Mystic Pizza's secret ingredient

Everyone has a theory on what makes 1988's "Mystic Pizza" a memorable flick from our decade.

The first really good look at Julia Roberts maybe? Our man Vincent D'Onofrio as as the rejected fisherman, one year away his epic performance as "Private Pyle" in "Full Metal Jacket"? The always intoxicating Lili Taylor, just a year before her best flick, "Say Anything?" ("That'll never be me, that'll never be me. That'll never be, never be me. No, no, no!")

All good guesses, but you're missing the true genius -- the eternal innocence and beauty of Annabeth Gish.

(Well, Annabeth and whatever they put in the pizza sauce. Because I every time I see the movie, I end up ordering $50 worth of delivery from Pizza Hut.)

I'm not the only person obsessed with Annabeth. There's an entire website devoted to her every breath on this planet -- All Things Annabeth. About time the Internet did something for the public good ... aside from this blog, of course.

What is Annabeth up to these days? Still acting, of course. She appeared in TV's "West Wing" in 2003, playing the oldest eldest daughter of President Bartlet. In 2006, she appeared in "The Celestine Prophecy" and Showtime's "Brotherhood."

In 2009, maybe as the role of the next "Mrs. Stuck in the 80s?" She's just gotta dump that stunt-man husband of hers. While I wait patiently...

TOP 5 MEMORABLE ROLES OF ANNABETH GISH:

5. SLC PUNK (1998): Hey, it's about a punk named Stevo. So I'm on the right track.

4. WYATT EARP (1994): She dies. Hope I didn't give anything away.

3. SHAG (1989): "It isn't a bone at all, it's a muscle." 

2. HIDING OUT (1987): "Crying ... over you..."

1. MYSTIC PIZZA (1988): As Yale-bound "Kat" -- the world's sexiest babysitter and planetarium guide -- she turns every red-blooded male into an Ivy League fan and astrology junkie. I'm still seeing stars.

Comments

[Rick in Scottsdale]

She's definitely one of those women who gets better (much better) with age, not that the starting point was anything to sneer at.

Have you noticed that she's a brunette? A pattern, hmm?

She's a really good actress too. Makes me wonder what has her doing so few roles. Get her on the phone, Spearsy.

[Complaint Department Manager]

Speaking of Wyatt Earp, Tombstone was better. I just watched hiding out again not too long ago, she looks cute even by today's standards. (talkin' hair style and what-not)

[Spears]

Well, Wyatt Earp and Tombstone are fairly different. You get Wyatt much later in life in Tombstone -- plus there's the genius of Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday.

Earp has its good points too - one being Annabeth. But also Gene Hackman and Bill Pullman.

[Big Tex]

I never liked the Sean Penn character in this depressing movie, even though he won awards for it. Oh wait - that was Mystic River. Never mind...

[Matt Katz]

Spears. Vincent D'Onofrio played Pyle in Full Metal Jacket. Joker was Matthew Modine

[Spears]

Ah, Katzy, you're right. Correction made

[Spears]

I was turned around because my favorite Donofrio line is the whole, "I AM in a world of s--t ... Joker" scene.

[GlennS.]

When I first saw Mystic Pizza I thought for sure Annabeth was the one with major stardom awaiting. Maybe that's why I've never been a huge Julia Roberts fan.

[Spears]

Not to dump on Julia too, but I've never been a huge fan either. She's a one-trick pony. She flashes the toothy grin and that's about it.

I'd much rather see Annabeth getting the big paychecks.

[Marissa]

Julia has terrible posture. I feel qualified to say this as a girl who was always being told to "pull your shoulders back!" while mom poked me in the middle of the back with her finger. ARGH!

Spearsy, this is one 'other woman' I can wholeheartedly support you being moony-eyed over. She's worthy.

[Jeff in Cuba]

Steve,

The torch I used to carry for Annabeth still smolders every now and then, but you've neglected to mention two of my favorite (albeit small) Mystic Pizza performances.

A snot-nosed Matt Damon (still in pull-ups, I believe),...

and the always spot-on Conchata Ferrell. I so admire her timing and her dry, acerbic touch. Don't let the low-brow trappings of her roles fool you. She's got serious skills.

[John Hays]

Wow, I've never seen any of the movies she's appeared in!

[CHAD]

0k never seen mystic pizza, so i dont really know who you are talking about. did she play kevin costners first wife in wyatt earp? tombstone vs earp, hmm, ive heard this over and over. i like tombstone, but is it better, no way. val kilmer is great, but in a way different way. its a more comediac role. i like to believe that dennis quaids performance in earp was the beginning of his comeback as an actor. he is great in that role(should have gotten an oscar). i might be biased, since costner is my fav actor. but factually i think earp is the better picture.

[I Was A Teenage Duranie]

I love Lili Taylor in "Say Anything" (one of my all-time favorite movies), but I think her best role is in "Dogfight" with River Phoenix. The book Alternate Oscars gives her Best Actress for 1991 for "Dogfight."

I have to admit to a guilty crush on the guy for whom Annabeth "babysits" in "Mystic Pizza." His name is William R. Moses, and he was Cole Gioberti on "Falcon Crest." (Yes, I know -- Falcon Crest. Hey, it had Ronald Reagan's ex-wife, who could actually ACT.) In real life, he was married to Tracy Nelson from "Square Pegs."

[John Hays]

Haven't seen Wyatt Earp, but I'm pretty sure that Tombstone ended up faring a lot better in the theater.

Tombstone
- budget $25,000,000
- gross $56,505,065

Wyatt Earp
- budget $63,000,000
- gross $25,052,000

Almost reversed stats! I think Tombstone's a great film.

[Miguel]

In Mystic Pizza they were a portuguese imigrant family.

Annabeth Gish made a good ensemble piece in the 90s,Beautiful Girls.

[Neil]

I remember when that movie came out, and it was sort of a surprise hit. I just hated the title. Sometimes I wont go see a movie because I hate the title, and "Mystic Pizza" sounded like it was going to be a pizza from outerspace or something. The title turned me off immediately, but my friend rented it and I ended up liking it. I agree with you I am not a big Julia Roberts fan, but liked her in this movie. She is a bit edgier in this movie which I like.

[I Was A Teenage Duranie]

I have actually been to Mystic, Conn. My aunt lives in Groton (right next door) and works in Mystic. Cute little New England town. Mystic Seaport is a tourist attraction.

[jane]

I always thought Julia was the one who got lucky when she married Lyle Lovett. She is very meh, despite being in two of my favorite guilty pleasure movies, "Steel Magnolias" and "Dying Young."

And Jeff, I adore Conchatta Ferrell -- I've never seen a performance of hers I didn't like.

[Miguel]

If Annabeth Gish becomes Mrs. Stuck in the 80s in 2009,Sean Daly will drool all over himself.

[Bassnote]

I admit to having a crush on Annabeth Gish in Mystic Pizza. She should have become a much bigger star. Don't forget her in the last few seasons of the X-Files.

[Spears]

If I marry Annabeth, I'll have her sit next to me in the control booth during podcasts, whispering little insider jokes to me as Sean goes on and on with another story about Molly Sherman or Julie Rothra.

[I Was A Teenage Duranie]

So just how big is Ms. Gish's stunt man husband?

Oh, "Dying Young." I have to admit that is one of my guilty pleasures also. I always thought Campbell Scott was great in that movie. (Of course, with his genes, he should be. He is the son of George C. Scott and Colleen Dewhurst.) When he quits taking his meds in that movie and grows his hair back, he is rather hunky.

[Miguel]

If you marry Annabeth Gish,i don`t believe you will do this podcast anymore. Time to move on ,would say Spearsy,well move on to the bedroom at least!

[Jeff in Cuba]

Miguel,

Be careful using the words "Annabeth", "Spearsy" and "bedroom" in such close proximity.

It's sort of like crossing the streams...

[Rick in Scottsdale]

I repeat, get her on the phone, Spearsy.

Or am I the only one who thinks she merits a lost-treasure podcast all her own?

[Spears]

It's nearly impossible to get actors/actresses to agree to interviews. Unless they're coming through town or promoting something, they're inaccessible.

[Rick in Scottsdale]

Okay, just did a little research and so my true colors are showing: I don't watch much TV, do I?

She was only a regular on X-Files, West Wing, and The Brotherhood, and has starred in made-for-TV movies every year since the mid-90s.

Doh.

But you might still want to get her on the phone, Steve. ;-)

[Rick in Scottsdale]

Whoops, our posts crossed, Steve.

I see she's got a made-for-TV coming out soon, titled
"Of Murder and Memory," though I doubt they do much
press for movies of the week.

Boo hoo.

[Martin]

Dude, it wasn't Annabeth Gish, it was Conchata Ferrell that made Mystic Pizza memorable.

[DoctorDrew]

I must admit that I never saw the movie. A little too chick flickish at the time - must have been alone :-(

Anyway, the Mrs and I went to Mystic last spring and I did eat at Mystic Pizza. Mrs was much more excited than I was (I am a long standing Pizza-snob - only certain places will do and the only Mystic thing about the pizza was how the place stayed open - bleh)

[Marissa]

Hey Miguel, regarding your comment "Sean will drool all over himself.."
He already does while gazing in the mirror.

**I know I'll pay for that in due time**

[Dennis]

Steve do you read German tv guides for ideas? really funny timing for this blog entry as it is on tonight (Saturday -> Sunday 0.15 on ARD 'Das Erste')...