Slog - Comments on In My Top Ten http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten Recently from the mouth of John Cusack: "I've made 10 good films." His list: "The Sure Thing, Eight Men Out, Say Anything, The Grifters, Bullets Over Broadway, Grosse Pointe Blank, The Thin Red Line, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Max - that pretty much covers it." Do the rest of his movies suck? "Well, there aren't 40 that are great, put it that way." He pauses for an eternity, eyes widening. "But that's fine. Ten is a good batting average, don't you think?" Actually, Cusack, 10 is generous. We will accept The Grifters, The Thin Red Line, and Being John... Copyright 2008 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:37:12 -0800 Sun, 09 Sep 2007 21:24:51 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by DOUG. What about "Sixteen Candles"?

]]> DOUG. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797769 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797769 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:38:33 -0800 Comment by Matt from Denver My first reaction to Charles's dismissal of the others was "give me a break," but then thinking about it I have to agree. But we can say that they're the 10 best movies he's acted in.

]]> Matt from Denver http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797772 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797772 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:39:44 -0800 Comment by D in Providence I kind of liked Runaway Jury.

]]> D in Providence http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797776 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797776 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:40:48 -0800 Comment by Rotten666 Better off dead?

]]> Rotten666 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797780 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797780 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:44:17 -0800 Comment by Original Andrew Helloooo? Better off Dead?

That was by far the best.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0088794/

I want my two dollarssssss!!!!

]]> Original Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797781 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797781 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:44:34 -0800 Comment by me from here oh whatever. He said "10 good films", if you can't find more in his canon that are "good" then you're just desperate for material for your OWN writing and being a snarky hipster.

And a weirdo one at that, wasn't that YOU limping down the street making "molester" eyes at some sexy lady the other day? Why yes, actually, it was.

Get a job. Geez, taking potshots at John Cusack not making 10 good films? Pretty limp.

]]> me from here http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797785 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797785 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:47:10 -0800 Comment by Mahtli69 Better Off Dead!!!

]]> Mahtli69 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797788 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797788 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:47:40 -0800 Comment by me from here oh whatever. He said "10 good films", if you can't find more in his canon that are "good" then you're just desperate for material for your OWN writing and being a snarky hipster.

(And a weirdo one at that, wasn't that YOU limping down the street making "molester" eyes at some sexy lady the other day? Why yes, actually, it was.)

Get a job. Geez, taking potshots at John Cusack not making 10 good films? Pretty limp.

]]> me from here http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797789 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797789 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:47:52 -0800 Comment by monkey BETTER OFF DEAD!!!

I'm also a big fan of One Crazy Summer.

]]> monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797794 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797794 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:49:53 -0800 Comment by Bauhaus "The Grifters" is the only great film. The others he mentions fall into what I'd call a "noble efforts" category.

My definition of a great film is one I can watch over and over again; it never gets old.

Cusack is one of his generation's more intelligent actors and I usually enjoy watching him. He mentions "Max", though. "Max" was one of those dishes which had all the right ingredients, but the final results were nearly unpalatable. I kept looking at my watch.

I wish he'd stop dying his hair and accept aging with the same grace he demonstrates before the camera.

]]> Bauhaus http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797797 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797797 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:51:31 -0800 Comment by monkey And Charles, you only wish your ratio of decent Slog posts were as good so pipe it.

]]> monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797798 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797798 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:52:42 -0800 Comment by e.j. Shut up! Grosse Pointe Blank IS a great movie.

]]> e.j. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797801 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797801 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:54:54 -0800 Comment by tsm I would have accepted "Say Anything" as great at one point, but I saw it again recently and I regret that it did not age quite as well as I'd have thought.

]]> tsm http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797802 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797802 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:55:23 -0800 Comment by ka chunk Charles, you've hit the nail on the head with this one. John Cusack is over romanticized by the dumbest women far too often.

That being said, "Police Beat" was wasn't as great as it could have been.

]]> ka chunk http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797810 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797810 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:01:31 -0800 Comment by Big Sven I thought "Better Off Dead" and "Grosse Pointe Blank" were brilliant. But I am the exact same age as John Cusack so these movies about a certain phase of life are very appealing.

]]> Big Sven http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797813 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797813 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:02:34 -0800 Comment by John Agree with #1 - Sixteen Candles is not only his best, but one of the all time best movies ever made.

]]> John http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797814 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797814 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:02:44 -0800 Comment by charles me from here,
my memory will stun you. indeed it was me limping (my big toe burned like a little sun), and the sexy woman was an old friend whose name had escaped me. by the time it returned, she was gone. i remember her, but i didn't know that someone was staring at me.

]]> charles http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797819 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797819 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:04:55 -0800 Comment by MvB In fairness, Charles, we'd have to consider what he meant by "good" in comparison to what you mean by that. You added the great in "aren't great," which subtly ups the critical appraisal ante. I'm a little distressed that a student of philosophy would be so careless with terms.

]]> MvB http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797826 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797826 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:10:50 -0800 Comment by To be clear... Actually, I think it was the interviewer's list, not Cusack's.

Speaking of films that did not age well, I watched 'Singles' last weekend. It was dreadful. And I loved it at the time.

]]> To be clear... http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797828 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797828 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:11:23 -0800 Comment by bill Eight Men Out is one of the two best baseball movies ever made, along with A League of Their Own, and therefore is a Great Movie.

]]> bill http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797829 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797829 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:11:45 -0800 Comment by thecandyqueen WRONG! Say Anything knocks my socks off! Not only is it the best John Cusak movie, but it might be one of the best movies EVER.

]]> thecandyqueen http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797833 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797833 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:13:56 -0800 Comment by paul Too bad he wasnt in "Police Beat". That movie could have used some acting.

]]> paul http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797843 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797843 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:21:20 -0800 Comment by girlsaturday I fucking LOVE High Fidelity. It's where I first fell head over heals for Jack Black.cak

]]> girlsaturday http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797854 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797854 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:27:54 -0800 Comment by Sam Charles is wrong.

]]> Sam http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797858 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797858 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:28:56 -0800 Comment by Mahtli69 He's skiing on one ski!!!

]]> Mahtli69 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797863 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797863 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:30:32 -0800 Comment by Kiru Banzai Grosse Pointe Blank is indeed great. The others, whatever. Still, it is nice to see John Cusack in films, because he is dreamy.

]]> Kiru Banzai http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797866 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797866 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:31:20 -0800 Comment by jzilla Charles, you ignorant slut.

]]> jzilla http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797867 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797867 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:34:29 -0800 Comment by Dougsf Since he said "good", not great, I totally agree - with of course Better of Dead being added to that list.

It should also be noted that he's done less BAD work than actors much more highly regarded them himself, like DiNero and Pacino.

]]> Dougsf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797871 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797871 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:39:08 -0800 Comment by cusackistan well I celebrate his entire catalogue,
...that guy for me is the Sure Thing!!
well after that One Crazy Summer we had, wheeew, I don't care if he was Being John Malkevich or not, he can Say Anything to me he wants as long as it's not too Grosse Point Blank. My High Fidelity towards this guy will never be like those Tapeheads who think he has crossed the Thin Red Line into the area of Shadows and Fog, I see his True Colors. I may be Floundering here but this is no Con Air, so please don't send any Bullets Over Broadway my way, I seem to have lost my Idendity, but fear not, it is not yet Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil yet, or perhaps it's Serendipity but i am on The Road to Wellville, as we speak...


ok i'm spent...whatever

]]> cusackistan http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797873 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797873 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:40:40 -0800 Comment by MvB Oh, I guess "aren't great" *is* a variation on Cusack's own description. Charles, I retract my chiding @ 18 forthwith. Consider yourself unchid.

]]> MvB http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797876 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797876 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:40:44 -0800 Comment by Opus High Fidelity and Grosse Pointe Blank are both great films. I would put them at the top of his list followed by Say Anything and Better Off Dead.

]]> Opus http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797877 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797877 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:41:05 -0800 Comment by monkey I totally forgot Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I love that movie!

]]> monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797887 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797887 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:45:55 -0800 Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me Sixteen Candles is clearly on of the greatest movies ever made!

Sixteen Candles, Brazil and Mont Pythons Meaning of Life got me through high school…

If you really want to discuss an actors “good”, “bad” and “ugly” (and “great”) look at some one with real range like Bette Davis (Talk about range; everything from complete poo to inspired brilliance and everything in between).

]]> You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797892 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797892 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:48:48 -0800 Comment by Issur Charles another beautiful post. Your film about the horse intercourse is genius compared to the work of this idiot.

The goi are perverted by their own dark souls and Charles' film was a mirror showing the goi their own disgusting ugliness. You'll be rewarded for your great work Charles. I see an academy award ceremony in your future. Mazel Tov.

]]> Issur http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797928 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797928 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:06:46 -0800 Comment by Fan Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead. Better Off Dead.

]]> Fan http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797933 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797933 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:10:34 -0800 Comment by You Walked Right Into That Rake, Charles That's 4 more than you, Drinkypants

]]> You Walked Right Into That Rake, Charles http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797934 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797934 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:10:49 -0800 Comment by Paulus @19, "Singles" is indeed horrendous. As bad as "Reality Bites."

]]> Paulus http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797953 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797953 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:26:12 -0800 Comment by pgreyy Do you know what the street value of this mountain is?

Never has such love for Savage Steve Holland been shown in public before.

The bottom line...if you're of a certain age...you pretty much love everything that Cusack has ever done.

Except "Hot Pursuit"--that was shit.

pg

PS--Has anyone mentioned "Bob Roberts" yet? He's as much in that as he was in "Sixteen Candles."

]]> pgreyy http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797963 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c797963 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:34:05 -0800 Comment by davej What, no love for Con Air?

]]> davej http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798017 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798017 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:18:42 -0800 Comment by The General If he knew what was good for him, he'd count "Broadcast News" as one of those ten even though he's in it for approximately ten seconds.

]]> The General http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798036 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798036 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:47:36 -0800 Comment by jessiesk I sure enjoyed The Journey of Natty Gann. Quality.

]]> jessiesk http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798083 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798083 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:49:47 -0800 Comment by John Pontoon I think it's pretty snobbish not to consider Eight Men Out "good."

Also, it's kind of weird that he wouldn't put his current film - Grace Is Gone - on the list.

]]> John Pontoon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798119 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798119 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:16:23 -0800 Comment by debunker Moot point Mudede, he's good. In general what he's done is higher quality than most actors out there. What's lacking in some films he's more than made up in others. I'm, guessing he has more of a bias than you after putting his own into them.

]]> debunker http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798175 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798175 Film Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:30:15 -0800 Comment by regina hackett Charles. You don't like comedies. How do I know? You're disrespecting High Fidelity, Grosse Point Blank and Better Off Dead. Sucks to be you. Regina

]]> regina hackett http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798200 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798200 Film Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:26:25 -0800 Comment by mirror Seredipity !! Has anyone seen it,let alone liked it, but me? It's bad, but I liked it... better than Gross.

]]> mirror http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798208 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798208 Film Fri, 07 Sep 2007 01:13:24 -0800 Comment by JessB Grosse Point Blank AND High Fidelity were awesome.

]]> JessB http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798258 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798258 Film Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:21:35 -0800 Comment by Dave Charles is just upset that the article writer started the article with a bold controversial statement instead of a rhetorical question.

]]> Dave http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798280 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798280 Film Fri, 07 Sep 2007 07:24:18 -0800 Comment by kid icarus @41 - OMFG The Journey of Natty Gann!!!1

]]> kid icarus http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798332 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798332 Film Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:14:09 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways uh, Bullets over Broadway is a really entertaining, Woody Allen-lite film and Cusack is very good in it...although he's completely upstaged by Dianne Wiest and Jennifer Tilly who are brilliant...

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798368 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798368 Film Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:52:22 -0800 Comment by Blah!! WHERE'S MY TWO DOLLARS!!

]]> Blah!! http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798635 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798635 Film Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:08:04 -0800 Comment by Jessica @41: Natty Gann indeed! I just watched it again recently, it aged really well.

Sixteen Candles and High Fidelity have permanent places on my top ten all-time favorite movies EVER. If Cusack does a movie, I'm willing to watch it, because I have yet to be truly disappointed by one of his films.

And yeah, also recently watched Singles, which didn't age as well as the soundtrack.

]]> Jessica http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798909 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c798909 Film Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:10:42 -0800 Comment by AC in West Seattle Cusack has always hated BETTER OFF DEAD.

]]> AC in West Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c799021 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c799021 Film Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:44:15 -0800 Comment by Carollani High Fidelity!

]]> Carollani http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c799984 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_my_top_ten#c799984 Film Sun, 09 Sep 2007 21:24:51 -0800