Matt's Rail
Happy New Year, The Beatles still kick ass, sorry movie year, obits, favorite movie lines.
Mike's Rant
Late for Xmas, HOOP, New Year's rez?
Hello, gang! I hope each and every one of you has had a great holiday and are looking forward to a safe and prosperous New Year. (Same to you, Mike. And I join Mike in wishing everyone out there a Happy New Year!---Nolan.) Here we go:
MOVING ON
Sad to report the following passings:
CONJUNCTION JUNCTION NO LONGER FUNCTIONS
Thomas Yohe, the creative force behind television's Emmy Award winning "School House Rock," passed away last week at age 63. Yohe was creative director of the series of animated shorts from 1973 through 1985. The series won four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children's Information Series.
THAT BEAR WAS LIKE A SON TO ME
Ray Bell, the man who nursed Smokey the Bear to health as a young cub, has died at age 89. A conservation officer stationed with the state Game and Fish Department in New Mexico, Bell was working the day a forest fire broke out in the mountains nearby in 1950. A firefighter brought a black bear cub with burned paws into Bell's camp. After veterinarians treated the cub, Bell took it home. Bell and his family cared for the cub for two months, then sent the cub to the National Zoo, where it lived until it died in 1976.
ONLY 9,999 MANIACS LEFT
Rob Buck, lead guitarist of the rock band 10,000 Maniacs, passed away last Tuesday night from complications of liver failure. He was 42. Buck wrote many of the band's hit songs, including "These Are Days."
RESPECT YOURSELF
Roebuck "Pops" Staples, leader of the gospel and rythym-and-blues group the Staple Singers, also passed away last Tuesday. He was 84. The group gained fame in the 1960s by singing music that urged religious and social changes.
(After Mike sent in his column, word came that actor Jason Robards died at the age of 78. I couldn't let this issue pass without a mention of this fine actor---N)
MOVIE NOTES
Many fans and critics, myself included, have pretty much written off 2000 as one of the worst years in movie history. (No argument there!---N) Though the year was chock full of money-making blockbusters like "X-Men," "Nutty Professor 2" and "The Grinch" there weren't a lot of Oscar caliber films out there. With only one week left in the year, I can't even find five films that I would nominate for best picture. (That puts our special Oscar 2001 issue in jeopardy---N) Let me add that I have yet to see "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," which starts this week here in KC, or "Traffic" which will open wide on January 13th and has swept many of the critics awards. I am looking forward to next year, tho. Upcoming trailers for such films as "Hannibal," "Pearl Harbor," "The Mummy Returns" and "Tomb Raider" look to provide a needed punch in the business. With the still threatened prospect of an actors strike early next year, film companies are stockpiling product left and right. Whether or not much of what is released next year is quality or not depends on how much time the filmmakers will get to develop their projects. If not, there are always the upcoming reissues of films we already know are great, including "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Superman the Movie" and the 20th Anniversary Release of "E.T." with added footage, remastered sound and updated special effects. For those of you who grew up with VCR's, reissuing was the only way to see great films again prior to 1980. (Oy! Keeds tudday! Vot dudday know from film. eh?---N)
TV SPECIALS
I must agree with Nolan on the memories that the old Christmas specials hold for me. (Last issue's cover story---N) Sad as it is to admit, I remember when these shows were first run!! They all hold special memories for me, and I hope that such characters as Rudolf, the Bumble, Heat and Cold Miser, Frosty, the Grinch and Charlie Brown continue to entertain into the next millenium. Yukon Cornelius would want it that way! (Bumbles bounce! Hee hee---N)
SPEAKING OF THE 60'S
Happy to report that the number-one selling musical group of 2000 were none other than The Beatles. Not only have they had the #1 record for 3 of the past 4 weeks (only taking a break when the new Backstreet Boys release came out), but they also sold 18 million copies of their previous albums. So far, almost 4 million copies of "The Beatles: 1" have been sold, and it seems on its way to the predicted spot as the most successful album of all time. (I can just hear my Gen-X and younger friends groaning over this news. And I don't mean just Terence. But, I myself am thrilled and smuggly unsurprised.---N)
ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
Thought I'd end this week's piece with my favorite lines from this year's movies. Hope some of them made your list. In no particular order:
"They're called boobs, Ed."
Julia Roberts to her boss, explaining her investigating
talents, in "Erin Brockovich."
"And that's kicking your ass!"
Drew Barrymore, after putting a whupping on a gang
of bad guys, in "Charlies Angels."
"This is not Mission DIFFICULT, Mr. Hunt, it's Mission Impossible"
Anthony Hopkins to Tom Cruise
in "Mission: Impossible"
"What if it's a cruel trick? What if it's a cash bar?!"
Jim Carrey, wondering if he should attend a
holiday function, in "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas"
"I'm a golden god!"
Billy Crudup, on the roof of a fan's house,
in "Almost Famous"
"It's my duty to please that booty."
Samuel L. Jackson to a female
friend in "Shaft."
"When I give the signal, unleash hell!"
Russell Crowe in "Gladiator."
"What was in it?"
Tom Hanks to a coworker, upon being told that there
had been a coffin at his funeral, in "Cast Away"
Well that's all for now. Have a great week!
Hello, everyone, and let me wish you a belated Merry Christmas and timely Happy New Year.
Sorry for my disappearance last week, but it's been the typical hectic holiday season at matster.com. I'll explain by first apologizing to Nolan (Sorry, Nolan) for not getting a chance to call you while I was home for Christmas. I was only in town for 2 days, and spent the majority of it either in the hospital with mom or dealing with an all too familiar family anxiety (in "relative" terms).
Mom got scratched by my nephew's Husky and got Cellulitus. Her leg was twice its size and oozing (I'll leave it at that). Needless to say, I took her to the emergency room. Fortunately, they IV'd a ton of antibiotics and fed her some more, and I hear lately that things are looking up. Thank God. (In light of everything that happened, of course I forgive you. I wish mom a speedy and safe recovery. It would have been nice to see you.---N)
HOOP, THERE IT IS
Here at Christmas time, it's always fun receiving cards from relatives and friends. But it's all the more special when you get one from a friend from the past. Not just a friend, but a Wild and Crazy guy, whom I use to hang with, as we'd search the corners of Tampa for beautiful American Women with Big American Breasts! I'm speaking of John Hooper. Renowned artist and all around great guy, John holds a dubious distinction in my life. (John, are you being dubious again?---N)
Have you ever had one moment in your life where, if you could, you'd go back and TOTALLY change it?! Years ago, John invited me to drive to California with him, and I didn't go because I gave my heart to someone who eventually gave it back, and, at the time, thought it wouldn't be right to do that to her. If I had gone with you, who knows where I'd be today. I kick myself often for not taking that chance. We would have had a blast, and I wouldn't be wondering "what if" for the rest of my life. Fortunately, I got lucky and discovered my soul mate, and life today is sweeter than honey. I can only hope you've found the same. Your such a great guy I'm sure you have. (Mr. Hooper, any thoughts on this wild and crazy story?---N)
NEW YEARS
Quickly approaching, it will be on us in a matter of days. January 1, 2001. The TRUE "ME".
Many people will be giving that old college try to stop doing whatever the hell it is they know they shouldn't be doing. I've often wondered if this is the "special day" to quit because it comes a week after Christmas, where you're reminded of God's gift of Jesus, and His birth in Bethlehem. And, having observed for the first time all year, guilt begins to overtake them, thus, reciprocating by quitting the dirty deed. Of course, this usually also comes on the heels of EXTREME drunkenous, encouraging the good will.
Well, whatever the reason, let's all resolve to be a little kinder, a little nicer, and a whole heck of a lot more understanding with those that, to us, seem hopelessly confused.
HAPPY NEW YEAR,
Matt
Or maybe it's just that everyone associates it with a new beginning. To start afresh at January 1, as it were. Like they used to do hundreds of years ago in the springtime until our calendar was screwed up and now our new year's in the middle of winter, but don't get me started.
Happy New Year to you, too, Matthew! ---Nolan.
"Matt's Rail" is ©2000 by Matt Drinnenberg
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