Blaze of Glory (MQW)

"You know, Sir, I do admire you, and I sure would like to touch the gun that's gonna kill Billy the Kid."                       ~William H. Bonney, Young Guns



"I'm gonna make you famous."       ~William H. Bonney, Young Guns

Today is Movie Quote Wednesday over at Alex J. Cavanaugh's blog.  The movie genre for today is Westerns.  I obviously chose Young Guns.  And, as usual, have more than one quote that I find particularly tantalizing and memorable.  Sigh.

As you know, Young Guns was a movie from the 80s.  If you have been following this blog for a REALLY LONG TIME you might be able to reach way back into your memory reserves and be able to recall when I had a regular Saturday post featuring 80s music.  That post was actually all about how MTV and videos launched videos and (some) singers and bands into an orbit of celebrity and fame that they would not have achieved had it not been for the medium.  Videos, music, and movies all of a sudden were riding in tandem with one another for mutual moneymaking success.  If a movie played its cards correctly and put out a good soundtrack, along with a dazzling video, each one of these mediums could stairstep one another to greater and greater success.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if I shouldn't start writing that Saturday blog again.  I actually enjoyed that little fluff piece each weekend.  Hmmmm.  Well, that is something to think about.  Let me know YOUR thoughts.  If you want to know what those look like, I tagged them as Inspirational Songs.

One last quote before we shut this one down:

"It ain't easy having pals."         Charley Bowdre, Young Guns

Foul Play (MQW).

On Monday Alex J. Cavanaugh gave me, and a few others, an award.  I think that I thanked him adequately enough, but maybe not.  If not, I just want to take a moment to say that I truly do appreciate his thinking of me when he was passing out the Very Inspiring Blogger Award.  Quite frankly, I am not sure what he found so inspiring in this little arena of the blogosphere, but I am NOT going to quibble.  I am simply thankful that there is something to find!

As many of you know, Alex also hosts Movie Quote Wednesday.  Last week I did a big ol' spread on When Harry Met Sally for Romantic Comedies.  It turns out that Alex wasn't ready for the event, but I was, and so I just went with it.  Well... Alex caught up to me this week, so everyone else is posting movie quotes from their favorite Romantic Comedy today.  Turns out I can go again.

"I'm sorry. You're right. That was a stupid, glib, chauvinist remark and I apologize. It *is* your ass they're after, and it's my job to see to it that... I get there first."  ~Tony Carlson, Foul Play 

Foul Play: the first Goldie Hawn/Chevy Chase pairing in a romantic comedy with suspense served up on the side.  The supporting cast was outstanding.  It included Burgess Meredith, Brian Dennehy, and Dudley Moore.  Foul Play marked Dudley Moore's transition from television to movies.  Even though his role was very "supporting," he was outstanding in every way.  I think this movie really launched his career.  This film also solidified Goldie and Chevy as the acting goldmines that they are.  They are just funny people.  The same is true for Burgess Meredith.  Of course, by this time his place as an acting icon was already assured.

Naturally I trolled YouTube in an attempt to put on this blog "the best" scene from the movie.  And my problem lies in the fact that the entire movie is FANTASTIC.  All of the scenes are great.

This scene with Dudley Moore is hilarious.  If you haven't seen the movie (you really need to get it on Netflix, buy it somewhere, or just watch it on YouTube), Goldie has just foiled some potential kidnappers, and is on the run.  She picks up Stanley (Moore) in a bar.  She is just looking for a safe haven.  But they are totally on different pages about what will happen after they leave the bar.  Hilarious.  Whenever I hear the song Stayin' Alive I think of this scene.


This scene with Burgess Meredith is another favorite.  Honestly, I don't know who is my favorite person to watch: the fighters or Goldie and Chevy watching the fighters.  And that, my peeps, is great acting.  If you are more interesting sitting there doing nothing but WATCHING and still stealing the scene... you are freakin' awesome.  Although, Burgess Meredith rocks, too.  But no one is boring in this one!!!


This might be my favorite scene of the entire movie. Some call it the Infamous San Francisco Car Ride in Foul Play.  My favorite thing is Goldie's expressions...  That and the various passengers, particularly the Japanese couple.  *Kojak.  Bang. Bang.*  Whenever I need a good laugh, I just watch this movie.  By the time I am done with this scene, my sides hurt.


The great thing about Foul Play is that even with all of these "extras," I know I missed tons of great scenes from this movie.  What is your favorite scene in Foul Play?  Do you have a favorite quote from this movie?  Or maybe another movie?  What is your all-time favorite Romantic Comedy Movie Quote?  


image found on www.weheartit.com

Hooked On A Feeling (MQW).

Normally, Alex J. Cavanaugh hosts Movie Quote Wednesday today.  In fact, the designated theme for this week: Romantic Comedy.  This was supposed to go off last week (I think it was intended to coincide with V-Day), but Alex was so log-jammed that it didn't happen.  Ironically, the poor guy had so many things on his plate this week that Movie Quote Wednesday came and went and totally missed his blog.  However, I have been putting in BRAIN TIME trying to come up with something for this event, so I am still playing.

"All I'm saying is that somewhere out there is the man you are supposed to marry. And if you don't get him first, somebody else will, and you'll have to spend the rest of your life knowing that somebody else is married to your husband."            ~Marie, When Harry Met Sally 

This Rob Reiner movie is funny, but it also taps into every single person's greatest fear: staying single forever.  In fact, this line is coming directly from that place of fear.  Isn't that every person's nightmare?  Meeting someone, thinking he might be the one, and then having him marry someone else because you didn't act quickly enough?  Or be good enough, right enough, or just enough?  Whatever that is?  

I honestly had a difficult time choosing a Best Line from this movie.  The writers Spread the Dialogue Love around.  Oftentimes, the writers fall in love with one character and give that character all the Best Lines.  Not in this film.  Everyone got The Love.  Here's another Beauty:

"Right now everything is great, everyone is happy, everyone is in love and that is wonderful. But you gotta know that sooner or later you're gonna be screaming at each other about who's gonna get this dish. This eight dollar dish will cost you a thousand dollars in phone calls to the legal firm of That's Mine, This Is Yours."                                   ~Harry, When Harry Met Sally 

Billy Crystal is fabulous in this, if for no other reason than he is an unlikely leading man in a Romantic Comedy.  He is not particularly good looking.  But, he is funny as all get out.  He is horribly un-PC in this movie.  And he has just stated out loud THE PROBLEM in most relationships that no one wants to say out loud.  People get married because they are hooked on a feeling, and when the feeling goes away, they end up in Divorce Court.  So, you better label your stuff and be prepared to spend thousands over an eight dollar dish.  Why?  Because you RUSHED INTO MARRIAGE YOU IDIOTS.  But, you're my friends so I can't call you an idiot, per se, so I am telling you to label your books, so you will know how to divvy them up later...


One of the best things about this movie is that these two characters, Harry and Sally, actually become good friends in this movie.  Ironically, they do this in spite of the fact that Harry states at the beginning of the movie that "men and women can't be friends."  It turns out that he is wrong about that.  They continue to meet up over the years, and after Harry goes through a very painful divorce and Sally is dumped by her long-time boyfriend, they do, in fact, become friends.  At that point, they have no interest in a relationship.  They just want to put themselves back together, and they discover that they genuinely like one another.  Of course, the best "relationships" are grounded in friendship, as they will ultimately discover.  But, then anyone who sees the movie knows this... and anyone who hasn't should know it is coming.  It is a Romantic Comedy.

I think this is one of the Best Dialogues of the Movie:

Harry Burns: There are two kinds of women: high maintenance and low maintenance.   
Sally Albright: Which one am I?
Harry Burns: You're the worst kind; you're high maintenance but you think you're low maintenance.  
Sally Albright: I don't see that.  
Harry Burns: You don't see that? Waiter, I'll begin with a house salad, but I don't want the regular dressing. I'll have the balsamic vinegar and oil, but on the side. And then the salmon with the mustard sauce, but I want the mustard sauce on the side. "On the side" is a very big thing for you. 
Sally Albright: Well, I just want it the way I want it.  
Harry Burns: I know; high maintenance.

I think that this conversation might have been the invention of the High Maintenance-Low Maintenance "thing."  In fact, it is terminology that I don't hear much anymore.  Frankly, I don't think that there is anything wrong with being High Maintenance.  Sally is right: she wants it the way she wants it.  However, Harry is right, too.  She is the worst kind for not recognizing that she is High Maintenance.  The great thing is that he feels perfectly free to call her out on it.  That is being a good friend.

Another sign that they are moving into the best friend zone, which is the perfect place to launch a relationship from if both people are so inclined... You feel free to show true, genuine emotion in front of that person.  In other words, you can "ugly cry" in front of them.   Let's take a look:







"Yeah, but he was too old to pick them up."  Hahahahaha.  This scene reminds me of why I like this movie so much.  Loving someone is about more than falling in love with them.  It is actually loving them.  Those are two very different things.  Good to know.

image found at www.weheartit.com

Movie Quote Wednesday

I wasn't paying attention last week and completely missed it.  What did I miss?

Movie Quote Wednesday.  Alex J. Cavanaugh posts the theme each week, so you have a whole week to decide on a quote.  Two weeks ago, I totally bailed on the theme and just did my own thing.  Yeah, I know... it was a totally "Me" thing to do.  Additionally, I planted it in front of another post.  I had a LOT to say that day.  Moving on...

The following Wednesday, I totally forgot it was Wednesday.  Missed the entire Event.  This is my life.

So, this week the theme is Crime Thriller.  Next week it is Romantic Comedy.  I do keep up... contrary to popular opinion.

If you are wondering why the name sounds familiar, Alex J. Cavanaugh is the same fellow hosting the 10 Top Movie Blogfest in March.  And he is also a person helping out with the A to Z Challenge.  He also runs the Insecure Writers Support Group.  That happened today for all of those people throwing out their work.  That isn't me.  Do I need to work on my novel?  Yes.  Have I worked on it at all?  Not even remotely for over a year.  It is like the inspiration juice drained out of me.  I find even thinking about it annoying.  Reading what I write on this blog annoys me.  When I can put words together in such a fashion that they sound like music, even if it sometimes sounds off-key, then there will be something worth reading.  Until then, not so much.  However, I love the things that Alex does on his blog.  If you are a writer, it is an excellent place to go.

For the record, I did sign up for the A to Z Challenge.  Please note the badge in my sidebar.  I will talk about this more in a later blog.  I also signed up for the Top 10 Movie Challenge.  I committed.  My list of movies just gets longer and longer.  I am beginning to think that maybe a decade is the way to go here.  80s maybe?  I don't know yet.  I have yet to figure out how I am going to pull out 10 of Anything out of this list.  However, here is one of my Favorites for Movie Quote Wednesday.  It could still end up on my Top 10 Movie List, depending on how they get weeded out.

"You went down thirty years ago, pal, you just don't know it yet."   ~Frequency



image found at www.weheartit.com

Movie Quote Wednesday Collides With Lance Armstrong

"I choose to drink! And I blame it on me. I’m happy to. I’ve got an ex-wife and a son I don’t see. Why? Because I choose to drink!"                                                     ~Whip Whitaker, Flight



I read today over on Alex Cavanaugh's blog that today was the day to post your Movie Quote of the Week. Of course, he wanted me to pick a futuristic sci fi movie. Well, that didn't really fit in with what I wanted to talk about today. However, I liked the concept. Furthermore, Alex is one of those people who really praises people on his blog. He is a big encourager, high-fiver, makes wanna-be writers actually perfect their craft, gives big Shout Outs to those who get published, and hosts events for all and sundry to share their work. I admire that. I rarely participate, but I admire. So, I am posting a Movie Quote today. Thank you, Alex.

 Of course, it lends itself very well to my topic at hand.  I posted the trailer to the movie FLIGHT for those of you unfamiliar with it.  I saw it in the theatre when it came out.  So appropriately named.  Yes, it was about an airplane flight that crashed.  But, man that is such a small part of the story.  Whit Whitaker, played so amazingly by Denzel Washington, is literally a man in flight.  Partway through I wondered if they should have called it HIGH.  However, that would have been *wrong.*  Even though he was so high even when he was on the ground.  If you watched the trailer, and I hope you did, you saw that he had this amazing talent that could only be God-given.  Every person who simulated that crash landing killed all of the passengers.  This guy did it drunk.  And that is so drunk that he needed to run lines of coke to get right.  And then he drank more on the plane while it was in flight (obviously prior to the crash).  Imagine what skill he would have clean and sober, but I am jumping ahead.  (BTW, did any of you know that shooting coke would make a person who was drop dead drunk able to present a relatively presentable image of someone sober?  As for me, I had no idea.  These entertainment people are all over this drug scene.)

Here is the thing about alcoholics and drug addicts: you never know where the bottom is.  I would think that a plane crash would be the bottom.  Nope.  Not necessarily so.  Because Whit is still aware that he is THE ONLY GUY who could have landed that plane, it is not the bottom.  He saved lives.  The fact that he was drunk on the job?  The fact that the boozing and drugging had cost him his family?  It didn't matter.  See the above quote.  The man is drunk off his behind when he is screaming it at the only person who still cares a rat's ass about him, and she is on her way OUT.  "I choose to drink! And I blame it on me. I’m happy to. I’ve got an ex-wife and a son I don’t see. Why? Because I choose to drink!"  I AM HAPPY TO.  I HAVE AN EX-WIFE AND SON I DON'T SEE BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO DRINK.

Oh, yeah, he is in flight.  He is in flight from his LIFE.  Things probably got hard and he started drinking and then they got harder and then he ran.  He is in flight. And then he drank more and then he couldn't come home.  And now his son hates him and he is in FLIGHT.  He later says in the film not to worry about him because he lies about his drinking better than anything else.  He's got it covered.  He's been doing it a LONG time.  Or something like that.  It was the classic liar, alcoholic response.  Once you do anything long enough it is second nature.  And to someone who doesn't actually KNOW you, they will believe it.  Of course they will.

I am going to do my best and not ruin this movie for you, because it is well worth your time.  At what point is someone redeemable?  At what point do they deserve your forgiveness?  As someone who has been lied to by the men in my life, I can look back now and say that I know I can't forgive you if 1) You keep on lying (it means you don't actually mean it), 2) Your "truth" turns out to be another lie (so you were still lying), 3) You gave me only a portion of the truth (so you were actually still lying), 4) You only told the truth when I gathered enough evidence that you were cornered (up until then you swore up and down that the other version, which was the lie, was in fact truth). 5)  You cannot say  I am truly sorry for how my behavior hurt you. I need Remorse.  Genuine remorse.

Our newest Celebrity Liar asking for Mea Culpa is Lance Armstrong.  No, he didn't kill anyone.  However, he was perceived by many as a Hero.  And he accepted the title willingly enough.  He was even a Cancer Survivor and had legions of fans in that arena who expected him to "represent" them in some way.  I would use words like Honor, Honesty, Integrity.  He gave none of those things back to the people who supported him so ardently.

I watched a good bit of his interview with Oprah asking for his side of the story to be heard.  He admitted to doping during all seven of his Tour De France wins.  He agreed that the doping wasn't particularly honorable, but it was easy.  In fact, everyone was doing it.  However, since this was about him, he didn't want to go pointing fingers at anyone else.  Hmmm.  Counterpoint: there were a handful of guys running clean on the circuit and "I really admire those guys."  Apparently he didn't admire them enough to run a clean race himself.  But, he admired them.  Well, okay.

He also readily admitted to being a bully and tearing into ANYONE who discovered his doping.  Woah.  What a nice fellow.  Someone we can all look up to: a doper and a bully.  I can't decide which aspect of his personality is now my favorite.

And then we got into the semantics over whether or not you could be on HIS team if you doped or not.  We must remember that he was Team Captain and that you lead by example.  Several non-dopers said that you could NOT be on the team if you didn't dope.  A fellow doper claimed that they regularly doped in the tents right outside, with people all around and none the wiser,  and NO ONE knew.  He related this in his book.  Lance said he had no memory of these events, but if the other guy said it then he wouldn't deny it.  WTF?  Lance also said that he didn't feel as bad about HIS doping because he only MINIMALLY doped.  I guess that means he was a light doper.  And he also said that, at the time, he was able to justify it after his cancer because he lost his ball.  You know, he had less male hormone, so he needed it more (the dope). After all, he was the only guy out there riding around out there with one ball.  I can see his point.  Not really.

So, let's look at my criteria.  (#1-5).  #1 You keep on lying.  Well, the guy lied long enough to win seven Tour de France competitions.  I would say that is a lot of lying.  #2 The truth is just another lie.  Well, that also qualifies here.  He said repeatedly and forcefully that he was not doping when he was.  Not doping was his truth.  #3 Now that it is all out we are getting portions of the truth.  "If so and so said that we doped in the tent, we doped in the tent, but I have no memory of that."  Seriously?  Is that owning it these days?  #4  You only fess up if you get caught, and there is no way out but the truth.  This guy got caught.  If he hadn't, would he still be doing it?  My gut says he would.  He doesn't really think anything he did was all that bad.  Everyone was doing it.  He was doing less.  And, let's face it, he was only working with one ball vs. other guys with two.  #5 Remorse.  I didn't see any.  The only thing he seemed to work up any emotion about was getting caught again in 2011,  Maybe he was doping then and maybe he wasn't.  But who can believe him?  He has zero credibility.  His mommy should have read him the book about The Boy Who Cried Wolf.



The best quote from the interview with Lance Armstrong: "I'm not the most believable guy in the world right now."

Ya think?