Because some things are just not as good people say they are.
Sex Pistols
Put out one average album and then die. It wasn't part of the plan, but the legend of the Pistols, and more specifically Sid Vicious grew from the questionable murder of his junkie girlfriend and his overdose shortly afterwards. Although the group was already disbanded by that time, it was the event that made them forever more important than the footnote in rock they would have been. When singer Johnny Rotten asked the audiences, "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?" he wasn't joking. One of many bands that Malcolm McLaren would create as manager and svengali, the Sex Pistols were more style than substance. They easily represented the punk aesthetic with angry, anti-establishment rhetoric, but in a genre defined by it's energy and commitment to being abrasive, it didn't matter that they had minimal talent or musicianship (Vicious' bass amp was often very low or even turned off for performances). The Sex Pistols would have fit in perfectly today, as there are many musicians whose notoriety and fame spring from their exploits offstage rather than their contributions on (yes, Pete Doherty, you).
God save whoever thinks this is good
Louis Vuitton
The biggest name in fashion, handbags, and luggage is also the most inflated. Founded over 150 years ago, the brand name has benefited more from celebrity endorsement and advertising than it's own merits. Like any other fashion oriented piece of apparel, it's the brand name that's on it that makes people care what it looks like and it's function, which is a function of status because of the cost. Having an expensive object should (theoretically) make you better (sociologically) because of your ability to own something grossly overpriced, but it's really just the handshake between peers to show they're equal. It's for the same type of people who coo at the thought of some designer's name inside their clothing that, most people wouldn't recognize without forcing it on them -- which defeats that purpose. Ironically only a little over 1% of all goods bearing the famous LV insignia are not counterfeit.
Ladies, let's see you label whores heft this around
Old School
Not since Billy Madison or Tommy Boy has a movie garnered such an unnecessary following from the 18-45 male demographic. Bravo called it the 16th funniest movie ever -- ahead of The Jerk, This Is...Spinal Tap, and Annie Hall...yes, already the worship of this film is ridiculously inflated. Even though Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell succeed with their usual roles, neither is remarkable enough that they elevate the film to such high status. In fact, there's nothing that is so brilliant, groundbreaking, or fresh in the movie that makes Old School exceptional. Against the straight-to-DVD American Pie movies, this is the Citizen Kane of funny flicks, but in a wide field of other well written and acted comedies it doesn't distance itself from the pack. Clearly, the Maxim reading, Budweiser drinking elements of the audience tapped into the excitement of the fantasy of being in your 30's and acting like a retarded college freshman, but fraternity keg parties and oil wrestling is interesting for only as long as the duration of the film.
Sorry, this is what a genius comedy is like
Steve McQueen
The "King Of Cool" was a douchebag. Yep, you heard me correct. Perhaps against the gosh-shucks of Jimmy Stewart or the caricatured John Wayne, McQueen's car and bike enthusiast machismo made him stand out as an anti-hero amongst peers, but his coolness looked more like defiant boredom. Perhaps what defined McQueen as a man's man was his hard character and throwback behavior in light of the softer, more in-touch men of the hippie 60's and disco 70's. The Great Escape and Bullitt, two of his most heavily praised films, are two of the most boring, no thanks to him. What he excelled in was being a prick who's presence was supposed to denote coolness -- something that Clint Eastwood was able to pull off during the same period, because McQueen's cocksureness and stiff ruggedness were more dominant than his ability to be a real anti-hero that was unconcerned by rules and proper behavior.
Again, Clint trumps Steve, bettering the lame car chase from Bullitt
Sex Pistols
Put out one average album and then die. It wasn't part of the plan, but the legend of the Pistols, and more specifically Sid Vicious grew from the questionable murder of his junkie girlfriend and his overdose shortly afterwards. Although the group was already disbanded by that time, it was the event that made them forever more important than the footnote in rock they would have been. When singer Johnny Rotten asked the audiences, "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?" he wasn't joking. One of many bands that Malcolm McLaren would create as manager and svengali, the Sex Pistols were more style than substance. They easily represented the punk aesthetic with angry, anti-establishment rhetoric, but in a genre defined by it's energy and commitment to being abrasive, it didn't matter that they had minimal talent or musicianship (Vicious' bass amp was often very low or even turned off for performances). The Sex Pistols would have fit in perfectly today, as there are many musicians whose notoriety and fame spring from their exploits offstage rather than their contributions on (yes, Pete Doherty, you).
God save whoever thinks this is good
Louis Vuitton
The biggest name in fashion, handbags, and luggage is also the most inflated. Founded over 150 years ago, the brand name has benefited more from celebrity endorsement and advertising than it's own merits. Like any other fashion oriented piece of apparel, it's the brand name that's on it that makes people care what it looks like and it's function, which is a function of status because of the cost. Having an expensive object should (theoretically) make you better (sociologically) because of your ability to own something grossly overpriced, but it's really just the handshake between peers to show they're equal. It's for the same type of people who coo at the thought of some designer's name inside their clothing that, most people wouldn't recognize without forcing it on them -- which defeats that purpose. Ironically only a little over 1% of all goods bearing the famous LV insignia are not counterfeit.
Ladies, let's see you label whores heft this around
Old School
Not since Billy Madison or Tommy Boy has a movie garnered such an unnecessary following from the 18-45 male demographic. Bravo called it the 16th funniest movie ever -- ahead of The Jerk, This Is...Spinal Tap, and Annie Hall...yes, already the worship of this film is ridiculously inflated. Even though Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell succeed with their usual roles, neither is remarkable enough that they elevate the film to such high status. In fact, there's nothing that is so brilliant, groundbreaking, or fresh in the movie that makes Old School exceptional. Against the straight-to-DVD American Pie movies, this is the Citizen Kane of funny flicks, but in a wide field of other well written and acted comedies it doesn't distance itself from the pack. Clearly, the Maxim reading, Budweiser drinking elements of the audience tapped into the excitement of the fantasy of being in your 30's and acting like a retarded college freshman, but fraternity keg parties and oil wrestling is interesting for only as long as the duration of the film.
Sorry, this is what a genius comedy is like
Steve McQueen
The "King Of Cool" was a douchebag. Yep, you heard me correct. Perhaps against the gosh-shucks of Jimmy Stewart or the caricatured John Wayne, McQueen's car and bike enthusiast machismo made him stand out as an anti-hero amongst peers, but his coolness looked more like defiant boredom. Perhaps what defined McQueen as a man's man was his hard character and throwback behavior in light of the softer, more in-touch men of the hippie 60's and disco 70's. The Great Escape and Bullitt, two of his most heavily praised films, are two of the most boring, no thanks to him. What he excelled in was being a prick who's presence was supposed to denote coolness -- something that Clint Eastwood was able to pull off during the same period, because McQueen's cocksureness and stiff ruggedness were more dominant than his ability to be a real anti-hero that was unconcerned by rules and proper behavior.
Again, Clint trumps Steve, bettering the lame car chase from Bullitt
4 comments:
Come on. Are you kidding?! You must be. Dead Pool came out 20 years after Bullitt. The only thing new about the Dead Pool sequence was the exploding remote control car-- a cheap, unrealistic gimmick.
Now if you want to compare Eastwood and McQueen, go right ahead. But don't try to do it with a couple car chase scenes.
So where do you want to square off on the Eastwood vs. McQueen debate? The Great Escape vs. Where Eagles Dare? Bullit vs. any of the Dirty Harry films? The Magnifcent Seven vs. The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly? The Towering Inferno vs. Any Which Way But Loose? Eastwood was a better badass and a cooler cat than McQueen, who benefited from a premature death and a friendlier mug.
The Dead Pool chase is so great because not only is it unique, but also mocks (or they would say pays tribute to) the Bullitt chase, which I find utterly boring. McQueen is overrated.
Dan, you are holding back your "Papillon" card, arent you? Well, pull it! Its epic. And don't forget he bagged Ali Macgraw, stealing her away from super producer Robert Evans.
M, I'm not sure we can compare a movie that is based in reality to a film that is supposedly based in reality yet contains fantastical elements.
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