I mentioned this over in the D&D movie thread but wanted to bring the movie The Empty Man to people's attention. If you watch the trailer you're going to get the sense that it's some stupid Candyman/Bye Bye Man kind of ripoff.
30 Rock is a fun sitcom that is peppered with some intensely problematic scenes/elements within it.
Its also a show that occasionally reveals Tina Fey's hatred of sex (and thus sex workers or any kink-community).
It has Kenneth Parcell in it, though, which goes a long way. It doesn't forgive all of its wrongs, at all, but Jack MacBrayer is great in everything I've seen him in.
+1
Shortytouching the meatIntergalactic Cool CourtRegistered Userregular
I hate jack mcbreyer
he has the dumbest fucking face and I want to choke him
this is why the only things I've liked him in are 30 rock and forgetting sarah marshall
It's roughly as good an understanding of the text as Romeo & Juliet: Sealed with a Kiss
I would be interested in reading something more in-depth on this, if you have the time!
This might not be the most accurate, because I haven't seen the movie in at least a decade, but sure, here goes:
My issue is heavily focused around the character of Mercutio (although I think it broadens out to other aspects of the show). He's the character I played when I was in the show, and I've spent a lot of time reading into his character as a result. He is, from the beginning, described as a friend to both the Capulets and the Montagues - he doesn't have a true allegiance, and is of the Prince's family, defining his neutrality in the conflict. He is friends with Romeo and Benvolio quite a bit on stage, and he might not necessarily be well liked by all of the Capulets, but he still gets invited to their parties, of course.
So in Act III Scene i, when he gets into a fight with Tybalt, it is not necessarily a duel to the death. Tybalt's a real son of a bitch, so maybe it would be regardless, but Mercutio's tone in arguing with him and his retorts during the fight are still playful. What makes it a duel to the death is Romeo. Mercutio has a specific line "Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm." that should serve to direct the action - Romeo came in and took a playful fight, what may have been to the touch, and in trying to stop the duelists, caused a fatal accident. That's why it's a plague on both houses, because both are equally responsible in Mercutio's eyes.
The movie doesn't really do this. Mercutio feels much more decidedly aligned with the Montagues, and his death serves only as another body count in the Montague vs. Capulet conflict, as opposed to being that of a neutral party. One of the neat things I like about the play is that two people die from each involved house - Juliet & Tybalt, Romeo & Romeo's Mom (offstage), and Mercutio & Paris. It's always felt very intentional to me, and making Mercutio more or less an honorary Montague feels like it throws everything off.
I also just don't particularly like the movie for normal movie liking reasons, and have been spoiled with quality stage versions of Shakespeare which definitely make some of its novelty less than novel for me. The script is cut to ribbons and I don't think that what was retained really lines up with the play that I actually like quite a bit.
The sword thing being memorable is funny to me because it's what like every modern stage production of Shakespeare does
I think it's well done in the movie with the close ups and brand names and what have you, but it's also something that I would barely even notice in a production
I saw a production of Romeo and Juliet with a female Mercutio and boy howdy does the teasing of Romeo about being mopey have a lot more sexual energy in it.
I came away convinced that Mercutio is gay and in love with Romeo, who is either bisexual or at least open minded.
I am in the business of saving lives.
+1
StraightziHere we may reign secure, and in my choice,To reign is worth ambition though in HellRegistered Userregular
The sword thing being memorable is funny to me because it's what like every modern stage production of Shakespeare does
I think it's well done in the movie with the close ups and brand names and what have you, but it's also something that I would barely even notice in a production
I saw a production of Romeo and Juliet with a female Mercutio and boy howdy does the teasing of Romeo about being mopey have a lot more sexual energy in it.
I came away convinced that Mercutio is gay and in love with Romeo, who is either bisexual or at least open minded.
Oh Mercutio is absolutely gay and in love with Romeo, yes.
+3
Shortytouching the meatIntergalactic Cool CourtRegistered Userregular
boy I sure do hope that Prince of Cats adaptation is still happening
I haven't worked with Leguizamo, or with anybody who has, so this is purely conjecture
But he strikes me as a performer in the vein of Nic Cage, who will go as insanely hard and big as you let him get away with, but can be modulated down with the right director
I haven't worked with Leguizamo, or with anybody who has, so this is purely conjecture
But he strikes me as a performer in the vein of Nic Cage, who will go as insanely hard and big as you let him get away with, but can be modulated down with the right director
Nic Cage can be modulated down with the right director?
+1
Shortytouching the meatIntergalactic Cool CourtRegistered Userregular
I haven't worked with Leguizamo, or with anybody who has, so this is purely conjecture
But he strikes me as a performer in the vein of Nic Cage, who will go as insanely hard and big as you let him get away with, but can be modulated down with the right director
Nic Cage can be modulated down with the right director?
Adaptation was very good, yes
+9
Raijin QuickfootI'm your Huckleberry YOU'RE NO DAISYRegistered User, ClubPAregular
Raising Arizona is the best “good” Cage.
Keep in mind I love when he goes full Cage though
+9
Shortytouching the meatIntergalactic Cool CourtRegistered Userregular
edited April 2021
yeah the trick is to get him to simmer down while also maintaining his give-a-damn
it's easy to get him to show up to work, because he needs the money, but getting him to do a nuanced performance is really tough, apparently
of course, I like it when he goes as loud and insane as possible, I think it's riveting
Shorty on
+3
JedocIn the scupperswith the staggers and jagsRegistered Userregular
Raising Arizona is pretty far up the Cage dial, honestly. There is a whole lotta Cagin' goin' on in Raising Arizona.
I know I've seen Leaving Las Vegas, but I don't remember much about it. I think that's the only really "serious" role I've seen him in, and I think he won an Oscar for it (not that that actually means fuck-all). I think maybe I just prefer less serious bullshit movies, in general.
0
Shortytouching the meatIntergalactic Cool CourtRegistered Userregular
I thought he was pretty low-key, in a good way, in Bringing Out the Dead, though it's not a great movie, overall
Bloods EndBlade of TyshallePunch dimensionRegistered Userregular
Leaving Las Vegas is amazing.
I think to going full Cage thing is blown out of proportion. I think he matches energy to the movies he's in, so if the movie is insane, he's gonna go wild. I think he gravitates towards weird and wild movies, but I don't think that when he goes nuts it doesn't make sense for the movies he's in.
the difference between a good director and a great director is how you modulate the film around what nic cage is bringing to the table; because he is always gonna take a big swing and you gonna have to build around it.
he isn't alone in this, mind. his bag of tricks is just more varied and unpredictable.
the difference between a good director and a great director is how you modulate the film around what nic cage is bringing to the table; because he is always gonna take a big swing and you gonna have to build around it.
he isn't alone in this, mind. his bag of tricks is just more varied and unpredictable.
The old axiom about directing is that the number one job is handling "tone."
And when you bring Cage into your flick, you better fuckin' know what tone you INTEND, and know how to fit Cage into it or shift your intended tone accordingly
StraightziHere we may reign secure, and in my choice,To reign is worth ambition though in HellRegistered Userregular
I think rein it in might not be the ideal phrasing, because I don't really think Cage is 100% out of control 100% of the time
I would guess that he's an actor who comes to the set with a fully formed interpretation of the character he wants to play, and you need to either direct the hell out of him to get something else or work around what he's doing and make it fit with the rest of the movie
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Its also a show that occasionally reveals Tina Fey's hatred of sex (and thus sex workers or any kink-community).
It still does the Candyman thing! It just sprinkles in a healthy amount of existential dread. It reminded me a bit of "The Void".
It has Kenneth Parcell in it, though, which goes a long way. It doesn't forgive all of its wrongs, at all, but Jack MacBrayer is great in everything I've seen him in.
he has the dumbest fucking face and I want to choke him
this is why the only things I've liked him in are 30 rock and forgetting sarah marshall
I bet the pricetag on that deal was ASTRONOMICAL, good lord.
it says a lot that the two people on the show who come closest to being sex-positive are also the two worst people on it
e: or, I should say, the show itself definitely thinks that Tracy and Jenna are the two worst people on it
This might not be the most accurate, because I haven't seen the movie in at least a decade, but sure, here goes:
My issue is heavily focused around the character of Mercutio (although I think it broadens out to other aspects of the show). He's the character I played when I was in the show, and I've spent a lot of time reading into his character as a result. He is, from the beginning, described as a friend to both the Capulets and the Montagues - he doesn't have a true allegiance, and is of the Prince's family, defining his neutrality in the conflict. He is friends with Romeo and Benvolio quite a bit on stage, and he might not necessarily be well liked by all of the Capulets, but he still gets invited to their parties, of course.
So in Act III Scene i, when he gets into a fight with Tybalt, it is not necessarily a duel to the death. Tybalt's a real son of a bitch, so maybe it would be regardless, but Mercutio's tone in arguing with him and his retorts during the fight are still playful. What makes it a duel to the death is Romeo. Mercutio has a specific line "Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm." that should serve to direct the action - Romeo came in and took a playful fight, what may have been to the touch, and in trying to stop the duelists, caused a fatal accident. That's why it's a plague on both houses, because both are equally responsible in Mercutio's eyes.
The movie doesn't really do this. Mercutio feels much more decidedly aligned with the Montagues, and his death serves only as another body count in the Montague vs. Capulet conflict, as opposed to being that of a neutral party. One of the neat things I like about the play is that two people die from each involved house - Juliet & Tybalt, Romeo & Romeo's Mom (offstage), and Mercutio & Paris. It's always felt very intentional to me, and making Mercutio more or less an honorary Montague feels like it throws everything off.
I also just don't particularly like the movie for normal movie liking reasons, and have been spoiled with quality stage versions of Shakespeare which definitely make some of its novelty less than novel for me. The script is cut to ribbons and I don't think that what was retained really lines up with the play that I actually like quite a bit.
I saw a production of Romeo and Juliet with a female Mercutio and boy howdy does the teasing of Romeo about being mopey have a lot more sexual energy in it.
I came away convinced that Mercutio is gay and in love with Romeo, who is either bisexual or at least open minded.
Oh Mercutio is absolutely gay and in love with Romeo, yes.
I hope not, the bulk of Sony's output is garbage. You're paying for like 1 or 2 quality films for as many years.
I’m guessing at least 50 bucks
In this economy?!
He is excellent in Chef, and extremely genuine.
Edit: gratified to see the internet leaping to John Leguizamo’s very justified defense.
But he strikes me as a performer in the vein of Nic Cage, who will go as insanely hard and big as you let him get away with, but can be modulated down with the right director
Didn't it turn out that Tracy never once cheated on his wife and his whole thing about him being promiscuous was just for his "bad boy" image?
Nic Cage can be modulated down with the right director?
yes but he and Angie still have an extremely active and fulfilling sex life
I'd very much argue that's what makes him one of the most sex-positive characters, not the other stuff
Adaptation was very good, yes
Keep in mind I love when he goes full Cage though
it's easy to get him to show up to work, because he needs the money, but getting him to do a nuanced performance is really tough, apparently
of course, I like it when he goes as loud and insane as possible, I think it's riveting
Yes but pretty much the whole cast meets his energy except when they are intentionally downplaying things for the comedic effect of the contrast.
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I think to going full Cage thing is blown out of proportion. I think he matches energy to the movies he's in, so if the movie is insane, he's gonna go wild. I think he gravitates towards weird and wild movies, but I don't think that when he goes nuts it doesn't make sense for the movies he's in.
he isn't alone in this, mind. his bag of tricks is just more varied and unpredictable.
The old axiom about directing is that the number one job is handling "tone."
And when you bring Cage into your flick, you better fuckin' know what tone you INTEND, and know how to fit Cage into it or shift your intended tone accordingly
Is it a great performance?
Yes.
Does it all belong in a conversation about Cage being reined in?
Goodness no
Con Air was a movie just set up for full blast, out of control Cage and instead you get quiet, dangerous Cage.
Would that not still be technically applicable if watching his films was a kind of hell?
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I would guess that he's an actor who comes to the set with a fully formed interpretation of the character he wants to play, and you need to either direct the hell out of him to get something else or work around what he's doing and make it fit with the rest of the movie