast I can’t remember right now (he says sheepishly).
I’ve heard good things about that film, and that bodes well for
SUPERSTAR, the screenplay for which is like a slightly more cartoonish
WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE. It’s suprisingly bleak stuff, and suggests
that this isn’t going to be your average SNL film. It’s warped, it’s
mean, and Mary Katherine actually holds up as a character. Her quest to
be a superstar is oddly touching, even if it is also deeply sad. When I
mentioned those classic former writers from SNL, Anne Beatts was one of
the ones I listed. Her specialty was writing accurate voices for
girls. She and Rosie Schuster wrote a wonderful slumber party sketch
for the week Madeline Khan was the host that perfectly captures a time,
a place, and a specific voice. The best moments in SUPERSTAR suggest
that same thing. The script does need work. It’s strong enough to do
without some of the “wacky” humor. If this is filmed properly and
tweaked enough, this could be a special little film.
Finally, there’s the next picture of this year’s hottest SNL alumn, Ben
Stiller. True, his stint there was marked by frustration and cut short
when he quit, but he still counts. His two BEN STILLER SHOWs were both
great sketch comedy that showed his fondness for the form. He is such a
successful character actor right now because he is able to vanish,
immersing himself totally in each of his characters. He’s also willing
to do anything if it’s right for the role. He seems to have no ego, no
fear. He’s able to slip between comedy and drama with ease, as the best
of the SNL grads are. There’s a little bit of all of these facets of
his that will come into play when he steps in front of the camera for
THE MYSTERY MEN.
Based on Bob Burden’s underground superhero spoof, this screenplay by
Neil Cuthbert is outstanding. It’s a loving tribute to the idea of the
superhero league, but it’s also a really funny goof on the very idea of
superheroes themselves. There’s not a bad role in this thing. Stiller
is playing Mr. Furious, a guy who is really mad all the time. Fellow
SNL alumn Janeane Garaolo (who’s impossibly busy, it seems) plays The
Bowler, daughter of the original Bowler, who was killed on duty.
William Macy is The Shoveler, Hank Azaria is The Blue Raja (Master of
Silverware), and Claire Forlani is the beautiful Monica, a local
waitress they befriend. None of these people actually has any
superpowers. They’re just determined and a little demented. In fact,
only Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear) actually has superpowers, and he
doesn’t really want to share the spotlight with pretenders. When
Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush) and his evil
psychiatrist/nurse/lover Anabel (Leno Olin) launch a crimewave that
Captain Amazing can’t stop, it’s up to this group of bizarre almost
heroes to step up.
This film is well aware of the cliches inherent to this story, and it
plays off of that brilliantly. With the right visual design and effects
team, this could be a film that all comic lovers embrace and love. It’s
one part love letter to comics, one part letter bomb. I love the
combination. The only thing I can’t figure is why it took so long to
find a director for this. The script is so good that people should have
been fighting to be onboard.
Anyway, the morning repeat of KIDS IN THE HALL is almost on, and I need
to watch my MR. SHOW tape from last night, and my roommate’s asking me
if he can borrow the UPRIGHT CITIZEN’S BRIGADE tape, and it suddenly
occurs to me that sketch comedy is alive and well, even if we find it at
more addresses than ever before.
“Moriarty” out.
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I dunno, this sounds like a great film to me. Perhaps it is my fondness for comic book ridicule (not that I don't love comics)... all I can say is: Great Lakes Avengers, anyone??
Justin Sane -
Kudos to Moriarty for yet another insightful, articulate composition. Harry, you should give this guy his own colum
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I've read "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" in it's book form and it's truely a bizarre piece of work. Barris talks about how he used his Gong Show persona as a cover for his activity as an international assassin for the CIA, among other strange tales. This is a story that Milos Forman could hit out of the park with the help of Myers.
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Oh, I get it.
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First of all, I think Moriarty must be one of the only regular contributors to this site who actually has a grasp of how to use the English language. Bless you, Mor, for your articulate prose. Also, I almost skipped this article altogether - it's title on the main page is completely wrong. This piece is about sketch comedians and their range and capabilities (as well as lack of). The suggestion to give Moriarty his own column makes sense to me. Then you wouldn't have to sell his stuff as "reports on ". In any event, that was the best read I've had in a long time. Grazi, mon ami.
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is it me or does Morarity's "reviews" get better and better...this is one talented guy...although I don't always agree with him(in fact I more often then not I agree with Hallenback) I find Morarity's pieces fun, insightful, and an excellent read...keep up the good work and I think a Morarity column would be great
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Si, por su puesto! Moriarty is a pleasure, and give Hallenbeck a desk with his own name, too. Like the best writers, it's not so much the subject as it is how you address it.
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The mystery Men originally appeared as the supporting cast to The Flaming Carrot (which is the funniest comic of any kind that has ever been written [It'll make you pee your pants with glee]) so now that the Mystery Men have their own movie coming out, where the hell is the Flaming Carrot?
Was his costume to difficult to create (which was a big carrot mask with a jet of flame coming out of the top and a pair of flippers) or was he just not marketable? Anyone who knows more than I do about the ommitance of the Carrot please reply. -
I can't wait for this film. The talent on board is incredibly. Has Stiller *really* done a bad movie yet? Some might offer up Cable Guy, but it wasn't a truly bad film. SUPERSTAR is another one I'll be looking forward to. Not a year ago was I berating over the state of sketch comedy...but my faith is renewed. Saturday Night Live is getting better and better, Upright Citizen's Brigade and Mad T.V. are both hilarious (check out the Mrs. Swan skit on Mad T.V.)...one can only hope for a Kids In The Hall reunion! Brain Candy is one of my favorite films. Keep it coming Moriarty.
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Yeah, considering the cast I knew the script must just ROCK- but Kinka Usher? Kinka Usher? Kinka Usher? Stiller was approached to direct, but who the hell is this guy, another ego-expanded MTV'er?
Moriarity doesn't mention Paul Reubens either... my word, this cast is amazing, one of three in-development films I'm looking forward to based on that alone (others being Haunting of Hill House and P.T. Anderson's Magnolia). -
Moriarty did provide a great report. I would love to see more of these. Script reviews...the works. Good job.
Also, to those who wonder about Kinka Usher...another site reported that he directed the two year old commercial where the GI Joe-like doll picks up the Barbie-like doll and the Ken-like doll is left behind.
MYSTERY MEN should be a treat. -
I hear that the teaser being put together is amazing. What has Moriarty heard? This guy should be running production for a studio. I'm guessing it will be on some New Line Thanksgiving pic.
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Feb 22, 2000 3:10:54 PM CST
Being John Malkovich gives you hives?!?! Superstar is "special"?
by darthjoe
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