MISCELLANEOUS MISCELLANY

• Not sure how I missed it for so long, but if you want to read some smart writing about film (debateable since you're presently visiting this site), you should definitely check out The High Sign. I found it today thanks to Cynthia, who recommended the site's review of Troy, which I should note is cleverly written in pseudo Homeric blank verse. I'm also particularly fond of the author's insights on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, still my favorite film of the year.

• Eisner speaks, and both Variety (subscription req'd) and indieWIRE (no subscription req'd so go here!) were there. He made som choice comments on several subjects. My favorite is his response to questions regarding the future of the relationship between Disney and Miramax. I'm sure in the ongoing talks over the Weinstein Brothers contracts, I'm not sure which of these comments will help more. The one behind Door #1: "... Miramax is a 100% owned entity of the Walk Disney Company and that's the way we treat it, and by the way, we like it." Or, is it what's behind Door #2, Mike? "They were a little boutique making independent films, they are now more of a major spending a lot more money and these and are ongoing conversations, friendly conversations, with the management of Miramax." (Both quotes from the indieWIRE story.) I'm guessing Harvey and Bob are really excited by the characterization that if it was not for Disney, Miramax would just be "a little boutique." Of course, Eisner's mouth and regular ability to alienate his company's top assets are responsible for the fact that Pixar will be leaving the Disney stable, even if he "won't believe (Disney's relationship with Pixar) is over until it's over." (from the Variety story)

• Also in Variety, "John Lithgow will headline Broadway tuner Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." Lithgow will apparently play the role handled by Michael Caine opposite Norbert Leo Butz (known to Broadway theater-goers, if not the rest of the country, and currently starring in Wicked) in the Steve Martin role. Lithgow is a phenomenal actor, and he won a Tony for taking the lead in another even more truly classic film to be adapted into a musical, Sweet Smell of Success. The show had a talented pedigree of creators with John Guare writing the book and Marvin Hamlisch handling the music. It received horrible reviews, and I never saw it because Tony not-withstanding, the damn thing closed in just three months. Here's hoping Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is given better treatment. On the positive side, David Yazbeck is writing the music and lyrics while Jack O'Brien directs. They are the same people responsible for the quite wonderful adaptation of The Full Monty that played The Great White Way for nearly two years and, for all I know, is still out on tour. They did justice to the film (maybe even bettering it in places), although they did have Terrence McNally writing their book on that one while Jeffrey Lane will handle those duties here.

• Reacting to a cover story in LA Weekly, GreenCine Daily briefly but intelligently ponders the current state of/mourning over the American independent film movement and the recent rise in popularity of documentaries. With all of that in mind, I think I might try to get to Control Room today down at Film Forum.