Out of Focus

TCM WATCH: THE BEST OF THE THREE MOVIES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEAT ROCKY FOR BEST PICTURE

Before all you Rocky lovers get on my case, yes, it's a great movie. But does anyone remember the films Rocky beat out for the Oscar in 1977? Bound for Glory. All the President's Men. Taxi Driver. And most ridiculously, Network.

Rocky is one of the best feel-good underdog movies ever, but it's hard to believe that even without the time for hindsight that it doesn't stand up to All the President's Men or the brilliant Taxi Driver. But even the Scorsese freak that I am puts his film slightly lower on my list of all-time favorites than Sidney Lumet's brilliant Network from a script by Paddy Chayefsky that could not have been more prescient.

You've never seen Network? Now's your chance. My favorite channel will be showing Network late this Saturday night (2:30 AM Eastern/11:30 PM Pacific), and I encourage you to watch or record it. Even if you have seen it before, watch it again. I've probably watched Network at least 10-15 times, and every time I watch it, I continue to not only see new things in the film, but I'm repeatedly amazed at how Chayefsky predicted the modern state of television a good 15 years before it happened.

Writing about a television world still limited to major broadcast networks, before cable became widespread and a world in which network news still had a major voice because even CNN was not quite a gleam yet in Ted Turner's eye, Chayefsky still managed to create a story that foretold the blurring of news and entertainment. He created reality television at a time when most of the first Real World cast were barely out of diapers. He invented a nightly news program that included commentary and other non strictly-news elements, away from the single anchor behind a desk format utilized for so many years. CEO Arthur Jensen's (Ned Beatty) speech to tortured, terrified and possibly schizophrenic anchorman Howard Beale (posthumous Oscar winner Peter Finch) is more relevant now than it was nearly 30 years ago when it was written. In fact, it's so brilliant, I have to give you most of it here:

It is the international system of currency which determines the vitality of life on this planet. THAT is the natural order of things today. THAT is the atomic and subatomic and galactic structure of things today. And YOU have meddled with the primal forces of nature. And YOU WILL ATONE. Am I getting through to you, Mr. Beale? You get up on your little 21-inch screen and howl about America, and democracy. There is no America; there is no democracy. There is only IBM, and ITT, and AT&T, and DuPont, Dow, Union Carbide, and Exxon. Those are the nations of the world today.

You have meddled with the primal forces of nature, Mr. Beale, and I won't have it. Is that clear? You think you've merely stopped a business deal? That is not the case. The Arabs have taken billions of dollars out of this country, and now they must put it back. It is ebb and flow, tidal gravity. It is ecological balance. You are an old man who thinks in terms of nations and peoples. There are no nations; there are no peoples. There are no Russians. There are no Arabs. There are no third worlds. There is no West. There is only one holistic system of systems; one vast, interwoven, interacting, multivaried, multinational dominion of dollars.

Take my word for it, Network is one of the best movies you'll ever see, and while it has a great reputation, I'd still claim that it's vastly underrated. But then again, don't take my word for it, because TCM is providing that vital service it fulfills so well this Saturday night, and giving you an easy way to see it for yourself.

AT LEAST THE RIGHT GUY WON THIS TIME

Sorry to take so long to get around to this, but I actually had to force myself to rewatch a few bits here and there of the last two IFC's Ultimate Film Fanatic episodes before writing this latest recap/critique/what-have-you. Before I took it upon myself to completely trash elements of the third episode, I wanted to make sure I remembered specific lines and moments accurately. You see, I've come to the abrupt realization that for some silly reason, you people care about my criticisms of this show. (Or, in the case of the cinetrix who lives without cable, I am her only hope in following this all-important event through its endgame.) In fact, I even received an email from one of the first two episodes' robbed contestants thanking me for bringing to light the extremely important issue of how rigged the outcome of each contest seems to be.

This week, I'm going to place a little emphasis on the writing of UFF because quite simply, it blows. I don't expect it to improve during this run since all these shows were pre-taped, probably on the same day, some weeks ago. But maybe, as I requested in last week's open letter, some producer will see the error of his ways and improve this show by utilizing a little bit of thought and common sense in order to give the IFC viewer and true film fanatic the game show he/she wants and deserves. (Do you hear me Mark Cronin? That means to create a show without cannibalizing on the WWOR Howard Stern TV Show that gave you your start, or even your own series Mr. Beat the Geeks, which seems to be your practice.)

This week's episode were the Midwest regional semifinals. Noticeably, the six semifinalists included three women, which is three times as many as made it to the previous two episodes combined. But that's not the show's fault, is it? I guess women in the Midwest just have more time to watch movies, or something. Who knows.

I'M THINKING THIS SHOULD PISS OFF BOTH THE LITERATI AND CINEASTES, SO LET'S ALL MOURN TOGETHER WHILE SINGING KUMBAYAH

Variety reports today that Barry Sonnenfeld plans to direct a filmed adaptation of Don DeLillo's "White Noise."

Please no. Or how can I say it differently? No! Maybe ... hmmm ... NO! I've long been pained by the news that Brian De Palma is directing an adaptation one of my all-time favorite novels -- James Ellroy's "The Black Dahlia" – with an absurdly inappropriate cast of Mark (sigh) Wahlburg, Josh (Oy!) Hartnett and Scarlett (I-love-her-but-not-in-this) Johannson, but at least I hold out some hope that the stylish and interesting De Palma with some sense of storytelling, the guy who made Carrie, Body Double, The Untouchables and Casualties of War – might show up rather than the purely hack parody of himself De Palma of Mission to Mars, Snake Eyes and Femme Fatale.

But I have absolutely no such hope that the visually interesting but story-impaired Sonnenfeld is anywhere near being capable of adapting the incredibly complex and oblique narrative that is "White Noise" – a book I love – into a satisfying film. I fear way too much Men in Black and Addams Family influence -- particularly visually -- popping in to create an absolute mess of a film.

I'm not trying to blindly criticize Sonnenfeld. I've enjoyed his films, and he has a wonderful eye which is why he was such a fantastic DP. With Get Shorty, he even came dangerously close to actually putting storytelling over style. The Addams Family and Men in Black were both fun, but their sequels each showed the limits of Sonnenfeld's vision. Meanwhile, Wild Wild West and Big Trouble were simply disasters, and now he's going to tackle DeLillo?

I'd love to see a talented, innovative filmmaker tackle this novel and succeed, much as I would have preferred a David Fincher Black Dahlia to the coming De Palma one. But for the time being at least, that hope seems to be an impossibility, and I fear a filmed "White Noise" will be just that and nothing more.

"ONE MAN'S PROPAGANDA ... IS ANOTHER MAN'S TRUTH" -- BUT REALLY, IT'S JUST A WORD

I've been meaning to post this for the past couple weeks, but I keep forgetting. I'm so tired of everyone throwing around the word "propaganda" for information or commentary with which they don't agree. I don't want to start another discussion about Fahrenheit 9/11, but in my original post on that film, I took a moment to actually define "propaganda." The word itself carries a negative connotation not because of its actual meaning but due to the way it has been used in the past, particularly in relation to the rise of Nazi Germany. For those still confused, "propaganda" does not mean the same thing as "lies," although "lies" may be used to create "propaganda." However when listening to any political pundit -- who, by the way, are spewing their own "propaganda" 99% of the time – the former is exactly the message conveyed.

A few weeks ago in the fantastic magazine The Week, Editor-in-Chief William Falk wrote a short but brilliant commentary about propaganda in which he states, "The only thing remarkable about (Michael) Moore's film, really, is that it's a film. He's just opening a new front in a war already raging on the airwaves, in print, and on the Web."

ACCORDING TO MY CHART, THAT STAGE IS DENIAL

"J. Lo sees her life entering 'Phase Two.'" That makes sense since she refuses to acknowledge her marriage to Marc Anthony calling what they have a "great working relationship." I guess she's moved through the "shock" of her remarkable success and inability to stay married for more than a year. I'm a bit nervous, though. What will "anger" look like?

DIVO NOTE: THE AMISH ARE COMING, AND THEY'RE KICKING SEACREST OUT

Is it so wrong that yesterday's news about On-Air going off-the-air made me just giddy with glee? I'm confused about something, though; the story says the show ends production Thursday but will keep airing until mid-September. Wasn't it supposed to be a live show? They don't show repeats of TRL ... ever. And this was just a poor rip-off of MTV's signature show. Besides, Ryan Seacrest has had enough quick success, and he'll be just fine as long as American Idol remains on the air, which should be for the forseeable future. His attempts to replace Carson Daly as the next Dick Clark don't need to happen all at once.

So goodbye Seacrest, and hello Rumspringa! Don't forget: tonight during the two hours before the time John Edwards should be appearing to accept the Democratic Vice Presidential nomination, UPN launches its new reality show Amish in the City. Even though it doesn't include Tyra Banks, the show is garnering some good reviews, even though UPN execs felt the need to produce the entire thing in secrecy and refused to send copies of the tapes to congressmen who were certain the show would just exploit -- by making fun of -- Amish teens. Of course, those members of Congress must have never watched reality television, because just having heard the premise -- Amish teens move in with non-Amish kids in a Real World-like situation -- and never having seen the show, I know that the Amish aren't the ones who will make asses of themselves, and as The Devil's Playground proved, just because the Amish don't live in "our world," doesn't mean they're stupid and don't know about it, and when they get out in the world, they live their rumspringa to the fullest. I have every faith in the casting gods, and I'm sure that the fools on Amish in the City will be not the Amish kids but the six morons who probably model their behavior on the San Diego cast. That's what makes good television!

FORGET HILLARY OR EDWARDS in 2008 OR 2012? DID YOU MEET OUR FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT?

Holy crikey Batman. Barack Obama at the DBC tonight gave one of the most brilliant political speeches I remember ever watching, and the guy has charisma and delivery up the yin-yang. Good thing Clinton went last night, because he never would have been able to top Obama tonight, and that's saying something. This guy just sealed his fate as a future leader of the democratic party, and he hasn't even been elected to the Senate yet. He had Hillary smiling and standing and clapping, not even realizing that he's going to pass her by sometime in the next 6-10 years. He just gave a political speech that really was all about unity and togetherness and one country and hope. I almost want to pick-up and move to Illinois right now so I can vote for him, and he doesn't even have an opponent!

Seriously, I'm almost shivering. And I feel really bad for Ron Reagan Jr. who's got to follow what will undoubtedly be the most impressive performance at either convention this year.

In fact, if John Edwards and Hillary are thinking ahead, they better be buddying up to Obama right now, because they're going to want him on their tickets come 2012!

PIERCE REALIZES THAT HE'S TOO OLD FOR THIS SHIT, SO HERE'S HOW TO FIX JAMES BOND

So according to Entertainment Weekly's web site, Pierce Brosnan has played James Bond for the last time (via AP story). The 21st Bond movie is scheduled for release in Fall 2005, and now they need to recast. And really, my entire reaction is simply ... oh well.

No matter how sorry it makes me to say this, I think Bond is over; at least, if they keep making Bond films the way they have been for the last several years.

MISCELLANEOUS MISCELLANY: SOME THINGS YOU MAY HAVE SEEN BEFORE

I'm having a tough morning filled with procrastination rather than motivation or inspiration, but I swear that a new rant on IFC's continuously depressing show Ultimate Film Fanatic is coming as soon as I pull some "choice" quotes from my DiVo.

In light of yesterday's opening of the DNC in Boston, though, I'm feeling a little bit political. Unless you're an absolute all-things-Clinton hater, how could you not love Billy's speech last night. In fact, that speech, and more importantly its presentation, is the exact reason why Kerry might fail in his bid for the White House. Kerry could never give that speech with the rousing emotion and enthusiasm that Clinton did. Like Gore, but only slightly less stiff, when Kerry talks, it's a politician talking. As Chris Matthews mentioned on MSNBC's coverage after the speech last night, when Clinton talks, it's like listening to a Southern Baptist minister who gets his congregation on its feet shouting Hallelujah! Dubya isn't Clinton either, but people enjoy listening to his cowpoke nonsense more than to Kerry's serious tone. Edwards has something similar to that Clinton charisma, and it's why he'll trounce Cheney in any debate, but he's only running for VP, and as Dan Quayle proved 16 years ago, ultimately, people really don't care about the guy in the second chair.

So, with all that said, I present you with some serious and some not-so-serious political chatter that have been making the web (and I'm sure blogosphere) rounds, but in case you've missed them are worth your while.

First, this little animated ditty has even been broadcast on the cable and broadcast news networks, but it's funny as hell. It may take a little time to download, but it's worth it (especially for the one shot of Clinton asking, "What'd I do?"). And if the first link doesn't work, try using this one direct from Atomfilms.

Second, and not really satirical at all, is Hal Crowther's column "With Trembling Fingers" from the June 1 issue of The Progressive Populist. While even I find some of his vitriol a bit too strong and even counterproductive, and although this piece won't actually change the minds of any of the 40-Million Bush-supporters he mentions, it's a magnificent piece of writing that truly illustrates the anger and resentment so many people in the country feel towards this administration. It provides a perfect example of how one of Bush's main campaign themes in 2000 -- that of being a "uniter" rather than a "divider" -- is possibly the biggest broken promise of them all. Even if heaven forbid you're a diehard Bush supporter (and if you are and you're reading this blog -- cool!), I'd love to hear your side's arguments against the assertions (are they facts? I guess in today's day and age, it depends on what one's definition of "facts" is) in Crowther's piece, and hopefully you got your information from your own reading of the news and the "facts" rather than from Rush's or Hannity's talking points which are no less "lies" or "propaganda" than Michael Moore's film seem to be to you. Today, sadly, it's all spin.

Finally, in a far more important fight than that going on between democrats and republicans, I have determined the clear winner in the "lower-carb" soda wars. That's right; having conducted several taste tests between Coke's C2 and Pepsi's Pepsi Edge, C2 is far and away the better soda. Pepsi Edge is actually kind of nasty, and I couldn't even finish the bottle. C2 actually seems a lot like the old "New Coke," but with some of the sweetness tempered. It's sweeter than regular Coca-Cola Classic, but still not quite as sweet as normal Pepsi. Edge seems like Pepsi's attempt to make Tab cause it has that carbon/tar gross aftertaste that I always used to hate in Diet Coke's predecessor. Of course, both sodas are ridiculous in that drinking these lower-carb-but-not-no-carb beverages aren't really going to be any better for anyone. And ultimately, I'm sticking with the best tasting of the bunch: Diet Vanilla Pepsi. That shit rocks!

I'M GONE FIVE DAYS AND THEY SNEAK THIS IN ON ME

It's really amazing how much can happen (and make my head hurt) in just under a week. I actually didn't intend to have a complete sabbatical from all things modern, but our "Happy Days" house at the Cape was a serious throwback to the 50s: virtually no cell service, and not one WiFi connection to steal from as far as my PowerBook could reach. It's like, people go there on vacation or something! So I spent the majority of my time reading "The Bourne Identity", in preparation to rewatch the great film, before launching into "The Bourne Supremacy" so I can go catch the box-office winning adaptation, even though the films depart quite a bit from the novels ... but I'm crazy like that.

So I get back to the (sigh) day job this morning to find that I'd let so much stuff just sort of slide the last couple weeks that I need to spend a bunch of time organizing mysef, so I don't know how much time I'll have to post today. But in catching-up on some of last week's trades and today's stories, I couldn't help but take a moment to reflect on what's causing my Excedrin headache.

For example, please somebody stop Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. They've obviously let a little overrated Oscar win go to their heads because there is no reason in heaven or earth that anyone, let alone the two of them, even with the help of a great writer like Paul Attanasio, should be attempting a remake of East of Eden. I don't care if the book has renewed popularity because of Oprah, the original film is brilliant with a central performance by James Dean that I sincerely doubt could be topped. And Ronnie, no matter how competent a director you may be, you're no Elia Kazan. Stick to Da Vinci; leave Steinbeck, Kazan and Dean alone.

Then there's this (which I'm sure made the rounds of the blogosphere last week): "'Avenue Q' Producers Spin Rights to 'High Fidelity' for Lindsay-Abaire, Kitt, Green Musical." No, no, no, no, no, no, no. First, I have repeatedly stated my allegiance to the brilliant Avenue Q, but I don't take any solace in seeing the producers (as opposed to the creative entities) being behind this. Second, like many people, especially guys my age, out there, I love High Fidelity, both Nick Hornby's novel and Stephen Frears' excellent adaptation. But most importantly, did anyone see the big musical adaptations of Footloose? Or Saturday Night Fever?> They were absolutely awful. What do they have in common with High Fidelity? They're all movies heavily influenced by music; films in which the soundtracks were integral to, and maybe even more important than, the plot. In those other two stage adaptations, the popular songs from the soundtrack were reorchestrated to be sung by the cast members on stage. To say it looked silly was an understatement. Apparently, for High Fidelity, they plan to write original songs and music. But how will that all merge with the soundtrack of the story; with Rob's lists of songs and mix-tape compilations? In the Variety story, composer Tom Kitt says, "The hero's life is a soundtrack, and the big moments are songs." But those songs are ones the audience -- for book and film -- remember, relate to and can attribute to the same kinds of events and circumstances in their own lives. Without them, the story is meaningless. If their orchestrated to be sung live by the actors, it will just be cheesy. I'm hoping this doesn't turn into a disaster, but I'm not optimistic.