Hello gang! Very under the weather.......lots of coughing and no voice. Thank God we're not on radio? I'll make it short and sweet. Shall we begin?

Frontpage La Floridiana Movie Review Matt's Rail Mike's homepage Crazed Fanboy home PCR Archives 2002 2001 2000 PCR 2002 Home

THREE IN A ROW
My declaration last week that March 27th would be remembered as "the day the laughter died" was further validated with the passing of the great filmmaker Billy Wilder. Wilder, who had written, produced and directed some of the greatest films of all time, passed away late Wednesday night at the age of 95. As a young man in Austria and, then, Germany, Wilder began his career writing scripts for the famed UFA Studios. He fled from the Nazis, first to Paris, then Mexico and finally to America, where he accepted a job writing for Paramount. That job turned into one of the most prolific careers in Hollywood.

Among Wilder's best known films: Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, The Major and the Minor, Stalag 17, Sabrina, The Lost Weekend, The Apartment and Some Like It Hot, which the American Film Institute recently honored as the top comedy film of all time. I would like to paraphrase a story Mr. Wilder often told about his experience when he entered this country. He had filled out all of the necessary paperwork and completed all of the interviews. All that stood between him and America was one more official. The official sat across the table from Wilder and did not say a word for many minutes. He looked him up and down as if he was sizing him up. Finally, he asked, "And if we allow you into our country, Mr. Wilder, what will you do?" Wilder replied, "Make movies." The man looked him over once again, stamped his paperwork "approved" and told him, "make some good ones." He certainly did!

TERENCE
Just a few notes on two recent letters to the editor that Terence Nuzum wrote addressing my choice of Best Director and four-star rating of "ET." Terence, Terence, Terence...............our very own angry young man! You have taken it upon yourself to look for any slight that may make an honest opinion "un-cool" and have chosen to champion the one supposedly slighted. To say that I dishonor David Lynch by saying Ron Howard is overdue for an Oscar is ridiculous! David Lynch has done some excellent work. The two films you cite, "Elephant Man" and "Blue Velvet," are fine examples of his work, and, in fact, Lynch was Oscar nominated for both of those films. But to champion a guy for a failed TV pilot with some lesbian overtones added..................well, I can't say it's foolish, because it's your opinion, as Ron Howard was mine. If you want to call foul, explain to me why Kevin Costner owns a Best Director Oscar and MARTIN SCORSESE DOESN'T!!!! That, to me, is a dishonor. Unfortunately, you only get one chance per film, and sometimes, in spite of your best work, someone comes along and does something that just astounds people. I have no doubt that one day David Lynch will receive a must deserved Oscar........hell, I'm sure Scorsese will win one eventually. But this year's winner was more then deserving, and I'm not going to change my opinion on that.

Now, as for "ET." Do I agree with what Spielberg did? No. If you read in past issues when I first brought up the various changes in the film I was not happy. However, that did not distract me from the fact that the film is still a masterpiece. It continues to entertain and children everywhere are being reintroduced to a classic film ON THE BIG SCREEN! You can watch all of the movies you want on video or DVD, but nothing beats the theatre experience. I hope you see it again.

Well, that's it for this week. Time to take my medicine! See ya!