Discland
edited by Jonathan Doyle
Mafioso (The Criterion Collection, 3.18.2008) Nino Badalamenti is a supervisor in a car manufacturing plant who hasn't taken a vacation in over two years. On his way out the door to visit his beloved childhood hometown of Sicily -- with his blonde wife and daughters -- Nino is handed a package by his boss and asked to deliver it to a powerful and influential Sicilian gangster named Don Vincenzo. Once in Sicily, Nino has a hoot seeing friends and family, but his wife has trouble fitting in and is unfairly dismissed as a snob by Nino's family. Even more worrisome, Nino finds himself entangled in an intricate web of secret mafioso dealings and is eventually sent on an unexpectedly... elaborate errand. (continued)

Upcoming


July 2

Hancock

July 3

The Whackness

July 4

Diminished Capacity

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson

Holding Trevor

Kabluey

We are Together

July 9

Full Battle Rattle

July 11

A Man Named Pearl

August

Eight Miles High

Garden Party

Harold

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Meet Dave

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

The Stone Angel

July 18

A Very British Gangster

Before I Forget

The Dark Knight

The Doorman

Felon

Lou Reed's Berlin

Mad Detective

Mamma Mia!

Space Chimps

Take

Transsiberian

July 22

Two Tickets to Paradise

July 23

Boy A




 

Hook or Crook

Forced to simulate indications of seasoned intelligence and sensitivity during a recent visit to Keith Olberman's "Countdown," Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo star Kal Penn was, by any fair standard, fairly convincing.

Tuesday Doings<< previous | next >>God Finally Smiles

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on May 07, 2008 at 04:38 AM

comment #1

cinefan [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

"Forced to simulate indications of seasoned intelligence and sensitivity..."
Did this guy do something bad to you on a personal level to make you dislike him? From watching Olbermann's interview, what I saw was a thoughtful and articulate young man who in no way seems like the character of Kumar.

Posted by cinefan [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 06:22 AM

comment #2

Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Oh look at the bright dangly worm. There couldn't possibly be a hook in something as pretty as that.

Posted by Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 06:24 AM

comment #3

actionman [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Why haven't you discussed your thoughts on the film, Wells?

Posted by actionman [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 06:48 AM

comment #4

Jamieson [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Your utter disdain for Kal Penn is incredibly baffling. I share cinefan's wonder as to what on Earth he may have done to you. He's not a great actor, not a horrible one either, and isn't really forcing himself into the public eye on any kind of regular basis.

Where does such ire come from? I just don't get it.

Posted by Jamieson [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 07:05 AM

comment #5

lbeale [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Jeff:
Kal Penn is easily one of the smartest, most articulate and thoughtful actors I've ever interviewed. And you know I've interviewed tons of 'em. Wassup with your distaste for this guy?

Posted by lbeale [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 08:05 AM

comment #6

D.Z. [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

I'm wondering if Jeff is jealous that Kal appeals to movie-goers the way Obama appeals to voters. Maybe if Josh Lucas was a co-star, it'd be a different story...Or maybe Jeff expected something else from Van Wilder[naked Tara action], and getting stuck with Penn ruined his day. In his defense, though, there's a Something About Mary-like scene with Penn at the beginning of H+K 2 which is totally unnecessary and which could have killed it.

Posted by D.Z. [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 08:18 AM

comment #7

Jay T. [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Did this guy rape you in a back alley or something? I see know reason for you to have such disdain for him... or somehow know that deep down he's a moron. I don't get it...

Posted by Jay T. [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 08:30 AM

comment #8

rr3333 [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Fess up Jeff. Is it because he's not as good looking as Adrien Brody?

But semi-seriously .... He's an actor. Its their job to sometimes play dumber than they are or smarter than they are.

Doesn't mean the actual person is a dummy or not.

You and Kal should meet and hug it out already.

Posted by rr3333 [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 08:46 AM

comment #9

storymark [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

I think the post, as it stands, is about the closest we'll ever see to Jeff admitting he was wrong on this point.

Posted by storymark [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 09:10 AM

comment #10

CinemaPhreek [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

We can only hope that was failed attempt at being either sarcastic or ironic, because a quick check of Mr Modi's resume would have revealed not only a double major of film and sociology at UCLA, but also his stint this spring at University of Pennsylvania as a guest lecturer for a class entitled "Asian Americans in the Media"

Posted by CinemaPhreek [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 09:38 AM

comment #11

Mr. Blood Vessel [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...


I guess I am the only one that gets why Jeff hates him.
He has this "I'm a frat boy who wants to help the blind, but I'll make fun of them also" feel.
I also get the feeling that it maybe just a a facade to move within his age group.

Posted by Mr. Blood Vessel [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 09:46 AM

comment #12

Mr. Blood Vessel [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...


na sorry.
that was how I usted to feel.
now,he seems like a nice decent guy who doesn't have any problems.

Posted by Mr. Blood Vessel [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 10:43 AM

comment #13

LYT [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Those wondering why anyone would be mad at Kal Penn clearly did not have to review Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj.

That, and his supposedly serious performance in The Namesake was ridiculously overrated.


Love the first Harold and Kumar though.

Posted by LYT [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 11:28 AM

comment #14

Aunt Sassy [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Spring is in the air, and a bitter old man's fixation turns to hate.

Seriously, Jeff, just fucking propose to him already. This extended courtship is starting to get really boring. The sooner you resolve your feelings for Kal, the sooner I can pick out what I'm going to wear to the wedding. (I'm praying for a Bollywood musical massacre at the reception!)

Posted by Aunt Sassy [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 11:30 AM

comment #15

Adonis [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

So... the previous post on this last week, where I and a bunch of people asked you to do some journalism, i.e. research, and then offer an apology:

Is this it?

It's a little short, but I will take it Wells. I'll take it.

Posted by Adonis [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 11:46 AM

comment #16

Terry McCarty [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

actionman wrote:
Why haven't you discussed your thoughts on the film, Wells?

Here are my thoughts :
Other than Rob Corddry's performance as the "bad apple" government official, the film tends to make nice with young males who haven't changed their minds about the war's validity (as they see it) since 2003. Gitmo is portrayed as a place where, if you're imprisoned there, you're probably a terrorist--and the low point of the film is the extended gag where prisoners are expected to fellate a male U.S. soldier.

And there's also the "George W. Bush as friendly pothead" scene towards the end--where Bush is caricaturized as a guy you'd like to have a joint-laced-with-coke with..

Posted by Terry McCarty [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 01:04 PM

comment #17

D.Z. [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

I think the point of the Gitmo scene was that, regardless of whether or not they're terrorists, they still should be treated like human beings. And Bush is actually portrayed as a hypocritical idiot who only does what other people tell him to do.

Posted by D.Z. [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 7, 2008 01:13 PM

comment #18

JHRussell [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Jeff loathes Penn, but he watches that douche bag Olberman?

Posted by JHRussell [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 8, 2008 05:48 AM

Post a Comment

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)


Remember me?