Cool News
A look at Albert Brooks' THE MUSE and the fantastic RUSHMORE
SPOILER ALERT !!
Hey folks Harry here. Last night they tested Albert Brooks' latest film... THE MUSE and Segue Zagnut (along with Joe Hallenbeck, who will be sending us his comments later on) saw the film in all of it's unfinished splendor. THIS IS NOT THE FINAL CUT. The whole purpose of this screening was for Albert to watch the audience watch his movie, to see what worked and what didn't. Albert will undoubtedly go back into editing to make the timing work. This process, with a comedy is absolutely vital. It's akin to a comedian trying out new material on several stages at many clubs, tweaking his delivery so it's just.... right enough to take the big stage. So the problems you hear here, will in all likelihood be tweaked by the time THE MUSE hits your local screens. Also, Segue sent his RUSHMORE review, which is for a movie that is just wonderful.
Head Geek,
This is Segue Zagnut and I'm not of many words. Last night I saw 'The
Muse',
Albert Brooks' new comedy. NRG screened it on the Warner Brothers lot and
you could not get in if you had not seen at least two of five Brooks'
movies
listed. I am a fan and had seen 4 of the 5 movies. It definitely looked
like a work print, because some edits jumped and the colors were sometimes
uneven from scene to scene, but there were no audience questionnaires to
fill out at the end of the movie. So either this was his final cut (which
I
doubt) or he just wanted to gage crowd reaction. Interestingly, Brooks
actually was the one who did the opening speech preparing us for the
unfinished movie.
This movie is about a reasonably respected screenplay writer (Albert
Brooks)
who, when confronted with what looks like the end of his career, seeks a
woman (Sharon Stone) who claims to be a Muse of Greek god lore, to reclaim
his writing edge. Once he hooks up with her, She takes over his life,
mostly
with constant demands for expensive gifts or odd errands. She even takes
over his wife's life (Andie MacDowell) and his house. He gets very little
time to even be inspired to write. Meanwhile the Muse makes time to help
MacDowell and several major Hollywood players (Martin Scorsese, James
Cameron, Rob Riener, Jeff Bridges), who drop by in often very funny cameos,
find whatever they need. Eventually, she does inspire him to write his
best
script ever and all appears to be well until... we find out she's escaped
from a mental institution and is not actually a muse.
Overall there are very funny scenes but this version of the movie fell
flat.
Why? I think three reasons. Unfortunately only one can be 'fixed' before it
comes out. First, a lot of the humor is industry based. For example, most
of
the cameo
jokes rely on you recognizing the star and knowing their work. I know
Jennifer Tilly was in a movie with a talking doll named Chucky, but do most
people even know who Jennifer Tilly is? This isn't something I'd suggest
should be fixed, but with so much of the humor here, how wide of an
audience
will get it?
Second, Andie MacDowell again proves she is a horrible actress. Sharon
Stone
is great, Brooks excellent, MacDowell... boring. She was good in 'Sex,
Lies..' and, because she was only the straight man, she was acceptable in
'Groundhog's Day'. But who thinks she's funny? Hello... see 'Greencard',
'Hudson Hawk', 'Multiplicity'... should I go on? She is as stiff with
comedy
as Jim Carey is loose. The movie needs chemistry between Stone and
MacDowell that just isn't there.
And Third, and possibly the only part they could fix, the ending sucks.
Well, it is not just the ending, but it could be fixed there. Through out
the movie Jeff Bridges keeps warning "Don't let her too close" "Don't make
her mad", but nothing happens with that. Near the end, we find out she
might
actually be an escaped mental patient, then she vanishes. After that things
go bad for Brooks, his great script turns out to be the same film someone
else is doing and he ends up working a crape sales job. Is this because
she's mad or coincidence? Then suddenly, the evil studio executive been
fired, the other movie is dead, and Brooks' script is back on. It's a happy
ending with Stone turning up as the new studio excessive right at the
end...
so does that mean she actually was a Muse? and if so is she now happy and
that's why things changed? Or what? It would make more sense if she got
mad,
caused the bad things to happen, then when Brooks finds out she might be a
fake he let's her get away and that's why she makes everything end up okay.
At least it is the only way that I can make sense out of it. But I'll be
the first to admit maybe I just didn't get it.
I've said too much.
The RUSHMORE REVIEW
Here my Rushmore review...
Head Geek
I'm Segue Zagnut and I won't say much. I recently saw 'Rushmore'. It opens
nationwide in February or something but was in LA for one week for Oscar.
This film will be a classic. Excellently acted. Healthy supporting roles.
Sarcasm and substance well crafted into a satirical slam dunk. The story is
simple: Max Fisher, a 15 year old boy who has succeeded at everything but
school, decides to conquer a teacher for his first girlfriend.
What makes it brilliant, and it is brilliant, are the details. The way Max
excels in life. The charisma. The symbolic extremes. Small points like what
makes Max choose the teacher. Big points like the obsession of Rushmore.
Jason Schwartzman plays Max perfectly. Innocent but casually confident.
Bill
Murray is understated and yet not subtle. It works. Olivia Williams, who
plays the teacher, is a real person that grounds the film, keeping it from
turning ridicules. Writer/Director Wes Anderson made an original comedy
with
timing and style.
I saw a trailer for this weeks ago and the trailer made it look typical and
stupid. Ignore it, because twenty years from now people will look back at
'Rushmore' like they do 'Harold and Maude' or the 'The Graduate'
I've said too much.
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+ Expand All
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I am sad to say that AICN was not nominated for a Webby Award for the best Film site? However, COMING ATTRACTIONS and DARK HORIZONS were nominated. Others that were nominated were Film.com, IMDB, & someother site in Ireland. Harry, don't know why you were overlooked. Maybe it is the Talkback, Maybe it's Hallenback, or maybe it's because you were in the Faculty. Who the hell knows.
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As I'm not a fan of Brooks, I won't say much on that. His works always seem like good ideas gone bad. A lot like some of the bad Woody Allen films. As for RUSHMORE, I CAN"T WAIT TO SEE IT! Bill Murray is one of the funniest men alive and I have been waiting years for him to do a great movie. From the sounds of things this is it.
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Don't listen to them when they tell you to get rid of Hallenbeck, especially the moron who says that he'll be "forced" to read another review by him. You're not forced to do anything on this site. You visit it because you like it, or because you like to bitch about things that are better than you. While Hallenbeck may be an asshole (I don't think so...I like him, and his reviews), he happens to get into a lot of stuff, and to provide us with a lot of very useful information. And Harry...don't stop telling us your life story. Above all, that's what separates this site from others...there's a human being writing the reviews, so you can see how the movie relates to someone real instead of other movies. Even though I may disagree with what you say, you write exactly why you liked it. And I know plenty of people who cried in Armeggeddon...it's weird, but hey...it takes all kinds.
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I have to agree with Joe Banks...I can't wait for Rushmore. There are three films that I haven't seen that I would kill my family to see and those movies are: Eyes Wide Shut, Rushmore, and The Thin Red Line. Interesting mix, huh? Two recluse directors and an oddball. Is Harry gonna review Rushmore? He said it was wonderful, is that first-hand knowledge? PLEASE HARRY, TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON!!
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Hi, how ya doin'? Long time lurker, first time berserker.
What the hell is the idea of letting that FOOL Segue give away the ending of The Muse?! Thanks a lot, pal! Harry, you're usually good about posting spoiler warnings, but you totally blew it on this one. I'm an Albert fan, bigtime, and was looking forward to The Muse. Of course, now that I know the fucking ending, I may as well save my $7.50. Merci RIEN, mon ami!
As for Mighty Joe HowlinSchmuck--his reviews make me laugh, whether or not I agree with his sorry ass. Sure, he thinks Armageddon's a good movie, which means he's a retard, but your site SHOULD hire the handicapped--it's SO much fun to laugh at'em!!
And don't worry about winning awards. I don't hit AICN to find out how many fucking awards you win. I don't give a shit. I just wanna know about what flicks is comin' at me.
Rushmore is VERY cool, BTW.
OB out.
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Keep on posting Harry, keep on using Hallenbeck. Hell you could post gibberish and I'd read it. This is your site do whatever the hell you want to do with it.
saccharine -
I know you videophiles probably already HAVE seen it, but if for any reason you haven't and are excited about Rushmore -- rent and watch Bottle Rocket. It is SUCH an under-rated movie.
It is even available on DVD these days... -
Yeah, Harry, you need to change your site into another cookie-cutter movie news site so you can get awards! So, what are you waiting for? Get rid of all the stuff that differentiates you from the award-winning sites.
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Hmmm... Director Wes Anderson actually wrote "Rushmore" with his friend, Owen Wilson (Armageddon, Anaconda) who also co-wrote "Bottle Rocket" with him as well. Both Anderson and Wilson are very good writers.
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Okey dokey.... a few things today, kiddies. First up, is it possible to make those spoiler warning a BIT larger or obvious? For cripes sakes, I've SEEN (and reviewed) The Muse and I'm STILL pissed off that the dinglehopper gave away the ending. Not to mention.. (and this brings me to my second point)... he criticizes that ending... without even understanding what happened. And, of course, because I also help lil old ladies across the street, I must now explain it for him. But for those of you who somhow managed to avoid learning the ending in the first place.. stop reading now. SPOILER AHEAD: Okay, Segue (or whatever) seemed to comprehend that Sharon Stone's character, Sarah, had escaped from a mental institution. He then appears perplexed to find her as the studio executive at the very end. Um, did you listen when they were explaining her multiple personality disorder? While she was "the muse", she really thought she was the muse... (she's cuckoo, you see...)... and then that last bit... she had switched personalities... and was now Christine, the studio exec. Get it now? Work better for ya? Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the irony (or insight, depending on how you look at it) involved in having Hollywood's best projects of the last few years having been "inspired" by a crackpot looney toon. But that's just me. SPOILER DONE! I would like to reiterate how much I loved this film. The industry jokes work. If a Supporting Actress Oscar Nominated woman like Jennifer Tilly is unrecognizable to some poor slob.... fuck 'em.
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Harry, Do you even bother to read the Forum postings?
There were a number of reviews of RUSHMORE posted a few weeks back that were quite well written, thoughtful and intelligent, and didn't come off like the free-association of a third grader.
RUSHMORE was one of the best films of the year featuring a SUBTLE performance from Bill Murray, a wonderful 60's Britrock soundtrack (The Who, Kinks, Them, etc.) and a dazzling performance from Jason Schwartzman, as Max, who is actress Talia Shire's son, by the way.
Max's school theatre productions (featuring The Max Fisher Players) produce a number of staggering bizarre revivals of motion pictures(!), such as "Serpico" and "Apocalypse Now", if you can believe it.
And, Max's delusions of grandeur don't allow him to just create an intramural dodgeball club, but, rather, "The Rushmore Bombardment Society".
For eight months, I thought "There's Something about Mary" would be the best comedy I saw all year...then in the middle of Dec. I saw RUSHMORE and viewed an instant classic, which brilliantly recaptured the madcap zanniness of the best of the 1960's teen comedies.
"Bottle Rocket" and "Rushmore" back to back...WOW!
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I caught a DC screening of
Rushmore last month.
I actually thought I was seeing Thin Red Line, but they showed this instead...I was psyched because of all the good hype I had swallowed regarding this film. And believe me, the first twenty minutes did not disappoint. It was very creative, very hactic, and extremely funny. Then, suddenly, the film gets it feet stuck in a big ole puddle of quicksand and goes NOWHERE. I was pissed! It somehow managesto pick up the pace for the last 15 minutes, mirroring the start of the film, but by then, it's hard to care. Yes, Bill Murray is awesome...probably his best role. In genereal, though, the film fails to deliver on all the hoopla surrounding it.
A damn shame..... -
AICN is the only movie site I read every day, the others are just noise on the signal, repeating the Hollywood spew. It's the only site with real community, even if the invective tends towards the criminally insane at times. Good work fatboy, stay real, we like you as you are. Another Austinite.
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Hey, Future Man, thanks for the tip about Bottle Rocket. And thanks to Pips Orcle for theOwen Wilson info. Geez, that guy wrote Armageddon?! Fuck ME! That was a stupid fuckin' flick! The same guy?!
Oh, and Tony C? You see "Mighty Joe HowlinSchmuck" on an article head and you HAVE to read it? Excuse me while I turn my head discreetly aside and PUKE!
Thanks to Twilight for da info on Schwartzman being T. Shire's son. And to Pennifer for the remarks on the spilling of the Rushmore beans and that good explanation of what was really goin' on with the Muse.
And thanks to all of you for knowing how to use the English language and using your fucking spellcheckers!! You guys are AWESOME!!
OB down the road . . . -
She's not that bad of an actress. Even though I hated the movie "Michael", the most entertaing person in that whole film was Andie .
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Harry warned of the spoilers on the main page, next time I'll put it in the review. As for 'The Muse'... I got the multiple personality plot, it's pretty hard to miss, but if that's all there is then it's Boring and Predictable (You know like Andie MacDowell's acting)...It's all just a dream... It's a safe save to get Brooks to a quick end. Is this movie actually magical... or just someone escaped from a mental institution. Brooks is a great writer and he's smart enough to make this better. You know, take a chance. I'll bet he changes it... so I guess maybe there are no spoilers here after all.
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I thought Segue Zagnut's news was pretty cool. He/she should't be responsible for Harry not posting a big blinking SPOILER! sign for all you retards. Get real! What is everyone here for? I also agree with Zagnut about "industry based" films. Films like THE PLAYER, GET SHORTY, BURN HOLLYWOOD BURN and a ton of others. They always make me sick to death. I hate to see Hollywood so starved for good ideas that they have to start making films about themsleves. Even if they are making fun of themselves! Movies are only about celebs and studios on the surface. When it gets down to it, (despite Harry's grand ideal) it's the actual movie that counts. Maybe Albert Brooks, like Altman, Elmore Leonard, and that SHOWGIRLS guy (Highest paid schlock-screenwriter in the world and oh-so mad as fuck at Hollywood) should just leave Hollywood and quit bitching about it being such a damn hard life. Of course, I haven't seen Brooks' new flick. Maybe he stabbed a new vein in the "criticizing Hollywood for laughs" genre. Maybe a vein that hasn't already been Mike Myer'd to death a million times on this very web site. Hollywood celebs venting their career anger on me is not what I want to see. I'd rather pay to see some 400 pound steel worker tell me how shitty his wifes meatloaf is.
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To the Obnoxious ... ahem, Bitch, Owen Wilson didn't write 'Armageddon,' he only acted in it. He acted in and co-wrote 'Bottle Rocket' which I agree is wonderful and underrated. (And, of note to you Harry, Wilson and Wes Anderson are fellow Texans.)
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Can't Wait. It's the second most
anticipated movie for me in this new year. Bottle Rocket, well, ROCKED.
It's great to hear that Murray has
already gotten several mentions
as best supporting actor.
Can't wait to see the trailer, hear the music, and see another
movie by Wes Anderson.
BTW, anyone hear if there will be
a full release of the Elfman
Psycho score?
Apple-Jack
"Oh my heart..."
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