| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| BaftaBaby |
Posted - 09/15/2007 : 14:54:05
Greetings!
I'm trying to construct an accolade which is kind of hard to describe and can't easily be called up within an imdb search category.
Basically, it involves films which contain at least one major character to whom you could in all good conscience give a lava lamp as a present. Not necessarily because the film is set in the late60's/1970s [eg Peter Sellers in The Party], and not simply because they may have bad dress sense [eg Anne Hathaway in Devil Wears Prada]. Though I'd happily include both those.
Does anyone have any ideas for this ... I think it could be a fun challenge, and probably won't have too many films included. I haven't seen it yet, but I'm guessing Superbad might qualify. :)
The one or more characters really need to be top billing or first-billed co-stars - hence essential to the story. No shorts or television films please.
Really grateful for your help with this one.
TIA
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 09/16/2007 : 11:26:58
Okay.
By the way, I see you put in A New Leaf which is totally perfect. Loved that movie! Elaine May at her absolute best!
(If you do decide to add more films, I'm thinking that both Charles Grodin as well as Jeannie Berlin (Elaine May's daughter) are real nerds in the original Heartbreak Kid. Of course, Berlin does a great nerdy girl in the title role of Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York, as well. I'm just mentioning this as an aside!)
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| BaftaBaby |
Posted - 09/16/2007 : 11:24:14
[quote]Originally posted by ChocolateLady
STOP, darling, please!
I've capped the acc at 10 films.
Maybe I'll eventually add some more, but I want to give people a chance, and 10 seems a goodly number.
But I am really grateful to you and everyone who's made such wonderful suggestions.
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| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 09/16/2007 : 11:20:29
Also a "Dr. Ross Geller" of "Friends" type would work, but I see David Schwimmer doesn't really go nerdy in movies, except possibly with Kissing a Fool.
Oh, yes - Sabrina, especially the original one with Bogart playing the nurdy brother.
Got to think of some female nurds. What about that one about the secretary who kills off her co-workers one by one? Its in your Desk Set accolade but the name of the movie and star escape me.
Or what about Rosanne Barr in She-Devil? She starts out as a nurdy woman. |
| BaftaBaby |
Posted - 09/16/2007 : 10:23:16
Okey-dokey all you dorks and trolls ... I've capped the acc at 10 and it's now up and ready to be attacked.
Thanks so much to everyone who helped. I hope at least some of you will chase the wonderful lava lamp trophy ... think how much fun you'll have watching it bubble up and down 
Lava Lamps Welcome |
| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 09/16/2007 : 10:13:40
I see what you mean - you're looking for a "Seth Cohen" type of character (did they get "The O.C." in the UK?). Adam Brody will probably always play what Time magazine calles "Mr. Adorkable", so I'd certainly go with him in In the land of Women - that's a perfect match.
Along these lines, there's that weird, tall guy in the Scooby-Doo movie, or Steve Carell in 40 Year Old Virgin, or even Ben Stiller's character in Along Came Polly, as well as several other of his movies.
What about the Nutty Professor movies - both Jerry Lewis's original and the remake have very nerdy guys in the main role?
I'll keep thinking ...
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| BaftaBaby |
Posted - 09/16/2007 : 09:00:47
quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
My first thought was to Ellen Burstyn's character Edna Mae McCauley in Resurection.
Then, what about Jeff Bridges' character, Jeff Lebowski (The Dude) in The Big Lebowski?
Certainly Patricia Quinn as Alice in Alice's Restaurant would enjoy one.
I can't imagine why Robin Wright Penn as Jenny Curran in Forrest Gump wouldn't want one.
Everyone in the movie Four Friends would like a Lava Lamp.
Both Jessica Tandy's Mrs. Threadgoode and and Kathy Bates' Evelyn Couch would like a lava lamp as a gift in Fried Green Tomatoes.
That's a good start, I think.
Thanks, as always, CL, for dedicating yourself to the challenge. I'm truly impressed 
But I've been going through these one by one. When I was compiling this originally, I did think of Fried Green Tomatoes, but concluded none of the characters was geeky enough. I thought about Lebowski - but not for the Dude [who's too self-assured for this] but for the Turturro bowling geek - he'd be perfect but he's not exactly a major character. And, sorry, I don't buy either Jenny Curran or Alice Broderick as nerdy.
I know this all probably comes down to quite a narrow call, but this isn't about hippies or counter-culture people. I've already got an accolade for that! I suppose 'misfit' or 'loser' gets closer to what I mean. The people I'm thinking of can't be self-aware and proud of their 'otherness' [in the Martin Buber sense ] - which is why the Dude doesn't fit. He knows who he is and revels in it.
The Four Friends and Resurrection I'm unsure about - I've only read about the former and it's been ages since I've seen the latter. I don't recall either Burstyn or Sam Shepard as geeky though they push the boundaries of what religion might be about. The Friends appear to be finding bonds, but nothing I've read makes them seem geeky or nerdy. Can you convince me?
You may be starting to see why I didn't have much luck with an imdb genre search!!! 
But THANKS again! All the suggestions only serve to make me clearer about what this accolade is about.
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| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 09/16/2007 : 07:46:12
My first thought was to Ellen Burstyn's character Edna Mae McCauley in Resurection.
Then, what about Jeff Bridges' character, Jeff Lebowski (The Dude) in The Big Lebowski?
Certainly Patricia Quinn as Alice in Alice's Restaurant would enjoy one.
I can't imagine why Robin Wright Penn as Jenny Curran in Forrest Gump wouldn't want one.
Everyone in the movie Four Friends would like a Lava Lamp.
Both Jessica Tandy's Mrs. Threadgoode and and Kathy Bates' Evelyn Couch would like a lava lamp as a gift in Fried Green Tomatoes.
That's a good start, I think. |
| Canklefish |
Posted - 09/16/2007 : 00:53:21
I've seen the movie a couple times, but had to go back to IMDB to watch the trailer... mainly to see if the Sam Rockwell character was as loopy and hippy-ish as I remembered.
The Turturro character was your run-of-the-mill 'suit' but Rockwell turned him around, alas presenting him with the gift(box of moonlight)
My main focus would have to be the Rockwell character. I'm not familiar with 'Superbad' and wasn't exactly certain what you were looking for, but when Donald Sutherland's Oddball character was mentioned I immediately thought of my submission, so thought I'd chime in.
Good luck with the accolade
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| BaftaBaby |
Posted - 09/15/2007 : 23:53:31
quote:
Originally posted by CankleFetish
Oddball from Kelly's heroes is the perfect recipient for this gift.
My tentative entry would be 'Box of Moonlight'
While Sam Rockwell's character would definitely appreciate the gift(one more tacky light around the 1/2-trailer couldn't hurt), John Turturro's character needs a little quirk in his stodgy life.
A lava lamp would be ideal for both of them.
Thankle Cankle.
Hmm ... I'm going to have to think about this one, CF ... been a while since I've seen it, but as I recall the Turturro character at the beginning is just another play-it-by-the-book boring pedantic treadmill kinda guy who's turned on to a free-er way of facing life. It's almost in the Regarding Henry ballpark. Rockwell I remember as a time-warp hippy but he seemed genuine.
You probably know the film better than I do, so if you can persuade me that either of them has that vital dose of the nerdies and/or is a self-deluding but almost likeable weirdo, I'll tip over to your side. And you can't say fairer than that!!
Oh, I just thought of Elaine May in A New Leaf ... if you remember, she's a botanist who's totally obsessed with her work and totally unaware of how messy she is and how she embarrasses her lover Walter Matthau.
Thanks everyone! This is a tough one, but I knew I could count on you.
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| Canklefish |
Posted - 09/15/2007 : 23:06:35
Oddball from Kelly's heroes is the perfect recipient for this gift.
My tentative entry would be 'Box of Moonlight'
While Sam Rockwell's character would definitely appreciate the gift(one more tacky light around the 1/2-trailer couldn't hurt), John Turturro's character needs a little quirk in his stodgy life.
A lava lamp would be ideal for both of them. |
| BaftaBaby |
Posted - 09/15/2007 : 22:52:05
quote:
Originally posted by Rovark
quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
quote:
Originally posted by Rovark
WTF
I've got a Lava lamp.
What the heck are you trying to imply here BBabe 
yeah, and when you're not an adorable elephant you've got that --uhm, interesting Afro. I rest my case [far too heavy to carry, anyway]
Aahh, that. Erm, well, moving on.
How about Donald Sutherland's charactor in Kelly's Heroes. Despite it being WWII, he's definately in touch wth the cosmic vibe. Man.
See?! I KNEW you'd be able to i.d. a fellow lava-lamper
In it goes!
Ta v'ry mucho!
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| Rovark |
Posted - 09/15/2007 : 21:11:52
quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
quote:
Originally posted by Rovark
WTF
I've got a Lava lamp.
What the heck are you trying to imply here BBabe
yeah, and when you're not an adorable elephant you've got that --uhm, interesting Afro. I rest my case [far too heavy to carry, anyway]
Aahh, that. Erm, well, moving on.
How about Donald Sutherland's charactor in Kelly's Heroes. Despite it being WWII, he's definately in touch wth the cosmic vibe. Man.
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| BaftaBaby |
Posted - 09/15/2007 : 20:25:34
quote:
Originally posted by Chris C
Does Starsky & Hutch qualify?
I see where you're coming from, dude ... but I suspect they're a bit too knowing and not quite geeky enough.
But thanks, anyway!
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| Chris C |
Posted - 09/15/2007 : 20:15:08
Does Starsky & Hutch qualify? |
| BaftaBaby |
Posted - 09/15/2007 : 20:14:50
quote:
Originally posted by lemmycaution
Shelley Duvall in Altman's Three Women?
that's a splendid idea ... many thanks!
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