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Saturday, December 12, 2009

I'm Not Crazy

Posted by on Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 5:46 PM

Invictus did suck. Thank you, Slate, and I don't know why I bother with you, A.O. Scott.

 

Comments (49) RSS

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1
We all bow to the moral superiority of Mr. Dan Savage, B.A. Jackass.
Posted by Dan Savage is a god....in his mind on December 12, 2009 at 5:51 PM
rara avis 2
given the ridiculous "review" published in your paper, I don't think you have a right to bitch.
Posted by rara avis on December 12, 2009 at 6:04 PM
dnt trust me 3
movies- birds- one of the most glorious occasions is upon us!
Hanukkah is a eight-day holiday both in Israel and outside of Israel. about. com:Judaism
Celebrate Hanukkah 2009
On Saturday evening (after nightfall) light two candles on your menorah.
chabad. org

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1132…

"Every appointee to the American government must endure a thorough background check by the American Jewish community.
In the case of Obama's government in particular, every criticism against Israel made by a potential government appointee has become a catalyst for debate about whether appointing "another leftist" offers proof that Obama does not truly support Israel."
Posted by dnt trust me on December 12, 2009 at 6:15 PM
4
Is there at least enough redeeming Matt Damon eye candy?
Posted by i'll find a name later on December 12, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Telsa Grills 5
@3: off-topic.
Posted by Telsa Grills on December 12, 2009 at 6:20 PM
dnt trust me 6
@5 agreed. please can we not mention christmas any more. i'm sick of that holiday
Posted by dnt trust me on December 12, 2009 at 6:23 PM
7
Ah, Dan Savage, a true fag. Hates everything about sports, including when sports can help heal a nation. As a gay man living in one of the most socially divided cities in the country (DC), the only thing that unites people across the cultural, racial and economic chasms in this area is sports.
Posted by cbtharring on December 12, 2009 at 6:24 PM
Telsa Grills 8
@6: Who mentioned Christmas? I surely haven't.
Posted by Telsa Grills on December 12, 2009 at 6:30 PM
9
Is the critic at Slate a fag too? I didn't like this movie because it was bad, not because it was about a sports team. It played like a three-hour-long homily; it was inert, it was lifeless. I was bored -- and there were nearly naked men in locker rooms covered in sweat. If anything I should've been more inclined to enjoy this film thanks to my superduperhomosexobsession, not less.
Posted by Dan Savage on December 12, 2009 at 6:30 PM
dnt trust me 10
Who mentioned Christmas? I don't know? Did you? I must have!! What an evil son of a farking asshole? No, back on topic, ummm, yeah i'll probably see the soccer movie in a few years on Lifetime or USA cable. It's not at all helpful to know Savage thought it sucked and that he disagrees with Scott. We're a community! kudos to cbtharring
Posted by dnt trust me on December 12, 2009 at 6:34 PM
jeze 11
@10 it's rugby, not soccer.
Posted by jeze on December 12, 2009 at 6:49 PM
dnt trust me 12
oh cool, good to know, maybe Gay dan can elaborate on the rules
Posted by dnt trust me on December 12, 2009 at 6:51 PM
13
Who knew that a college degree in Cuckholding made you qualified to be a lawyer, doctor, and film critic. Mr. Savage, your douchebaggary knows NO bounds.
Posted by You dumb piece of shit on December 12, 2009 at 7:03 PM
14
Right, ok I haven't seen the movie yet, but as a rugby player I'm excited for a movie featuring my sport, and not just another crappy film about some football team.

If you don't understand rugby, here's a good primer on it you may want to peruse before seeing the movie:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/bsp/h…
Posted by Llama on December 12, 2009 at 7:12 PM
15
Ok, I don't know why it cut off the link, but if you google "bbc sport rugby rules" you get to the page.
Posted by Llama on December 12, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Baconcat 16
@7: Wait what: http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/10…

Or maybe the Heysel and Hillsborough Disasters? You will never walk alone. Or ever, apparently when the opposing fans riot.

Better to be a sports-hating fag than an idiot.
Posted by Baconcat on December 12, 2009 at 7:17 PM
17
Can anyone name an "inspirational" sports movie that is actually good?
Posted by matt! on December 12, 2009 at 7:20 PM
18
In answer to your question, Dan, I'd be willing to bet that the critic at Slate is a fag. Most critics are.
Posted by cbtharring on December 12, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Matt from Denver 19
@ 17, try Chariots of Fire.
Posted by Matt from Denver on December 12, 2009 at 8:03 PM
dnt trust me 20
Heisman Trophy acceptance speech was a joy to listen to. Maybe Eli can scrounge up a link for its transcript. My bet is that the speech wasn't the SCRIPTED charade in Oslo (but don't take that criticism in depth, i didn't listen nor read it.)
Posted by dnt trust me on December 12, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Fifty-Two-Eighty 21
@17: Rudy's pretty good too.
Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty http://www.nra.org on December 12, 2009 at 8:54 PM
22
@17: Hoosiers.
Posted by supergp on December 12, 2009 at 8:59 PM
23

I'm compiling a list of movies in which a whole nation of black people have to ask a white dude to advise them.

1. The Last King of Scotland
2. Invictus
3. ...

It will form the basis of my Wiki Article, The All Knowing White Dude, a corollary to the Magical Negro.
Posted by The New Pornographers on December 12, 2009 at 9:13 PM
24
@17 - Rocky
Posted by stella on December 12, 2009 at 9:14 PM
Lee 25
A.O. Scott is always wrong. About everything. That is his sole value as a human being: telling people the direct opposite of what is true, and thereby allowing them to infer the truth.
Posted by Lee on December 12, 2009 at 9:32 PM
26
"The movie sucked." Sucked why? Is there anything else? What did you think, Dan? You can write more; your readers demand more.

Give us more. Why? WHY? Is it because you don't get athletic competition, except for gay bowling and lesbian softball and the eye-candy that is diving, and cannot see any narrative in sport? Is it because the movie was too heart-string tugging? Is it because of the turgid manipulative score?

You're a journalist, Dan. Write more than 140 characters. I know you can.
Posted by Uranus on December 12, 2009 at 9:37 PM
27
@2 Agreed about Mudede's essay re: Invictus. CM is always interesting to read, but if no one at The Stranger is too busy, I would also like to read an actual review of the movie.
Posted by morning coffee on December 12, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Reverse Polarity 28
Wow, the cranks are active tonight.

I love Morgan Freeman, and I love Matt Damon. Mandela is an inspiration. But even the trailer for this movie looked preachy and condescending.

Pass.

Clint Eastwood has directed some very fine movies, but his recent films seem to be trying too hard to atone for his earlier frivolity.
Posted by Reverse Polarity on December 12, 2009 at 10:48 PM
29
@17 Field of Dreams.
Posted by Sarah in Olympia on December 13, 2009 at 12:45 AM
30
Um @23, if you think that Invictus is a movie with a premise where a "whole nation of black people have to ask a white dude to advise them", you obviously haven't seen the movie. Please come back when you have something less retarded to say.

As for Dan- I saw the movie during the preview screening, and I liked it except for the stupid music during certain segments (like when Mandela was helicoptering in to see the Rugby team. The entire theater erupted in laughter for that cheesy song, but I have a feeling they had to include it because it was a South African band.)
Posted by UNPAID COMMENTER on December 13, 2009 at 2:49 AM
31
@23

The Last Samurai

At the end, after Tom Cruise has shown the Japanese how to be Japanese, even the Emperor can be heard to say, "You know, I think he's right. We have forgotten our own history, culture, and national pride. We should do something about that."
Posted by Harry Kerry on December 13, 2009 at 7:51 AM
echizen_kurage 32
Sweet baby Jesus in a microwave, what's with all the homophobic vitriol in these comments? So Dan didn't like the movie. Big fucking deal. According to Rotten Tomatoes, he's in the minority, but not exactly a tiny minority; roughly one in five critics felt the same way. I'm willing to bet not all of them were gay.

It's not as if Dan wrote "I hated Invictus because there was no hot, sweaty mansex" or something. There's no need to conclude that his sexual orientation prevented him from making a reasonable critical judgment.

@ 31 :

YES. That movie irritates the everliving fuck out of me. I needed a stiff drink after two and a half interminable hours of watching Tom Cruise learn to love the noble savages of the mysterious Orient. (I admit that I might like it better if Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe had hot, sweaty mansex.)
Posted by echizen_kurage on December 13, 2009 at 9:05 AM
33
@17 Cool Runnings

Really, it was a good movie, go Jamaican Boblsed Team
Posted by step child on December 13, 2009 at 11:16 AM
JunieGirl 34
@17 Brian's Song.
Posted by JunieGirl on December 13, 2009 at 12:25 PM
gloomy gus 35
How about that one with Cuba Gooding as some sort of developmentally behind-the-curve sports team person? Fiier or Gimpy or some title like that. I mistakenly paid money to see that.
Posted by gloomy gus on December 13, 2009 at 1:20 PM
36
#25: And yet he's still a better writer than anyone in the Stranger office.
Posted by jzzlobber on December 13, 2009 at 4:59 PM
37
Dan: "I was bored -- and there were nearly naked men in locker rooms covered in sweat. If anything I should've been more inclined to enjoy this film thanks to my superduperhomosexobsession, not less."

Interesting. I've got a gay friend who has never disliked a movie if it has nearly naked (attractive) men in it.

Anyway, being straight, I'm going to see Invictus in spite of the sweaty locker room stuff because I think Morgan Freeman is brilliant and, even if the film is a "plod" (Slate), I love the story and have the utmost admiration for Mandela.

Now, the next South African movie I want to see is Invictus 9, where the Springboks battle the Prawns.
Posted by Roma on December 13, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Bub 38
@ 23: The Power of One; Cry Freedom; A Dry White Season ...
Posted by Bub on December 13, 2009 at 7:15 PM
June 39
@17 Radio
Posted by June http://travelingbellydancer.blogspot.com on December 13, 2009 at 8:33 PM
Andy 40
@18, Dana Stevens is probably not a fag.
Posted by Andy on December 13, 2009 at 10:16 PM
41
Morgan Freeman magically resonates with anyone who watched Electric Company at a certain age. I would say better than Mr. Rogers, except an old friend would kick my ass for impugning Fred Rogers. (Still, better than...)
Posted by Amelia on December 13, 2009 at 10:25 PM
42
@17... Murderball was genuinely good filmmaking.
Posted by d.p. on December 14, 2009 at 2:33 AM
43
@17... Wait, are we counting documentaries?

If not, by bad @42.
If so, I'm stretching the definition of "inspiring" and throwing in Zidane.

Posted by d.p. on December 14, 2009 at 2:35 AM
Rev.Smith 44
@17 The Princess Bride (has wrestling, swordplay, fights).

"Dodgeball: A true Underdog Story", though - that's the stuff. That scene with Lance Armstrong brought tears, I tell you.

Field of Dreams was a downer: not so much on the inspirational, unless you count Annie's "Buelah's a Nazi cow" speech.
The Natural was alright, if you're not, like, sleepy AT ALL.
Likewise, the Karate Kid.

However, Bull Durham is the awesome.

And there's a racehorse (for a bit) in the Godfather, does that count?
Alive: miracle of the Andes.
Happy Gilmore.
D3 -The Mighty Ducks.3: 'No fear, No limits, No Brakes'.

@33 Snow Dogs, perhaps? ;)
Posted by Rev.Smith on December 14, 2009 at 3:43 AM
45
@44 I love the "Dog" movies!
Posted by step child on December 14, 2009 at 11:42 AM
balderdash 46
It's funny how all the negative comments in this thread seem to be along the lines of, "You're wrong because you're a faggot," not "You're wrong because I liked the movie."

Perhaps there is more at work here than a disagreement over tastes in cinema? Hmmm, crank commenters? Is there something you'd like to get off your chests?
Posted by balderdash http://introverse.blogspot.com on December 14, 2009 at 12:25 PM
kk in seattle 47
@23: You'll find countless (literally, countless) more movies with white guys who out-badass Asians in martial arts. Now, there's a doctoral thesis, not just a Wiki article. WTF, white man? You watch David Carradine do KUNG FU and then you need to teach us? Fuck off.
Posted by kk in seattle on December 14, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Geni 48
@17 - Bull Durham, Bend it Like Beckham, He Got Game, Hoop Dreams, Breaking Away, A League of Their Own, Major League, Tin Cup...yes, there are several.
Posted by Geni on December 15, 2009 at 1:51 PM
49
Why is it that overseas actors can develop a flawless American accent (like the Aussie lead role in Avatar), but American actors cannot do a passable foreign accent? Laziness? Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, in the trailer, sound like a high school production. No way I'm seeing this movie. My ears would bleed from all the wincing.
Posted by SeattleBrad on December 21, 2009 at 11:55 AM

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