Standing up for Red Dawn

You guys know I've always stuck it (in the 80's) to Steve Spears for his boundless admiration for the 1984 movie Red Dawn.

Now comes an intruder to the party who can't hold a candle to psycho-Soviet troops yet demands to be addressed with swift retaliation.

Today's page 2A had a Red Dawn-related item from our gossipy The Jizz -- oops -- The Juice. (Sorry, I was thinking about Max Rebo's brand of Star Wars swing music, or perhaps a birding technique, or maybe a characteristic impression left by an animal or plant. Where's your head at?)

Anyway, The Juice reported a remake is in the works. While I'll agree that's a bad idea, I take exception to the description of Red Dawn's original cast (Charlie Sheen, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Jennifer Grey) as "an unbelievably amazing cast of unfulfilled promises." (The Juice did give Patrick Swayze a backhanded compliment, though. I expected some kind of cancer gag.)

I submit that collectively starring in some of Hollywood's most memorable movies (Platoon, Wall Street, Back to the Future, Dirty Dancing, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Outsiders and E.T.) not to mention, in Sheen's case, headlining the top TV comedy today, is more than most actors can brag about. Definitely more than any gossip blogger.

Can't wait for Spears' response to this cyber-sacrilege of his favorite flick. But I've got his back.

WOLVERINES!

The Susan Lucci of Academy Awards

Just one final Oscars story, and I don't even have the oomph to write it. But it's a nice one.

Kevin O'Connell isn't a household name but he's a sound mixer who was at the Kodak Theatre Sunday night with his 20th Academy Award nomination, this one for Transformers. T-w-e-n-t-y.

How many Oscars does Mr. O'Connell have on his mantle? Zero. Z-e-r-o.

Is he bitter? Not at all, for a very nice reason that Ray Richmond of the Hollywood Reporter posted today on his blog. Check it out then tell me you won't be pulling for this guy next year.

Hear ye! Hear ye! Oscars podcast is on!

Stuck in the 80's guru Steve Spears is stuck with me in this week's podcast, available by clicking here or through some kind of iPod contraption that the kids like these days. I was sitting in for Sean Daly during his paternity leave (which worked out better than the paternity suit a few years ago).

We had a great time going through his fave decade's Oscar winners, from Ordinary People to Driving Miss Daisy, and giving props to movies like Raging Bull and Raiders of the Lost Ark that should've won. I also get to tell my favorite Jack Nicholson story from the Oscars.

I had so much fun, I'm hoping Daly procreates again soon.

2007's top-10 films... almost

I won't make it that easy on you. That's how I roll.

But I spent much of the day getting my 10-best list for 2007 concocted. Still have The Savages on DVD and The Great Debaters on Monday (supposedly the first day of vacation) to see if they sneak in. Saw Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story last night and it won't make the list but, like the first Austin Powers, it's one I'll probably watch more than the top-10 picks and it'll make a better Halloween costume.

Did I ever tell you about my three wins in costume contests dressed like the International Man of Mystery? Remind me sometime.

Anyway, here's the intro for this year's list, or part of it. We're a bit ahead of schedule this year, disrupting down time, because Daly and Deggans -- the Gold Dust Twins -- had their thoughts together sooner. I love 'em for it in the long run. Our respective picks for our beats will run Dec. 21 in Floridian:

 

"I’m composing my list of 2007’s top-10 films and Javier Bardem’s psycho killer from No Country for Old Men keeps popping into my mind.

He blankly stares into my eyes, flips and catches a shiny coin then sinisterly whispers: “Call it.”

I know what happened when folks made the wrong choice in the movie.

The stakes aren’t nearly as high for me.

But choosing a No. 1 movie among the deepest roster of candidates in years comes down to a heads-or-tails proposition.

On one side of the coin is Joel and Ethan Coen’s deadly quiet immorality tale, No Country for Old Men. On the other is Sean Penn’s Into the Wild that emotionally affected me more than any film in years.

I should’ve known 2007 would end with a predicament like this."

The Patriots ain't got nuthin' on me

Gotta brag about going 8-0 in fantasy football this weekend, my first perfecto of the season. Deeply satisfying was my come-from-behind victory over Times pop music critic Sean Daly, whose affection for New England players proved costly during their bye week.

I was down 26 points before Monday night's game. Picked up Seattle's defense on a hunch and they tossed the shutout I promised Daly yesterday. Also picked up Maurice Morris, whose TD and 103 total yards made the difference.

Almost made sitting through August Rush worthwhile.

The food bloggers have their movie picks and I have mine

Check out Laura Reiley's current blog posting with her picks for the best food-related movies of all time. The Snack Pack bunch in TBT chimed in with their choices.

Me, I like to be different, and gross.

Here are my fast choices for the best vomit-related movie scenes of all time:

The Exorcist -- The greatest movie puke of all time, limited in its color and consistency by the pea soup effects but certainly memorable.
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life -- If Linda Blair is the queen of movie barf, Mr. Creosote (Terry Jones) is the king. "Get me a bucket!"
Team America: World Police -- Marionette sex got even kinkier on the unrated DVD version. Messier, too.
Stand By Me - Wil Wheaton's campfire story about a blueberry (I think) pie eating contest gone grossly wrong.
The Witches of Eastwick -- Veronica Cartwright projectile barfing cherries on the devil's -- i.e. Jack Nicholson's -- command.
The Invasion - The most recent regurgitation flick (and Invasion of the Body Snatchers remake), with an extraterrestrial virus spread by puking into victims' faces.

So, what are your (urp) best Technicolor yawn choices?

BLOG BATTLE: What was the most patriotic movie of the 1980s?

Oh, that Steve Spears has bitten off more than he can chew, challenging moi to a Fourth of July blog battle about movies. Paraphrasing another 80s' flick: "Isn't that just like a podcaster? Brings a knife to a gunfight." 

Choosing his own weapon, Steve (aka Mr. Stuck in the '80s) wants our choices of his fave decade's most patriotic films. He has five personal picks on his site that should be good for a chuckle. My thoughts on his choices are parenthetically weaved into mine:

1.The Right Stuff (1983) - Like cowboys going west, the Mercury astronauts embodied courage, swagger and determination for a changing and challenged nation. No bombs bursting in air, but the rockets' red glare illuminated the best aspects of us. (As opposed to First Blood, which dimmed them.)

2. Rocky IV (1985) - Are you ready to Cold War rumble? Soviet semi-cyborg Ivan Drago fell harder than the Berlin Wall after Rocky Balboa dished out truth, justice and the American uppercut. Extra credit for the Italian Stallion's star spangled boxing trunks. (And he could kick those teen commandos in Red Dawn all the way to Moscow.)

3. Glory (1989) - Ferris Bueller grows up to lead an African-American brigade into Civil War history. The sacrifice of these troops to preserve the Union - despite racism on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line - is a sterling example of patriotism. (Lou Gossett, Jr. in Iron Eagle had an easier tour of duty as a result.)

4. Born on the Fourth of July (1989) - Nothing is more patriotic than a soldier (Tom Cruise) fighting for his country, unless it is the same soldier realizing a mistaken war and protesting against it. (Calling Cruise's Top Gun patriotic is like calling Paris Hilton another Jane Fonda.)

5. Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) - Compassion is a frequent casualty of war. Not in this flick, in which an irreverent U.S. Armed Force Radio deejay (Robin Williams) demonstrates what sets us apart from the evildoers, when the system allows it to happen. (Therefore, why is the unfriendly fire in Platoon patriotic?)

Click here to see Steve's arguments. Tell us who won the battle. And add your choices too.