Name:              john craske
E-mail:             john.craske3@gmail.com

Dear Josh:

I agree with every word. Trouble is, there is no arguing with a person of faith - they have a different mind-set. Fortunately, Europe is largely turning its back on Christianity - unfortunately that aint true of the US or Africa. So the more voices against religion which come out of the States, the better. No reply is required.

Regards
John Craske

Dear John:

As Mark Twain said, "Faith is believin' in what you know ain't so."

Josh

Name:              wendy higham
E-mail:             hi_im_wendy@yahoo.com

Dear Josh:

i really am confused....if there is no god who has been sparing my life???

Dear Wendy:

Sparing you from what?  Meteors hitting you?  An elephant stepping on you?  What do you think that god has been spared you from?

Josh

Name:              Charles Corder
E-mail:             

Dear Josh

I saw TCM's documentary on Cecil B. DeMille on Monday and I thought it was excellent. I thought of you when I heard DeMille say that the writing and preproduction on a movie were the cheapest and most important part of film making. And I had to agree with Spielberg when he said that the parting of the Red Sea in "The Ten Commandments" is the greatest special effect in movie history. I was lucky enough to see that movie in the theater as a young boy. Talk about shock and awe. A lot of the acting in DeMille's movies seems laughable to me now, but the man certainly knew how to tell a story and stage a spectacle.

Dear Charles:

Although he generally told a long and lumpy story.  The Red Sea parting is the "greatest special effect in movie history"?  I'd nominate King Kong in the 1933 version doing pretty much anything as being better.  Or anything in "2001."  The Red Sea parting is kind of a cheesy, reverse-motion effect, and looks like it.  I watched "Samson and Delilah" and that was particularly ridiculous film.  Samson fighting the lion was absurd.  As Groucho Marx said, it looks like Victor Mature has bigger tits than Heddy Lamar.  George Sanders looked extremely uncomfortable in his outfit.  "The Greatest Show on Earth" has a running time of eternity, and that it beat John Ford's "The Quiet Man" for Best Picture is still an outrage (at least Ford got Best Director instead of DeMille).  As my friend Rick once said, "DeMille was the best filmmaker in the world in 1913, but he never got any better than that."

Josh

Name:              Oren
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

What's your opinion on Michael Jackson? Not as a performer, I mean...you know what I mean. Guilty? Innocent? Weird and misunderstood? Or truly evil?

Dear Oren:

I have no opinion on the late Michael Jackson.  I was never much of a fan, although my younger sister was.  He was 12 days younger than me, so I've outlived him.

Josh

Name:              David R.
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

The Final Jeopardy! question today had me stumped: "The only person to ever be nominated for four Academy Awards: directing, producing, writing, and acting, for the same film, happening twice." I'm sure you'll know it right off the bat.

Dear David:

I didn't get it until I heard the years, 1978 and 1981, and then I immediately knew it was Warren Beatty for "Heaven Can Wait" and "Reds."  My buddy calls me with the final Jeopardy question all the time trying to stump me.

Josh

Name:              Tony
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

Hello, just out of curiosity, the Super 8 shorts are at Sam Raimi ? Will they be a day on a bonus in a DVD ? Anchor Bay has already tried to add Within The Woods, he could tried to add the others. I'm a big french fan of The Evil Dead, if you have the time, go to see my chaine : http://www.youtube.com/user/TONY92FR I saw Drag Me To Hell and it\'s a really brilliant film. Thank You.

Dear Tony:

When the new, HD Blue-Ray versions of my films, "Thou Shalt Not Kill...Except" and "Running Time" finally come out, each will have a super-8 film included as an extra.  TSNKE will include "Stryker's War," starring Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi; "Running Time" will include "Holding It," also with Bruce and Sam.  I finally got beautiful sound super-8 transfers of the films from a place called Post House just outside Atlanta.

Josh 

Name:              Tim
E-mail:             Nansemondnative

Good Afternoon Josh.

Just a comment or two about the late great Robert Shaw. I remember , even as a kid, being particulalrly awestruck, when he told the story of the USS Indianapolis in "Jaws". There was just that presence and he had that look as if he had been to the depths of hell, survived and was there to tell about it. My other comment is that maybe not a lot of people know that he was an accomplished author. I am fortunate enough to have a copy of "The Man In the Glass Booth" and would recommend it without hesitation to anyone. Have a good one.

Tim

Dear Tim:

And let's not forget Robert Shaw's brilliant, Oscar-nomated performance as King Henry VIII in the Oscar-winning film, "A Man For All Seasons."  Nor should we forget his terrific performance in the Oscar-winning film, "The Sting."  But Shaw's speech about the U.S.S. Indianapolis going down in "Jaws" is one of the great, great scenes in movie history ("I'll never where a life-preserver again").  And, as you mentioned, he was also a fine playwright.  The film version of Shaw's "The Man in the Glass Booth" with Maximillian Schell isn't bad, either (although Robert Shaw didn't like it, and died soon thereafter).

Josh

Name:              Brian Slade
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

When you act like this you're acting like the equivalent of Sean Hannity--you're like the Bill O'Reilly of web-hosts. Someone voices an opinion and all you do is shout them down with your opinion (and no facts!) like you're superior and that's the end of the discussion. I don't understand that attitude. Why have the website to begin with? To fuel your ego? The original Die Hard is a highly respected movie, and if you can't suspend your disbelief (I know, I know, the FIRST Rambo was SOOOOO believable) then that's your problem. As for me, if they did another King Kong remake in 10 years, I just might go see it. I'm not saying I definitely would. But I'm also not saying I definitely would not. I don't stubbornly stick to principles and self-righteous indignation. I like to give films--and filmmakers--their day in court. You shouldn't be so hostile, life's too short.

*Bri*

Dear Brian:

I shouted you down?  Did I respond in capital letters?  What do you mean, no facts?  As I said before, and will now repeat, "Die Hard" is a prime example of the dumb action movie where ten bad guys firing automatic weapons can't hit the good guy.  That's a fact.  In the world of reality, one guy firing an automatic weapon, even if he's blind, can't miss the other guy.  As opposed to watching and re-watching "Die Hard 1, 2 & 3," try watching "Pride of the Marines," the true story of Al Schmid, who, during WWII, having been blinded by a Japanese grenade, held his position all night long because he had a machine gun, and ended up killing about 150 Japanese soldiers.  That's what an automatic weapon can do.  People can't outrun machine guns, particularly bare foot over broken glass.  That's a fact.  You don't like it?  Too bad.  Calling me Sean Hannity or Bill O'Reilly only makes you sound like a fool.  You say "Die Hard" is highly respected movie.  Not by me.

Josh

Name:              Textual Love Detection
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

Do you text ever? I'm just curious.

Dear TLD:

No.

Josh

Name:              Brian Slade
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

It sounds like Will left the theater five minutes into the movie because that was one of the first things that happened. It also sounds like he had his eyes closed because they completely explain how that was possible by showing the badguys installing a signal device. Maybe Will has a problem too with the bad guy in Die Hard (an action masterpiece) hacking into all the Takani Tower computers. I think his mind was made up before he even gave the movie a chance. And I think yours is too, Josh. Which is disappointing. Who says Travolta can't be as good as Shaw? Did you ever see Blow Out? How about Swashbuckler? Compare Travolta to Shaw in those two, why don't you!

*Bri*

Dear Brian:

"Die Hard" is an "action masterpiece" like McDonald's is a four-star restaurant.  "Die Hard" is a prime example of the utterly unbelievable, totally ridiculous, overproduced, high-concept action movie where ten guys firing automatic weapons can't hit the star while he's running in bare feet across broken glass.  "Die Hard" is as much of a masterpiece as "Predator" or "Rambo: First Blood II."  I might have even taken you seriously had you not made that supremely silly statement.  The bottom line for me is that I've seen the original "Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" five or six times over the preceding 35 years, and I've got it.  Absolutely, completely and thoroughly, and I have ZERO interest in a remake.  In ten years they may feel the need to remake "King Kong" yet again, but it means nothing to me.  "The Bridge on the River Kwai" or "Lawrence of Arabia" are action masterpieces, "Die Hard" is pablum for folks with no teeth.

Josh

Name:              Will
E-mail:             wdodson52@hotmail.com

Dear Josh:

I don't mean to belittle Brian's opinion of Taking of Pelham 123.....but.....I was dragged into it and left as soon as I saw that the film hinged on people getting WiFi and cell reception--uninterrupted--in a subway tunnel. Hollywood people get a bad rap? I guess they've never been in a subway, so we'll have to forgive the whole movie? Speaking of Walter Matthau, I saw Wilder's "The Fortune Cookie" for the first time this weekend and loved it, primarily for Matthau's performance. I wonder if any single actor has delivered that many double-entendres that well in a one movie. The ending was a little sappy, but THAT I'm willing to forgive for 2 hours of acerbic humor and actual character development (Lemmon grows a spine, ironically given he's pretending to have a damaged one the whole time). I also saw Raimi's new "Drag Me to Hell." I have to admit, I really enjoyed it. It was funny, taut (there's a great sequence in a parking garage that was both relentlessly scary and funny). There were also some actual character moments that moved the hokey plot along. Definitely his best film since A Simple Plan, which wasn't great but pretty good. I hope you get to see and enjoy it. I also saw Stone's "W." It was okay.....the main thing I liked about it were the constant visual references to "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie" (which no critic mentioned). Seems like the real substance of the movie has less to do with what happened and more to do with the culture that let it happen.....

Dear Will:

They've been putting a subway into L.A. for the last decade, which is a really bright idea in a place with a lot of earthquakes.  It kills me that they wonderful folks of L.A. wouldn't okay a monorail, which would have been at least a hundred times cheaper, because it would destroy the natural beauty of their lovely city.  Yes, Walter Matthau was great in "The Fortune Cookie" (and he won an Oscar for it, too).  I saw the film as a kid and thought it was great.  I saw it a few times in between and liked it.  The last time a tried to watch, a few years ago, I couldn't sit through it anymore.  It seemed one big long series of dud jokes.  I didn't think about that the updating of "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" must now take into consideration that everybody has a cell phone, and many younger folk can actually text with it in their pocket.  It sort of undermines the whole story.

Josh

Name:              Brian Slade
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

What do you mean no other film like it? In what way?

*Bri*

Dear Brian:

As far as I know, previous to 1974 there hadn't been a film about hijacking a subway train.  Nor had there been a film about the inner workings of the NYC subway.  And, as Kevin, the webmaster, just wrote me, everyone expects Denzel to be a calm, cool negotiator, whereas no one expects it of Walter Matthau.  Also, no matter what John Travolta ever does, he'll never be in the same league as Robert Shaw.

Josh

Name:              Brian Slade
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

I saw The Taking of Pelham 123 this weekend, a remake of the 70's film starring Walter Matthau. I was actually surprised at how good it was. John Travolta gives his best performance in decades and Denzel Washington (while no Walter Matthau) is pretty solid. Really what struck me was the depth of characterization usually eschewed in big Hollywood crapfests. The screenwriter really took the time to establish who everyone was and where they were coming from. I like the original, but in the character/motivation department this one actually surpassed it. Does it count as a remake if they're just both based off the same book? Haven't remakes/adaptations been happening since the beginning of cinema? Sometimes I think Hollywood just gets a bad rap.

*Bri*

Dear Brian:

Whether you consider it a remake or not, and I do, it's still in no way, shape or form original.  When the film originally came out in 1974 there was no other film like it.  Now, no matter how good of a job they may have done, there's another film just like it.

Josh

Name:              Kevin
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

What are the rules about writing a screenplay based on historical events? if its historical fiction, do you need the rights for the people you are writing about? did you have to deal with any of that when writing devil dogs?

Kevin:

There aren't any rules that I know of, particularly regarding an event as old as World War I.  Those folks have all been dead for at least 50 years, some as long as 90 years.  But I don't know that Oliver Stone had to get any kind of permission to make "W," and George W. Bush is very much alive.  Many years after writing "Devil Dogs" I heard from Gunnery Sgt. Dan Daly's great-grand nephew, who is a fireman in NYC.  He had no problem with my script, although he didn't think Daly was the reader I made him out to be.

Josh

Name:              Trey Smith
E-mail:             vgntrey@gmail.com

Dear Josh:

Dear Trey:

It's been proof-read, and Gerry Kissell, former webmaster of this site, is creating the cover.  That's all I know.

Josh

Name:              David R.
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

Good interview by Susan Smiley for the Woodward & Vine interview. To be fair, you do have three Spielberg films on your Favorite Films list: DUEL, JAWS, and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. Too bad Cycles never got made into a movie; it really does sound like a terrific story.

Dear David:

I like "Jurassic Park," too.  That wasn't my statement about Spileberg, it was the interviewer's assumption.  Honestly, I love "Jaws."  Yes, it's a shame about "Cycles."

Josh

Name:              Alice Schultz
E-mail:             aeschultz333@hotmail.com

Dear Josh,

What trouble? Did the prospective gig directing films disappear? Or are we still not allowed to talk about that? Or what?

Alice

Dear Alice:

You can talk about anything you'd like here.  There's just not much business, nor is there much love these days.  It's all quiet on the midwestern front.  I did just watch William Wyler's first hit film, as well as his first sound film, "Hell's Heroes," which I'd already seen, and I'd nominate it as best film of 1929.

Josh

Name:              Fred Best
E-mail:             fbest@msn.com

Dear Josh:

I have been using the word lemmings to describe people since forever. Being the ultimate cynic,I don't think that things will change. Just be happy that you have your own mind and are not afraid of truth or death.

Dear Fred:

You're the ultimate cynic?  Really?  Meanwhile, I'm not afraid of truth or death, it's life that's giving me trouble.  I know, I know, join the club.

Josh

Name:              Joe
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

Any thoughts on David Carridine?

Dear Joe:

How do you end up hanging in a hotel closet with a rope around your dick?  It doesn't make sense to me.  Quite frankly, I think Bruce Lee would have been better in "Kung Fu."  I always liked David Carradine, but I don't think he ever gave a great performance.  I did meet him once when I came by the set of "Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat," a particularly terrible film that Bruce Campbell starred in with David Carradine.  He was very friendly.

Josh

Name:              Brian
E-mail:             mackbrockton@aol.com

Hey Josh,

If a movie is an adaptation of a book or another work, do you think it's important or necessary for your actors and even yourself to read the source material even before you read the script? I know that the screenwriter(s) usually have to read it to adapt it to begin with (unless it's a very, very loose adaptation)

Dear Brian:

Obviously, the screenwriter has to read the book before adapting it or how do they know what they're adapting?  The director should read it, and the actors might or might not.  Since there's undoubtedly more in the book than made it into the script, it's a good idea to read it.  Personally, I've never done adaption.

Josh

Name:              Charles House
E-mail:             mr_goodbomb@yahoo.com

Hello, Josh.

I've been reading your guide to low-budget filmmaking simultaneously with If Chins Could Kill. I'm working on a documentary piece about the history of independent horror films as a part of my college senior thesis. I've conducted many interviews with cast and crew from Romero's Dead franchise, living cast from Lucio Fulci's zombie films, and several other franchises. After reading your book, I would love to get some insight on these sorts of films, and independent/budget filmmaking in relation. Would you be willing to work out an interview? Please let me know. Thank you!

Dear Charles:

You could also read my book, "Rushes," which will give you a lot more detail about the productions.  But I'm not adverse to being interviewed.  Write back with some questions.

Josh

Name:              Jason Roth
E-mail:             oxboy30@gmail.com

Hey Josh,

Haven't written in on here in a while. I recently watched Patton for the first time and thought of you. Plenty of irony on display- I love when Patton gets the dog "Bred for battle!" and it's fearful of everything. And that he keeps the dog anyway. Looking forward to the rereleases of TSNKE and Running Time, and to finally seeing the "pilot" version of TSNKE. How is the Motion Picture Radio biz? Any new directing gigs on the horizon?

All the best,
Jason Roth

(just noticed the Horribleness script is on here, cool!)

Dear Jason:

Welcome back.  Yeah, I love "Patton," what a great character. He names the dog William, then when he sees it's afraid of other dogs, even little ones, he renames it Willy.  And you can't beat the real Patton lines, like, "We are going to rip out their living guts and grease the treads of our tanks," or "No dumb son of a bitch ever won a war by dying for his country.  He did it by making the other poor, dumb son of a bitch die for his country."  Meanwhile, radio/director's chair biz is happening, but in any spectacular way.  There's an interesting possibility of making more films, but I won't curse it by going into the details just yet.  Yes, read "The Horribleness" and report back.  I'm interested in response.

Josh 

Name:              David R.
E-mail:            

Dear Josh:

Today (err, I guess yesterday now), I was very proud of our President. What a fantastic, thoughtful speech he gave in Cairo.

Dear David:

I said to myself as I listened to it, "This is more important and more meaningful than anything George Bush did in eight years."  In fact, a good part of this is straightening out the mess that Bush got us into.  Nevertheless, it's exactly what we need to be doing, holding out an olive branch, not aiming guns.  I don't mean to sound religious, because I'm not, but hate begets hate, violence begets violence, and friendship begets friendship.  It's as simple as that.

Josh

Name:              Hal Werbs
E-mail:             hal@werbwerks.com

Hey, Josh.

Have you heard of this ludicrous new "Army of Darkness" comic book miniseries where Ash saves/meets Obama? When will they give it a rest? http://www.comicvine.com/news/obama-versusthe-army-of-darkness/138536/

Dear Hal:

Yes, I've seen the cover.  I guess my question to you is, give what a rest?  Dumbass comic books?  Comic book spin-offs of movies?  Utterly superficial entertainment?  Honestly, is it any less or more ridiculous for Ash to save Obama then Superman saving the universe?

Josh 

Name:
E-mail:

Dear Josh: 

I couldn't agree with you more Josh; I've been doing a bit of research. If "Constantine the great" hadn't used the christians/jews at the battle of milvian in 312 AD instead of his italian troops, we wouldn't be in this mess. The arabs (jews/christians) if you were a judist you were from a arab tribe as far as i'm concerned ! The italians, anglo saxons etc were the europeans not arabs. I'm not racist but facts are facts ! If a white man says this he's branded a racist, if a colored man of any denomination says this he branded a revolutionary. Bullshit ! It all religious garbage, one race against another, one religious order against another ! centuries ago we burnt women for having a spot on their nose etc and branding them a witch, men for stealing a apple, whats changed ? only the way its played out thats all, now we have political nitwit who couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery ! but manage to coin their pockets before skedaddling away under the tablecloth as they quickly resign for no apparent reason; and head to the bahamas.

When are people going to get over believing rubbish? 1st we had prophets, 2nd preists, and 3rd now politicians, lets get real !

Name:              ryan
E-mail:             nights1302@yahoo.com

Dear Josh:         

im glad to see that someone shares some of my belifes about religion its only use is to seprate cultures fromon another i am 21 and i understand these principales for all religiion has a violent past and a more violent future

Name:              Bruce Postman
E-mail:             bpostman@yahoo.com

Dear Josh:

Ever see The Border w/Nicholson playing against type? Little choppy but pretty good overall. Great theme song. How about Friends of Eddie Coyle w/Mitchum? Just released on dvd for the first time and I think it's one any fan of crime-cinema should check out.

Thanks,
Bruce

Dear Bruce:

I saw them both and can barely remember either of them.  As I vaguely recall, Mitchum seemed rather old and mopey in "Eddie Coyle;" and "The Border" all seemed to come to nothing.  If you haven't seen "Blue Sky," it's a much, much better Tony Richardson film, and his last, too.

Josh

Name:              Chris
E-mail:             shenaniganz@hotmail.com

Hey Josh,

I just watched a fantastic movie the other night called "Straight Time" starring Dustin Hoffman. I'm quite sure you've already seen this movie considering the amount of films you have seen over the years. Anyway I couldn't help but notice similarites that this movie had with "Running Time". Was "Straight Time" an influence on RT? The failed jewellery store heist in particular was quite similar I thought. Both are very cool movies. By the way, sucks to hear about the amount of RT posters you threw out! I would love to own one!

Dear Chris:

"Straight Time" was absolutely an influence on "Running Time," and also on "Reservoir Dogs," too (the author of the book Edward Bunker is in RD).  I think the jewelry store robbery is just brilliant, with Harry Dead Stanton checking his watch and stating, "This is very un-fucking-professional."  The junkie getaway driver not being there is a total rip-off on my part.  M. Emmett Walsh was terrific as the probation officer.

Josh

Name:              James
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

Jack Alderton is obviously either very young or very misinformed (or both) - the American TV series (Star Trek, The Munsters, Get Smart et al) being remade into big movies these days used to be broadcast on British terrestrial TV all the time. Even now, quite a few contemporary US shows like Heroes and The Wire are on the BBC. Still waiting for TSNKE to show up on Synapse's release schedules! Is it just you and Bruce being interviewed in the documentary about the Super-8 days?

Dear James:

Well, we've done the HD transfer and I'm still waiting to put on the sound, which I guess will be soon. Yes, it's just  Bruce and I being interviewed, although I'd like to get some others, like Joe LoDuca or Tim Quill.  And it still needs to be edited, too.

Josh

Name:              Jack Alderton
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

Though I agree with you on Remakes being rubbish I will take Remakes of old TV Series because though BBC Two did briefly have "The Munsters" (which I hear they're doing a Film of) on in the mid-mornings a couple of years ago it's the only time I've ever seen an American Series on British Terrestrial TV. So so what if "The Addams Family" is a Remake? Until they start showing the original Series on TV I'll take the Film (though I actually thought the second one was Funnier) as my dose of The Addams Family.

Dear Jack:

The fact that you folks in England didn't get some of the original TV shows that are now being remade means nothing.  This era of remakes and sequels is a clear representation of the utter lack of originality in society.  It also represents the total takeover of media by huge, multi-national corporations, where anything with name value is better than anything original.  The fact that moldly old shit from my early youth 40 years ago, like "Star Trek" or "The Addams Family," is still getting dragged out and remade is pathetic beyond mere words.  It's as though nothing of any actual value has occurred in 40 years that's worth making movie about.

Josh

Name:              Lee
E-mail:             lee.price@thisisglobal.com

Hey Josh,

That's a great list off the top of your head! I love White Hunter, Black Heart. Especially the last shot, when Eastwood/Huston flops into the directors chair and calls action. (I love the way he puts the fascist woman in her place, too). Great film. I'd forgotten about it.

Lee

Dear Lee:

There's a terrific scene where the writer, Jeff Fahey playing Peter Viertel, is going on and on about truth, and how it's all that matters in life.  George Dzunza as Sam Spiegel finally says, "If I always told the truth, I'd be a bar of soap now."  At another point Fahey tells Eastwood that killing an elephant is a crime.  Eastwood replies, "No, it's a sin, and that's worse."

Josh

Name:              Raoul O'Hara
E-mail:             raoulzraoul@yahoo.com

Dear Josh:

Word to "Anonymous" : if you give Josh Becker an excuse to write a list of movies, he WILL run with it! Within the list were several films I enjoyed and hadn't thought of in a while. The one that I'd like to ask you about is "Fort Apache: the Bronx", ( with the very scary scene of Pam Grier as a hooker who hides a razor blade in her mouth to cut men's throats.) It struck me at the time that it didn't really have anything to do with Ford's "Fort Apache", or am I forgetting something? I felt the same way about Carpenter's "Assault on Precinct 13", which he always says was an urban remake of Hawk's "Rio Bravo", but it really isn't that similar. It seems like it would be very cool to adapt westerns to modern settings, but I can't thing of any films that have done it well, can you?

Dear Raoul:

Hey, I stopped at 1992, and I could easily have kept going to the present.  I just don't like folks saying I haven't liked a movie in 30 years, which just ain't true.  I don't think there is any connection between Ford's "Fort Apache" and "Fort Apache: The Bronx."  They just called the police station in the Bronx Fort Apache, and they had a bunch of Native American knick-knacks all over the walls, until Ed Asner has them removed.  But that was a good, tough picture, and Paul Newman was, as always, great.  I particularly liked the fact that the whole city is looking for Pam Grier and she's actually dead, rolled up in a rug, and sitting in a pile of trash in the garbage dump.  Danny Aiello throwing the kid off the roof was frightening.  Regarding making westerns into modern-day stories, I can't think of any.

Josh

Name:              Justin Hayward
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

A lot of very interesting movies seem to be made... post twenty years ago, but I’ve noticed recently you can find many interesting movies underground, at festivals, and other places. Trouble is, studios and high-end so-called “independent” films are the only thing screened and/or released nationally. And, I’m talking about Martin Scorsese films. “The Departed” is considered a small character piece to most of the American public these days. Do you make an attempt to see some “smaller” films at festivals or small indy video stores? You can find some really interesting (as well current) films, just nothing starring The Rock. It’s just nowadays you have to look out for stuff yourself. No more relying on Hollywood to provide much. The superhero movie has overrun the entire business... lately.

Dear Justin:

I see quite a few of the small indies on Sundance and IFC, and most of them are unwatchable crap.  Back when I was a kid this type of film was called "The NYU Walking Movie," where a boy and girl endlessly walk around Manhattan.  Now they're called "Mumblecore" because they've added entirely useless dialog.  At least in the old days they used to use a tripod occasionally so they could actually compose a pretty shot; now they're entirely hand-held, so they're visually worthless, too.  I did see a good, tiny, legitimately indepedent film recently called "Garage" from Ireland.  The accents are so thick it has subtitles.  It all takes place at a garage/gas station, and the local pub.  But every shot was well-considered (not hand-held), and I cared about the lead character and the situation he was in.

Josh 

Name:              anonymous
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

LOL, why would anyone recommend the new Star Trek movie to you? Memo to Alice S.: Josh doesn't like anything from the last 30 years, and frankly I don't blame him. The stuff they release today makes the stuff from the 90's look like Kurosawa by comparison. At least something like "Pulp Fiction" isn't part four, or part five, or part eleven of anything, or a remake of a rather crappy 60's TV show which has little more than novelty value. Interesting that every big film this summer has been praised endlessly for the first weekend, then the grosses literally drop by more than 50% over the next few days and nobody remembers it by the end of the week (the new ST movie started with $75m and dropped down to $43m the next week; the new X-Men movie dropped from $85m to $14m in it's third week). Hell, did you read the recent Time Magazine interview with JJ Abrams? He couldn't have made it more obvious that he has no idea how to direct a film. Sorry, just ranting here. Incidentally, I just saw "The Devils," a film from 1971 the other night. Have you seen it Josh? You might like it, it really exemplifies the whole "religion is evil" aspect of your philosophy. It'd make a great double bill with "Passion of the Christ." I also saw "RKO 281" again, which didn't hold up very well. Liev Schrieber, who I like, was insufferable as Orson Welles, and not believable at all as a 25-year-old.

Dear anon:

Without knocking myself out I could come up with a list of at least 100 films I've liked since 1979, such as: "Kramer vs. Kramer," "Apocalypse Now," "Being There," "Norma Rae," "Manhattan," "The Tin Drum," "Raging Bull," "Coal Miner's Daughter," "Ordinary People," "The Elephant Man," "The Shining," "Airplane," "Caddy Shack," "The Great Santini," "Shogun Assassin," "Resurrection," "Breaker Morant," "Altered States," "From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China," "Fort Apache: The Bronx," "Atlantic City," "Arthur," "Mephisto," "Gallipoli," "Rocky III," "Diner," "The Road Warrior," "An Officer and a Gentleman," "First Blood," "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," "48 Hrs., "The Verdict," "Sophie's Choice," "10," "The Year of Living Dangerously," "Wasn't That a Time: The Weavers," "Local Hero," "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life," "The King of Comedy,' "Tender Mercies," "The Dead Zone," "The Right Stuff," "The Gray Fox," "Uncommon Valor," "Splash," "This is Spinal Tap," "Moonlighting," "Places in the Heart," "Stranger Than Paradise," "Lost in America," "Sixteen Candles," "Pee Wee's Big Adventure,"  "All of Me," "Plenty," "The Times of Harvey Milk," "Murphy's Romance," "Hannah and Her Sisters," "About Last Night," "Aliens," "Salvador," "Blue Velvet," "28 Up," "A Room With a View," "Something Wild," "Platoon," "Demon Lover Diary," "Full Metal Jacket," "Desert Bloom," "The Trip to Bountiful," "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll," "Broadcast News," "Moonstruck," "The Dead," "Robocop," "Aur Voir Les Enfants," "Stand and Deliver," "Street Smart," "Sid & Nancy," "Hoosiers," "Big," "Midnight Run," "The Long Good Friday," "Crossing Delancy," "The Naked Gun," "My Life as a Dog," "The Accidental Tourist," "Prick Up Your Ears," "Biloxi Blues," "Jean De Florette," "Say Anything," "Jack Knife," "When Harry Met Sally...," "Parenthood," "Sea of Love," "Drugstore Cowboy," "Five Corners," "Glory," "Roger & Me," "Driving Miss Daisy," "Bat 21," "Crimes and Misdemeanors," Powwow Highway," "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer," "Goodfellas," "Postcards from the Edge," "Misery," "Berkeley in the Sixties," "Pelle the Conqueror," "Let it Ride," "Running on Empry," "84 Charring Cross Road," "The Commitments," "Black Robe," "The Man in the Moon," "White Hunter, Black Heart," "JFK," "Howard's End," "La Femme Nikita," "Unforgiven," and that takes us from 1979 - 1992, where I'll stop.  Meanwhile, I only saw "RKO281" once, but I liked it and thought that Liev Schrieber was a good choice for Welles.

Josh

Name:              Alice Schultz
E-mail:             aeschultz333@hotmail.com

Dear Josh,

You might enjoy the new Star Trek movie, the one where all-new actors take on the characters in the original series from the '60s. Don't know that you'll overly admire the story -- it's one of those time-travel things and I for one wasn't tracking it any too adroitly, nor have I yet talked to anyone else who thought they did, but I also haven't met any confirmed Trekkies who minded this at all. It's no doubt some nonsense of a premise but the movie adheres to the values of the original show and the recreation of the old roles is just wonderfully done, and what more do you need, really? Someone suggested the time warp thing is just to establish that a slightly altered universe is in place so as to allow the movie, and any sequels, creative license with old story conditions, which it certainly exercises. But what's loveable is not what's been changed, though I had no particular problem with that, but what's been retained.

Regards,
Alice

Dear Alice:

Yes, I've heard this review few times now.  That the dynamics between Kirk, Spock and McCoy are the same as the old days so it's fun to watch.  Nevertheless, from my curmudgeonly perspective, "Star Trek" is as tepid and warmed-over of an old, moldy idea that there is out there, next to James Bond and 60-year-old comic books.  "Star Trek" is from my early youth, 1967-69, when I was 9-10-11, and I'm more than happy to leave it there. 

Josh

Name:              Jay
E-mail:             justice101601@msn.com

Dear Josh:

Hello. Am very keen on acquiring a 27X40 Running Time poster....but would in fact be happy with ANY Running Time poster. Any idea on where one could get such a thing? Thanks in advance. Jay Wilson

Dear Jay:

When I moved out of L.A. I threw out about 500 "Running Time" posters, and now I've only got a couple left.  Sorry.

Josh

Name:              Timothy Patrick Quill
E-mail:             timothyquill@gmail.com

Geee Josh,

Thanks for telling your fans that I am really not an actor. Appreciate that---IMDB.com--Timothy Patrick Quill When I'm not working on a project (Americas Next Fake Shemp) I teach Middle School. Also Just registered the Script " The Shemps " Hope all is well with you.

Dear Tim:

I said that?  I deeply apologize, and I certainly didn't mean it.  You've given me many fine performances, going all the way back to the super-8s.  Your performance in "The Blind Waiter" is a classic, and I think you're terrific in TSNKE, too.  If I ever get "The Horribleness" financed, you're the Woofman.

Josh

Name:              Jeff Alede
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

Seems like most of my comments are not getting through (I sent 2 follow-ups about boxing but haven't seen any response). Ever since this new webmaster stepped in there seems to be a lot of hiccups with the site. Hope it gets fixed.

Dear Jeff:

It's not the webmaster, it was the server, and it's fixed now.  Kevin, the webmaster, helped get it fixed.

Josh

[Webmaster's Note: And Brian. Gerry was willing to help, but Brian beat him to it. I did my best under the circumstances. I re-uploaded and ran through every page of the website twice. -Kevin]

Name:              maria
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

i love you

Dear Mariah:

You don't happen to be the wind, do you?

Josh

Name:              Tim
E-mail:             Nansemond Native

Good Morning Josh,

A while back you mentioned a film entitled "The Evil" from 1978 starring Richard Crenna. Just like the other guy, I'll digest some of your mentions and look for them. The movie has a high cheese factor but it also had some interesting ideas. I liked the location to be sure. That led me to Gus Trikonis. I figured he was a one shot director but I found out different. He was even married to Goldie Hawn during her "Laugh In" years. He worked on many different projects until 1998 including "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". Did you ever get to meet the guy and talk shop? Any opinions of him or his work? I noticed he used the camera as the all-knoowing malevolent POV in "The Evil" and it was effective enough for that movie. I also think he maximized what he had to work with to make the best movie he thought he could at the time. It was still painful to watch though at some intervals to be 100% fair and honest. Have a good one. Tim

Dear Tim:

Interesting you should bring him up.  When I wrote the story for "Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur" (for which I did not get credit), I named the bad guy Trikonis, in homage to Gus Trikonis.  For me, Gus's best credit is as one of the Sharks in the film "West Side Story" (and his sister, Gina, is one of the Shark girls).  Gus is in every scene with the Sharks and does all the great Jerome Robbins dance numbers.  Anyway, I certainly did meet him in New Zealand, and when I told him that I named the bad guy in "Minotaur" after him, his mouth dropped open in amazement.  He said that he got about ten phone calls the night "Minotaur" premiered from friends of his saying that his name had been used in a movie.  And it had.

Josh

Name:              Jack Alderton
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

What are your thoughts on "Chariots of Fire"? It's on TV next week and although it came out in 1981, being British it may have escaped being rubbish so I was wondering wether to Watch it.

Dear Jack:

Sorry, but it really is rubbish.  Nice score by Vangelis, and pretty photography.  Otherwise, it's dull drivel.

Josh 

Name:              Jeff Alede
E-mail:             

Dear Josh:

Guess you're not interested in talking some boxing?

Dear Jeff:

This isn't a boxing website, although I'm certainly a boxing fan.  Something on your mind?

Josh