Wednesday
Hosting the Oscars is much like making love to a woman. It's something I only get to do when Billy Crystal is out of town.
Steve Martin. (My favourite Martin film is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, with Michael Caine.)
Please tell me you've at least *seen* The Jerk??
"I was born a poor black child..."
Classic Martin.
Posted by Stacy at July 18, 2007 12:17 PM
I agree about the "Scoundrels". Martin is a comic genius, although he has made some lousy movies, too. But haven't they all.
Posted by Alisa at July 18, 2007 01:01 PM
DRS pales in comparison to his work in the Spanish Prisoner.
Posted by andyinsdca at July 18, 2007 01:49 PM
Why isn't Steve Martin funny anymore?
Why doesn't he make stuff like "The Man with Two Brains" anymore?
Cheaper by the Dozen was unmitigated bilge.
Posted by Nick M at July 18, 2007 03:45 PM
Why isn't Steve Martin funny anymore?
Because he and Carl Reiner stopped doing blow.
Posted by Alfred E. Neuman at July 18, 2007 05:47 PM
Mr. Pearce,
"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" is actually an inferior remake of "Bedtime Story", with David Niven and Marlon Brando.
Posted by luisalegria at July 18, 2007 06:15 PM
OOO, I love The Jerk.
Good Lord - I've heard about this - cat juggling! Stop! Stop! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Good. Father, could there be a God that would let this happen?
He hates these cans. Stay away from the cans.
I'm picking out a Thermos for you. Not an ordinary Thermos for you. But the extra best Thermos that you can buy, with vinyl and stripes and a cup built right in.
Posted by paul at July 18, 2007 11:38 PM
It's Michael Caine's deadpan delivery of this passage which does it for me:
"Freddy, as a younger man, I was a sculptor, a painter, and a musician. There was just one problem: I wasn't very good. As a matter of fact, I was dreadful. I finally came to the frustrating conclusion that I had taste and style, but not talent. I knew my limitations. We all have our limitations, Freddy. Fortunately, I discovered that taste and style were commodities that people desired. Freddy, what I am saying is: know your limitations. You are a moron."
Posted by manuel II paleologos at July 19, 2007 10:05 AM
Steve Martin a comic genius?
Peter Sellers was a comic genius.
Steve Martin is just some guy who wandered into a Hollywood party, cracked one or two moderately funny jokes, and then stayed 20 years after his welcome wore out.
Posted by pietr at July 19, 2007 04:50 PM
Martin's the real deal. He's written decent books, a good play, and covered both comedy and drama.
#1: "My Blue Heaven" with Rick Moranis.
Posted by jk at July 19, 2007 10:53 PM
Gads! I found "My Blue Heaven" unwatchable. Martin's affected New York mobster accent was unbearably bad. And the Spanish Prisoner, yechh. I couldn't have picked a worse deliverer of Mametian dialog than Martin.
OTOH, the Jerk, Man w/ Two Brains, and much of his early standup was inspired.
Posted by Paul Dubuc at July 20, 2007 11:13 PM
