Tag: Jerry Lewis

We’re Watching The Oscars

We saw a lot of movies this year. My most spoken line to Helaine is “Who is that?”

We are watching the Oscars. Yeah, I know.

We saw a lot of movies this year. It makes no difference. My most spoken line to Helaine is “Who is that?”

Hugh Jackman is very likable. Very talented. He disappeared in the second half of the show.

Heath Ledger’s family is walking up to accept his Oscar. “They couldn’t have gotten better seats,” asked Helaine?

Ben Stiller–funny as Joaquin Phoenix. I am surprised that single appearance on Letterman was considered enough of a universal experience to use it.

I miss Billy Crystal.

I miss Jon Stewart.

Sorry Dave.

Jerry Lewis looked frail and in pain.

Whenever anyone says something good about Slumdog Millionaire (a movie we both enjoyed) I am fearful people will go without knowing how violent and depraved some parts are. And, by the way, why is that movie now being heavily promoted with the totally meaningless credit roll dance scene? It isn’t really part of the movie.

Oh Jennifer Aniston. Helaine says Jennifer Aniston has too much personal baggage for me. Not quite an unbiased view, is it?

You don’t want to know how much time you can save by watching the Oscars on a DVR five days after the fact.

Schickel On Scorsese

Last month I watched a great documentary by Richard Schickel on the works of Woody Allen. Tonight it was my turn to see Schickel’s take on Martin Scorsese.

After an hour and a half of listening and watching I have to admit I am exhausted. The absolute breadth of Scorses’s work is what had me riveted. There was not a picture, not a clip, that didn’t hold my interest.

In some ways I am surprised because Scorsese often directs movies which depict incredible violence. This is not implied violence – it is up on the screen and it is gory and repulsive. Yet, within the context of his movies, this violence advances the story.

My own favorite Scorsese movie, one of many starring Robert DeNiro, is King of Comedy. Not only did the movie capture the craziness (and crazy people) who come along with celebrity, it also showed Jerry Lewis in a dramatic performance I would have never expected – never.

Lewis plays Johnny Carson… or at least a Carson clone, doing his show from Manhattan. He was totally believable. He was never Jerry Lewis. He was always in character.

Now Scorsese’s new film Aviator is out. I guess doing this interview was one way to promote the movie. Works for me. I’ll have to see it.

This is my second time recording a Richard Schickel interview. I know he’s the film critic for Time but this was new to me. As I mentioned after the first time, he is totally removed from these films. There are no off camera questions. No cutaways. The principal is the subject 100%.