For Your Listening Pleasure...Boogie on Reggae Woman

The first time I heard this song I think I listened to it about 50 times in a row. I'm not kidding either. This was before iPods, and the like, so I was laying on my bed listening to it on my walkman- just rewinding it over and over again. It's a fan-funk-fucking-tastic, groovy tune. Enjoy!

"WHERE THE FUCK ARE MY HARD-BOILED EGGS?????!!!!!"

This is the best news I've heard in awhile. This has already been confirmed, but to continue to hear more and more about it just makes me smile. As reported in the NY Post this morning...
'ARRESTED' MOVIE IN 'DEVELOPMENT'
By MICHAEL STARR

June 25, 2008

A big-screen version of cult favorite "Arrested Development" is on the fast track.

Jason Bateman, who starred as Michael Bluth in the Fox sitcom, says an "Arrested" movie is being planned for next year.

"When it was on TV, if you missed one word, the whole third act could be blown for you," Bateman told the London Times.

"And TV is a different experience," he said. "You come home and you've got to finish a call so you miss the first ten minutes or you get snacky and you go to the fridge and you miss another two minutes.

"So it's a different experience to film."

"Arrested Development," which aired on Fox from 2003-2006, revolved around the quirky Bluth family and was narrated by Ron Howard (who co-produced the series).

It was never a ratings hit, but was a critical darling and developed a cult following.

The show also starred Portia de Rossi, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Will Arnett and Michael Cera ("Juno").

If the movie comes to fruition, it would be the latest in a long line of hit-or-miss big-screen versions of TV shows, including the just-released "Get Smart," a box-office smash with Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway in the roles originated by Don Adams and Barbara Feldon in the classic '60s series.

Other TV shows, including "The Wild Wild West," "The Mod Squad" and "Miami Vice," had a rocky transition to the big screen.

This is one of my all-time favorite shows. For a gauge my others are The Simpsons (though in the past 6 or 7 years it's been fairly lackluster considering what it used to be), The Sopranos, Seinfeld and quite possibly Dexter. If you have never seen this show, I can't stress to you enough how brilliant it is. Yes I know brilliant gets thrown around alot but this show deserves the title. There are only 3 seasons so go out and buy the DVDs. There are clever jokes twisted into other clever jokes which revolve around clever plotlines. The characters are about as sharply drawn as you can get. Ron Howard executive produces the show and he also narrates. Guess what? He's fucking perfect! The lore has it that he read a temp track for the pilot and everyone loved it. The rest is history. At least it is to the 53 people who actually watched the show. What other show on TV has roofies, the blue man group, christians, magicians, pot smoking, incest, afternoon delight, and the aforementioned hard-boiled eggs? If that doesn't sell you then check out the cast.By the way this show also wisely put Jason Bateman back on TV and cast Michael Cera before Superbad and Juno came out. Plus they hired David Cross.

"Then why don't you marry an ice cream sandwich?"

Dope

Apparently you don't have to be smart ot be a police officer. My friend sent me this and if you haven't seen it, you need to. The video speaks for itself.

George Carlin - Rest in Peace, motherfucker

Here was a man who fought for freedom of speech with his famed 7 Dirty Words. He always marched to the beat of his own drum and if you didn't like it, well...you could fuck yourself. His uncanny ability to pull the bullshit out of situations is unparalleled. I saw him live in Las Vegas about 10 years ago and he made fun of men who wore cowboy hats and had earrings. He was brutal and that kind of shyte is right up my alley. I watched 2 couples walk out, one of which the man was yelling "You've changed!" Um, no sir, you have just grown into the very thing Carlin has always made fun of. He was wearing a cowboy hat. I couldn't tell if he had an earring on or not. I've posted the first 20 minutes of his last televised standup special. It's extremelu appropriate. He has a scathing section about what people say to you when someone dies. It's the kind of rant that'll have you pissing in your pants laughing, and your fist in the air for how right on the nose he is. Unless, that is, you think he's "changed."

The section I mentioned is at 9:45 and the next clip picks up right where the first leaves off. But if you've got the time, the whole thing is genius.

For Your Listening Pleasure...Feels So Good

This song puts me in a good mood the moment I start listening to it. The title says it all. Chuck Mangione is the man-gione. I couldn't find the long version with the melancholy lead up and extended end so this will have to do. I really want to use this song in a film one day...

For Your Listening Pleasure...

I think I'm going to try and do this on a regular basis. And by "this" I mean post a song for you to enjoy, a song that I enjoy. This song is enjoyable in general, and it's a favorite of mine to listen to when I get off the train and walk within a mass of people to the "Shuttle Bus Area." The best is when you're listening to a song like this and you get a few "runners" aka people who run to their shuttle so they don't miss it. These are usually people who haven't run in probably 20 years. It's quite a show. Any-who, here's Herb Alpert's title track to Casino Royale- the original one that is. Although it would've been really funny to watch Daniel Craig kick ass to this song.

Burn After Reading

The Coen Brothers rule! They do so many things so well, but I really love when they do comedy. I especially love when they do comedy with fairly stupid people in it, which is often. And if not stupid then crazy. Or both. Well their new film, Burn After Reading has quite a cast. It's also the first time they're not using their mainstay, and one of my personal favs, DP, Roger Deakins. Apparently he was busy, but they hired Emmanual Lubezki so they aren't exactly suffering. The film is about an ousted CIA agent whose memoir falls into the hands of two dimwitted gym employees and they are determined to exploit him. I love when Brad Pitt plays dumb or incompetent and seems to be in full stride here. This is a Red Band Trailer so put the kids in the other room, just in case.
Burn After Reading - Red Band Trailer

Stevie Wonder Burns Down Sesame Street

I stole that line from my buddy Cal who sent me this link. Not only is it funny to imagine, but it's true- not literally of course but musically. This is the fucking badass jammy jam, but what do you expect from The Man himself. Make sure you watch the whole video.

She Must Be Heigl

This has been bothering me since I heard about it last week. This chick needs to check herself in a big way. The following is an open letter from a writer at New York Magazine and it nails the whole situation right on the head.

Dear Katherine (Kate? Katie?),
So you’ve acted out once again (no pun intended!). You’ve withdrawn your name from Emmy eligibility, because, in your words, ''I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination.'' And now you’ve started a fight with the writers of Grey’s Anatomy. Their feelings are hurt, Katie: "It's an ungrateful slap in the face," one show insider told EW. You actually won the Emmy for supporting actress last year, which was really so lovely for you. So why, this year, are you so sure your material doesn’t even warrant a nomination? Let’s think.

Okay, Heigl, we agree that Izzie’s story lines have become increasingly marginal and unbelievable. Lately, everyone on the show seems to think that Izzie’s completely irritating. So do we! We actually groan aloud when your perky face appears onscreen! There’s a theory we have about this, Katherine, so listen closely. Have you ever thought that maybe the writers are incorporating your own personality into that of your character? Because we read a lot of women’s magazine and gossip sites, and we think we kind of know you at this point. And guess what? You’re totally annoying and self-righteous, just like Izzie!

Of course, we, too, were offended by Isaiah Washington. He called your on- and-off-screen best friend, T.R. Knight, a faggot, and that’s just uncalled for. You established yourself as Knight’s defender and kept speaking to the press about how Washington should be fired. So we guess that’s nice of you and all, but you really should have let your friend fight his own battle. You ended up looking pretty darn priggish.

And then (and then!) you called your own hit movie, Knocked Up, “a little sexist.” You have a right to your opinion, and we might even agree with you. But you were Apatow’s first choice for that movie, you did it, you made lots of money, and it made you a certified movie star. What possessed you to bash it? Do you think you’re above the work that you do? It was a comedy, and you profited tremendously. You’re no Streep, honey, and even she does Abba with a smile.

Now we’re going to throw you a bone: We think you’re a talented comedic actress. That’s right, your timing is much better than most, and you have a goofy onscreen persona that combines nicely with your California-girl looks. Plus, My Father the Hero was one of our favorite movies growing up, so we’ll always have a soft spot for you, Heig-y. Though last week, in a dark moment, we watched 27 Dresses on demand. Now that was a case of writers messing up your material.

So please take our advice. Grey’s Anatomy is a soap opera. Get off your high horse, missy. You talk all about the integrity of the Academy? Ha! You know they’re giving an Emmy to a reality-TV show host this year, right? Stop pissing off your writers and directors and castmates. We want to like you, Katherine, really. Please stop making it so hard to do so.

Warmest regards,
Emma Rosenblum


I agree with most of it. I think Isiah Washington deserved any bullshit he got but she's so fucking self-righteous that it came off as self-serving - "look at me" than genuine. I didn't like her much before she started spouting off against the very people and projects that have made her a star. I don't think she's talented at all and thought she was by far the weakest part of Knocked Up. I've never seen Grey's Anatomy and could give a shit less about it. McDreamy, McSteamy, McPissoff- boring, pretentious, overly dramatic, cutting a supposedly meaningful montage to today's latest pop-song one hit wonder and roll credits- WHO THE FUCK CARES? I'm getting off topic though...

It wasn't necessary for her to say what she said. She could've not responded. She could've put the blame on herself. I'm sure she has the attitude of "I tell it like it is!" or "I'm just being honest." Fine. Fair enough. See how many people want to work with you if you throw everyone under the bus who's worked with you in the past. I believe they call that biting the hand that feeds you.

Word is she wants to be a movie star. 27 Dresses was pretty successful- I didn't see it and I didn't need to, I've already seen My Best Friend's Wedding and the countless others with the same plot. Lots of actors want a movie career, but she should keep one person in mind; David Caruso. I don't think he even trashed the writers of NYPD Blue, but he had a good 1st season and fancied himself a movie star. Know what happened? He left the show, which continued on for about another 12 seasons, and starred in a movie called Kiss of Death and it fucking died at the box office. He struggled in "no-one-gives-a-shit-about-you-land" for several years until he landed a piggyback hit- CSI: Miami. Well he sucks on that show. He sucks bad. Has he learned his lesson? No. By all accounts, (I've read a bunch, and heard second hand from people who've guest starred and worked on the show) he's a total pain in the ass on the show to everyone around him. Katherine Heigl should put her fucking head down and keep working.

Hey Vimeo!

Gracias to Pottyboy for pointing me in the direction of this site. It's free to sign up, and they allocate you 500mb a week of upload content. Their compressions and are very good and you can also upload and view in HD! Very sweet! Maybe this is where Okay Great will make it debut...it's 20 minutes long and most sites only 10...I'll have to see what Vimeo allows. You don't have to be a filmmaker or wannabe You Tube dipshit to post stuff. If you have kids and want to post videos of them for friends and family who live in other parts of the country, use sites like Vimeo, Meta Cafe and Revver for quality alone. You Tube is good for getting lots of random views, but the quality is shit.

The Truthiness of Steve Depino

The Truthiness of Steve Depino from Jeff Reilly on Vimeo.

Edit This

Edit This from Jeff Reilly on Vimeo.

See Real Women: Really See Women

See Real Women: Really See Women from Jeff Reilly on Vimeo.

My Favorite Holiday

My Favorite Holiday from Jeff Reilly on Vimeo.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I've been tracking this film for awhile and my excitement is only heightening. It's a love story, but not your typical love story. The man, Benjamin Button (obviously), played by Brad Pitt is aging backwards. Yes, that is the premise. I don't know much more only because I don't want to spoil too much. To make the film that much more intriguing, it's directed by David Fincher, written by Eric Roth and Cate Blanchett co-stars. Oh and it's based on a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Any for anyone who cares, it's being shot digitally- just like Fincher's last- Zodiac.

Dewey Cox Rocks

I've watched Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story twice now and I almost pissed my pants on several occasions and any poorly timed sips from my soda could've resulted in spitting it all over the place. Writer/Director Jake Kasdan and Co-writer Judd Apatow make a very smart choice in the tone of the film. The action is played deadpan, but it's funny as hell. Molded after such biopics as Ray, Walk the Line, The Doors and even Don't Look Back(instant street cred), Kasdan and Apatow also take little bits and pieces from real life rock star and incorporate it into the script. The fun is trying to spot them all- good luck there's a ton. They also made the right choice in casting John C Reilly, though I biased because I've been a fan of his for a long time (and his last name is pretty fucking cool too!). Jenna Fischer is terrific as well and there is a great supporting cast behind them and one of the coolest, and out of left field cameos I've ever seen- and the performance is funny as shit. See if you can spot it- it's not obvious. The cinematography is outstanding, which was another inspired choice on the filmmakers part because most comedies don't go out of their way to create Academy Award winning photography. Definitely check this out.
***Note- Make sure you watch through the credits.

Okay Great

I've been fine tuning Okay Great and screening for friends and crew members looking for some feedback. I'm essentially done. I'm really pleased with the film but now comes the tough part- finding a composer to score the film. The music I used in the film is pretty out there, it certainly isn't your typical score and trying to replicate the tone is going to be difficult. A really talented audio mixer named Mike Ryan is going to mix the film for me for basically nothing and he is also putting his feelers out for a composer. I have a few other friends sending emails to people they know, so if any of my 1 or 2 readers knows someone who is a musician or music composer and is interested in taking on a challenging piece of work for little to no money (sounds appealing, right?) please send them my way or give me a shout with their info. Muchos Gracias!

Copper Mason

My friend Jamin Bricker co-wrote and directed this short film. It's actually the beginning of a webisode series which he shot the first 3 episodes of over a weekend in May. Erin Rosa produced the film and she was my co-producer on Okay Great. It's whacky and fun- check it out.

From Crackle: Cooper Mason - Internet Retail Extroardinare