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VinzoGinzo Tells Us Whether The George Clooney Directed LEATHERHEADS Is A Touchdown Or A Foul!!
Merrick here...
Another reader sent in his thoughts after a recent screening of LEATHERHEADS, a depression-era footballer which stars (and is co-written and directed by) Geroge Clooney.
It also has photography by Newton Thomas Sigel (SUPERMAN RETURNS, X2, and the upcoming VALKYRIE) and a score by Randy Newman.
The film opens in December.
Went to a screening in Edgewater of the new George Clooney-Renee Zelwegger flickety flick LEATHER HEADS.
To encapsulate, its is basically A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN mixed in with a Katherine Hepburn flick like, I dunno - HIS GIRL FRIDAY?
Know what? Its good. Like I didn't leave the theater after half hour of Clooney mugging for the camera good.
Basically Clooney's team, the Decatur Bulldogs(?), are ding so piss poor that the players have to go back to their depression era day jobs and Clooney - the Captian - schemes to get this kid played by Jon Krasinski who was supposedly a war hero -- bought on to the team to revive interest.
At the same time, Renee Zelwegger plays a reporter out to to do a hatchet job on Krasinski - who may not be the hero everyone thinks.
...and who cares anymore about the plot.
THE GOOD: well paced, well honed tone that is self referential silly but incredibly endearing and unpretentious (especially after super self serious GOOD NIGHT and GOOD LUCK, CHUCK).
Krasinski is actually a good dufus/hunk - playing it straight. And how very tall!
Mostly though - its all about Zelwegger and Clooney - FANTASTIC! Born to play off each other in wisacre modes/God given chemistry/easy, unforced playfulness...really, its about time they got together. Renee is the a greta comedienne that we haven't seen in action for years - good to see her back working it.
THE BAD: I don't care about the depression. How does that resonate today? Keep light on your political toes, George - you'll be just fine. Otherwise, I don't care about your silly odes to American suffering and media ignorance -- poor you! A small gripe but I have to share it...
But really, you can't say Clooney isn't a filmmaker. This thing doesn't exactly have $100 million box office written all over it but it IS a real quality work. He knows what he's doing. And NEVER tries too hard which I appreciate.
Maybe this is slotted for award season - I can see it getting some traction there....for sure.
Go see this come November (?) despite the old Spike Jonze songs on the soundtrack.
This thing's a winner.
VinzoGinzo
To encapsulate, its is basically A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN mixed in with a Katherine Hepburn flick like, I dunno - HIS GIRL FRIDAY?
Know what? Its good. Like I didn't leave the theater after half hour of Clooney mugging for the camera good.
Basically Clooney's team, the Decatur Bulldogs(?), are ding so piss poor that the players have to go back to their depression era day jobs and Clooney - the Captian - schemes to get this kid played by Jon Krasinski who was supposedly a war hero -- bought on to the team to revive interest.
At the same time, Renee Zelwegger plays a reporter out to to do a hatchet job on Krasinski - who may not be the hero everyone thinks.
...and who cares anymore about the plot.
THE GOOD: well paced, well honed tone that is self referential silly but incredibly endearing and unpretentious (especially after super self serious GOOD NIGHT and GOOD LUCK, CHUCK).
Krasinski is actually a good dufus/hunk - playing it straight. And how very tall!
Mostly though - its all about Zelwegger and Clooney - FANTASTIC! Born to play off each other in wisacre modes/God given chemistry/easy, unforced playfulness...really, its about time they got together. Renee is the a greta comedienne that we haven't seen in action for years - good to see her back working it.
THE BAD: I don't care about the depression. How does that resonate today? Keep light on your political toes, George - you'll be just fine. Otherwise, I don't care about your silly odes to American suffering and media ignorance -- poor you! A small gripe but I have to share it...
But really, you can't say Clooney isn't a filmmaker. This thing doesn't exactly have $100 million box office written all over it but it IS a real quality work. He knows what he's doing. And NEVER tries too hard which I appreciate.
Maybe this is slotted for award season - I can see it getting some traction there....for sure.
Go see this come November (?) despite the old Spike Jonze songs on the soundtrack.
This thing's a winner.
VinzoGinzo
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+ Expand All
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...not
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Compare the two, and you'll see what I mean...
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I don't buy it...Dwight could kick his ass...
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I betcha.
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Gotta say it.
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what happened here? don't you people want an actor-president who's liberal, progressive and even smart?
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But hey, who doesn't like George, right? And Good Night and Good Luck was a swell little film.
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I'd watch Bratz if Clooney directed it.
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was the I'm Shy review posted again?
and was the previous Wes Anderson article posted twice? -
Sep 06, 2007 9:17:00 AM CDT
I like Clooney as an actor, but I love him as director!
by derlanghaarige
Seriously! I even will watch this movie, although it's because of the american depression and football!
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There were some moment in which I though you talk about "The Return Of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre", just because of Zellweger + Leathersomething.
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Were is the edit button? Every site has one!
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This says more about you, and today's audiences, than it does about this or any other movie.
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What the hell? I don't CARE about the depression? I am with person 246, this is a sad fucking state of affairs. What a shoddily written review as well. Are there any standards for submitted reviews, or does one just have to claim to have seen the movie?
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sounds like a gay frenchie to me.
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I read that and thought I just misread it, reread it again...WHAT THE HELL!? I know You meant Good Night and Good Luck, but typing good Luck Chuck??
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as part of the production was filmed in our county seat and it's being exported to the rest of the world. Seriously, it sounds like a fun movie, and while here in NC George was nothing but the gentleman that he is. So I hear. But then again, I'm from NC and will believe most anything.
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Good Night and Good Luck Chuck? I don't care about the Depression? Oh So Tall? Sounds like it was written by a transvestite with severe ADD.
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ever posted. You don't have to throw up everything guys.
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The film takes place in 1925, which was well before the Great Depression. That said, I want to see this. When does the trailer come out?
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And if you're too young, naive, hateful, or just plain stupid to realize that, it's your loss.
You know, I'll bet you motherfuckers just don't like the name "Randy"...
Ever hear the Randy Newman album GOOD OLD BOYS? It's a lot better than Panic At The Disco, folks... -
line as a joke.(i.e. thers a movie coming out w/that title)???!!!
These reviews are perfectly fine. Its you self serious nerds that are annoying. And I'll be honest - I'd prefer my football comedies w/out a failed economy to bring the tone down too!
Sheesh, you people are in need of help. Get a life. -
I thought of Clooney's work with the Coens, and the possible influence. And I think Zellwegger is perfect for period films ( ie Chicago, Cinderella Man ) with her pinched kewpie doll face. And I think Clooney is an old school nostalgic. So will this be screwball funny, charming funny, or just plain not funny?
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The Natural score gives me friggin goosebumps whenever I hear it.
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"...Whether LEATHERHEADS Is A Touchdown Or A Fumble!!"
(seems like a no-brainer to me) -
Seriously, especially the first one. What kind of scum simply "doesn't care" about the depression?
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Hepburn was never in His Girl Friday...nice try though. She did her share of romantic comedies.
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first of all, I don't think it's meant as a joke, maybe it is, if it is, it's a piss poor joke. Jokes and sarcasm are often hard to detect espically on this siteand 2nd of all...I don't know if coming on a movie geek website, reading the story, then the talkbacks, then logging in and posting that we are a bunch of nerds and need to get a life isn't similar to the pot calling the kettle black
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Even in the NFL until the 60s and massive TV money, football was a part time job for the players. 'Concrete Charlie' Bednarik got his nickname because he sold cement in the off season.
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...in the ninth paragraph? Anyone else notice this?
Sigh, I hate being a former news editor. I can't focus on stories anymore. -
do he and Renee give each other longing glances and have flirty conversations only to have it go nowhere by the end of the movie?
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Don't you fuckin' nerds ever realize that football has PENALTIES and not FOULS??? I guess you were too busy getting stuffed in your locker to play sports. And have you ever kissed a girl???
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simply criticizing everyone else's criticisms. So I take back 'you all' and just say to him - Hey nasty little bitch - get a fucking life!
"truly up there..." WHAT A PUSSY. -
Had the title read "touchdown or personal foul" it would have sounded much better.
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Gee, showing your lack of intelligence there, sport. That sounds truly ignorant. That's like, "I don't care about the Holocaust." Ugh.
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This movie was about the start of the NFL, Professional Football in the United States. That was the original core premise.
Anyway, I was an extra in the movie...some articles on the experience of filming can be found at www.mediamensch.com and also on www.TheClooneyProject.com
The film is by Universal (NBC) so expect it to be promoted on Sunday Night Football. It releases right after the Thanksgiving weekend and just prior to the start of all the college bowl games...so the marketing is perfect. -
Was there a scene where a player was carried off the field on a stretcher?...Just asking...as I was the sideline photographer in that scene.
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I laughed for five minutes.
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Hate to get picky, but, KH wasn't in 'HGF' That was Cary Grant (who GC so desperately wants to be) and Rosalind Russell. One of the best comedies ever made.
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