Skillet

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I'm sitting in an air-conditioned Super Shuttle van on Wilshire Blvd., and I can feel the inferno-like heat baking the sides of it. It's like we're cruising down 111 in Palm Springs or Palm Desert. You could fry a bloody egg on the sidewalk. Oh, yeah. Bloody hell. I'm sweatin' here. Roastin', bakin', boilin'...and San Diego will probably be a tad hotter, I won't arrive until midnight or thereabouts. Seeing Funny People first at the Arclight this evening.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 22, 2009 at 1:22 PM

comment #1

eoguy says ...

Funny People is good, not great. Adam Sandler is watchable, it doesn't feel as long as you'd expect at 2h 20m, but it's weak Oscar material, if any.

Posted by eoguy at July 22, 2009 1:40 PM

comment #2

dinovelvet says ...

Sexy Beast. What do I win?

Posted by dinovelvet at July 22, 2009 1:50 PM

comment #3

DeeZee says ...

Actually, compared to a few days ago, this weather's mild.

Posted by DeeZee at July 22, 2009 2:02 PM

comment #4

Stringer Bell says ...

Jeff: Ever wanted to tell the limo driver at the airport that you're the guy named on the white poster board and get a limo ride?

Kinda like Jerry & George on Seinfeld.

Posted by Stringer Bell at July 22, 2009 2:12 PM

comment #5

nemo says ...

Except that Ray Winstone was enjoying himself when he was sweatin', roastin', bakin', boilin' . . .

It helps to be roastin', bakin', boilin' next to a swimming pool in Spain instead of in a shuttle van on Wilshire Boulevard.

Posted by nemo at July 22, 2009 2:27 PM

comment #6

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

Man, you've been gone too long if you think is a "skillet."

Perfect LA weather this week unless you're in the Valley.

I live near the ocean, so it's never too hot however.

Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie at July 22, 2009 2:35 PM

comment #7

Wrecktem says ...

Downtown San Diego is never hotter than anywhere on Wilshire (except maybe Santa Monica).

Posted by Wrecktem at July 22, 2009 2:57 PM

comment #8

Josh Tate says ...

I wish there would be a sea change in LA about media screenings. Move 'em to the Landmark! That 5:30 drive from the Westside to Hollywood is always a killer.

Posted by Josh Tate at July 22, 2009 3:00 PM

comment #9

Ulysses says ...

Its fairly brutal in Phoenix right now, too, and will be like this for another few months. Living in the desert has very few charms.

Posted by Ulysses at July 22, 2009 3:06 PM

comment #10

EdHavens says ...

Because that 5:30 drive from Hollywood to the Landmark is a cakewalk, Josh?

Ironically, I just got my press screening invite for Paper Heart not five minutes ago, and tomorrow's screening is at... The Landmark! Good thing I've already seen it.

Posted by EdHavens at July 22, 2009 4:22 PM

comment #11

Kristopher Tapley says ...

Cooler down here. The Bay. You know.

Posted by Kristopher Tapley at July 22, 2009 5:09 PM

comment #12

BurmaShave says ...

I need to change my shirt I'm sweatin' like a fuckin' cunt!

Posted by BurmaShave at July 22, 2009 10:11 PM

comment #13

DeeZee says ...

Denzel returns to his next train flick. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006366.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
Len Wiseass missed the whole point of Starship Troopers.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i04ac5aa7296d367c0bebd43831feafa3
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i04ac5aa7296d367c2add8feb381ee921
Di$ney thinks we're rich.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i04ac5aa7296d367cffd8e86975292260
Atlas Shrugged turned into a sitcom?
http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/14698/-atlas-shrugged-becomes-a-mini-series-
http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/movie-stills/gallery/1929/shutter-island-stills#info
http://www.impawards.com/2009/box_ver2.html
http://www.impawards.com/2009/i_can_do_bad_all_by_myself_ver2.html
R.I.P. , doggy.
http://buzz.yahoo.com/article/1:omg:b4fab725fef888ab46bd284d03d02183/Taco-Bell-Chihuahua-Dies-at-15;_ylt=AgbVVRYl_cC7YOXiKxWGmV.MfNdF

Posted by DeeZee at July 22, 2009 10:33 PM

comment #14

Terry McCarty says ...

eoguy wrote:
Funny People is good, not great. Adam Sandler is watchable, it doesn't feel as long as you'd expect at 2h 20m, but it's weak Oscar material, if any.

Since there are ten Best Picture nominees, it's safe to guess that Judd wants FUNNY PEOPLE to be one of them. Guessing also there will be some kind of campaign for Leslie as Supporting Actress.

Posted by Terry McCarty at July 22, 2009 10:44 PM

comment #15

Josh Tate says ...

I thought that Sandler was better than he's ever been. I say that as someone who's not a fan of his. The ending (everything post-airport) seemed a bit abrupt, though, and the final scene felt almost sudden. The real surprise for me was how funny Eric Bana was in an essentially thankless role. Schwartzman and Hill seemed like they were in a different movie. Would have liked to have seen more of Daisy.

Posted by Josh Tate at July 22, 2009 10:59 PM

comment #16

Baron Munchausen-by-Proxy says ...

I'm eager to get JW's take on it - I found it to be turgid, unconvincing, inauthentic, unfunny and unending. 70% percent-drop-2nd-weekend awful.

And I've liked Judd's last bunch of product, too.

I'll save my theorizin' why for a more apt thread.

Posted by Baron Munchausen-by-Proxy at July 22, 2009 11:35 PM

comment #17

DeeZee says ...

Baron: It'll be lucky if it does well on its first weekend.

Posted by DeeZee at July 23, 2009 12:38 AM

comment #18

lazarus says ...

Isn't the weather worse in New York right now? At least we don't have that fucking humidity.

Anyway, does Jeff not getting a review in tonight bode well or ill for Funny People? I'd like to think if was going to just dismiss the thing he would have banged something out when he got home.

And I'll say it again: Funniest movie I've seen in a long time.

Posted by lazarus at July 23, 2009 12:44 AM

comment #19

LexG says ...

This is one of those times where I don't envy the critic's life.

Seriously, JW gets off a probably horrible five-hour plane ride, carts around scorching-hot L.A. all day, then has to hit a screening of a 3-hr dramedy all jet-lagged and exhausted? If he even stayed awake, I'd be surprised.

At the very least, aren't most people all discombobulated, constipated, grumpy and miserable after ANY flight? Shit, when I go to see a movie, I need to make sure I'm rested enough, haven't had too much to drink, my stomach's feeling okay, nothing's hanging over my head that's gonna distract me the whole time...

Can't IMAGINE seeing a movie within two days of a plane trip.

Posted by LexG at July 23, 2009 12:50 AM

comment #20

COCO says ...

Pace yourself Jeff....enjoy the film.

Posted by COCO at July 23, 2009 2:06 AM

comment #21

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey says ...

Funny People was awesome. Really, really great.

Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey at July 23, 2009 5:50 AM

comment #22

longrunner says ...

Surprised we haven't gotten a "the wifi stinks in this crappy little Craig's List cottage" post from Wells yet...

Posted by longrunner at July 23, 2009 7:06 AM

comment #23

Steven Kar says ...

I think he's ignoring us. We've grown too dependent on him. We've become too needy and clingy. Maybe he's trying to make a point.

Posted by Steven Kar at July 23, 2009 8:40 AM

comment #24

actionman says ...

he's tweeting...

Posted by actionman at July 23, 2009 8:51 AM

comment #25

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey says ...

... And it appears he loved Funny People. Good. It is absolutely fantastic. I look forward to his review.

Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey at July 23, 2009 8:55 AM

comment #26

Steven Kar says ...

Oh that's too bad, coz I don't do twitter.

Posted by Steven Kar at July 23, 2009 9:05 AM

comment #27

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey says ...

Steven, you just read it online: http://www.twitter.com/wellshwood/

Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey at July 23, 2009 9:10 AM

comment #28

KC says ...

Interesting! I was dead positive that seeing Jonah Hill's face after a day of air travel would drive Jeff off the deep end, pretty excited to see this now

Posted by KC at July 23, 2009 9:35 AM

comment #29

Stringer Bell says ...

Geez ... Jeff's been on that van a LOOOONNNNGGG time.

Posted by Stringer Bell at July 23, 2009 9:40 AM

comment #30

Phatang! says ...

Josh, Eric Bana started out as a comedian.

Posted by Phatang! at July 23, 2009 10:51 AM

comment #31

Stringer Bell says ...

Anything with the 'Sand Man' in it cant be all that good. I dont care about PTA's movie or any other movie. The guy's not very talented.

Posted by Stringer Bell at July 23, 2009 10:51 AM

comment #32

BurmaShave says ...

God Wells on Twitter is amazing. He even has a more stern version of his headshot, which was apparently just an impromptu photograph? Also the earring!!

Posted by BurmaShave at July 23, 2009 11:28 AM

comment #33

efbrackett says ...

Having Mid 80 temps in LA or NY is not hot, people. Ulysses is right on Phoenix, or try Dallas which has been between 90 to 105 for the past 3 weeks. That's hot.

Posted by efbrackett at July 23, 2009 11:45 AM

comment #34

nemo says ...

I just read Wells's tweets or twitters or whatever the hell you call them. It's the first and last time I'll ever read anything on Twitter.

His Twitter posts are exactly like the vapid cartoon picture I've always had of Twitter. The bus is at 35th Street. OK, we just passed 36th Street. Red light at 37th Street. Waiting for a cab to make a left turn across traffic at 38th Street. Only 80 more blocks to go. Just crossed 39th Street. . . .

Posted by nemo at July 23, 2009 11:58 AM

comment #35