It's been nearly thirteen years since the debut of Alexander Payne's Election, and it's doubtful, frankly, that Reese Witherspoon will luck into a role as good as Tracy Flick again. It enabled her to give her very best performance. Certainly her most memorable, in part because she wasn't "acting" -- Tracy Flick is inside Witherspoon as surely as Tom Dunson and Ethan Edwards were inside John Wayne.
Has Witherspoon ever played a Tracy-ish role since? Of course not. Will she ever? Not likely. Will she ever make anything of any value again, ever? What kind of management puts a feisty adult actress in projects like This Is War and Water for Elephants? One thing Witherspoon will never sell is foxy-sexy; nor softly romantic and vulnerable. She's too steely and practical. Tracy Flick was lightning in a bottle, and that stuff doesn't grow on trees.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 18, 2012 at 1:51 PM
comment #1
Chicago48
says ...
The reason this new movie doesn't work is a) if it's a comedy with action, then it's a poor premise. Who in the CIA tries to kill their coworker over a woman? Just a poor premise.
b) Who would fight over Reese Witherspoon? I see men trying to kill themselves for Eva Mendes or a young Sophia Loren or Bridgett Bardot, but Reese doesn't ooze sexuality.
Posted by Chicago48
at February 18, 2012 2:26 PM
comment #2
Hollis Mulwray
says ...
(Mare Winningham + Sally Field) x Samantha Morton = Reese Witherspoon
Posted by Hollis Mulwray
at February 18, 2012 2:30 PM
comment #3
NickRogers
says ...
Chicago48: They're not trying to kill each other. But it's still a piece of shit.
Posted by NickRogers
at February 18, 2012 2:35 PM
comment #4
lovethefuture
says ...
Witherspoon is a hell of an actress who is entirely miscast in THIS IS WAR.
Ask yourself this: would Pine or Hardy fight over this woman in real life? I seriously doubt it. Mendes is a great suggestion. Amber Heard also comes to mind. Ditto Charlize Theron (who is getting older but still very sexy).
Also, Chelsea Handler blows.
Posted by lovethefuture
at February 18, 2012 2:39 PM
comment #5
LexG
says ...
Mendes isn't that sexy. She also looks 45. Also the "(My beloved lame actress) is hotter than Witherspoon" angle is surely not why Wells posted this...
Has Jeff actually SEEN "This is War"?
Answer: Of course not.
Posted by LexG
at February 18, 2012 2:49 PM
comment #6
Jesse Crall
says ...
Maybe Reese just isn't that deep. All the girls I know in their late teens/early 20's basically enjoy rom-coms and Twilight. Who says Reese is any different? Election came out when her career was just starting to rock and roll and it may have been something she took as a boost, not any sort of passion project. She may just be the type of women who like fluffy films with easy shoots. Either that or she really needs a better agent.
And yeah, Reese Witherspoon's the type of chick you go for AFTER you killed your CIA buddy to win over Amber Heard who promptly dumps you for someone cooler...Hmmm, with comments like that I'm not exactly deep myself.
Posted by Jesse Crall
at February 18, 2012 2:49 PM
comment #7
G.N.A.
says ...
This Means War wasn't that awful. I've seen a lot worse. And Reese is actually pretty freaking hot in it.
Posted by G.N.A.
at February 18, 2012 3:06 PM
comment #8
G.N.A.
says ...
And I'm assuming Wells didn't think much of Walk the Line, the movie that won her an Oscar, since he made no mention of it.
Posted by G.N.A.
at February 18, 2012 3:09 PM
comment #9
lovethefuture
says ...
LexG says ...
Mendes isn't that sexy.
Mendes is sexy as sin and looks nothing close to 45. You're a fucking idiot Lex. For this and pretty much all your posts.
Posted by lovethefuture
at February 18, 2012 3:15 PM
comment #10
Jesse Crall
says ...
I think arguing over who's sexy and who isn't is like trying to figure out, well, the best movie of any given year. It's so subjective and while it's fun, nothing ever really gets solved.
But yeah, if Eva Mendes looks 45 then I've got 1 foot in the grave already.
Posted by Jesse Crall
at February 18, 2012 3:29 PM
comment #11
patches23
says ...
Tracy Flick is an awesome role, but one that's right up there for Reese is Man In The Moon, her very first when she was 15 or so.
After seeing this there can be no doubt that she is a deep actress.
My memory is fading but wasn't Pleasantville a good one for her too?
Posted by patches23
at February 18, 2012 3:32 PM
comment #12
Jesse Crall
says ...
@Patches23: Pleasantville came out the year before Election but yeah, good performance and I thought the movie was outstanding.
Posted by Jesse Crall
at February 18, 2012 3:38 PM
comment #13
jujuju
says ...
"Tracy Flick was lightning in a bottle, and that stuff doesn't grow on trees." -- precious
Posted by jujuju
at February 18, 2012 3:38 PM
comment #14
Mathieu
says ...
I remember discovering Witherspoon in Freeway, and then Election just turned her into my favorite actress. I didn't care for Legally Blonde, but I thought she was still great in it and it seemed like a smart way to break into the mainstream without sacrificing her feisty / subversive side. But next thing you know, she's in Sweet Home Alabama and becomes another boring romcom queen. I actually forgot she was in Walk The Line until I read the comments... Which says a lot about where her career is today (or my memory, but that's another issue). She's basically Kate Hudson. What a waste.
Posted by Mathieu
at February 18, 2012 4:02 PM
comment #15
Krillian
says ...
Reese Witherspoon >> Kate Hudson
Posted by Krillian
at February 18, 2012 4:17 PM
comment #16
Gabe@ThePlaylist
says ...
Why are we pretending there are a bunch of Tracy Flick roles out there for ANY actress? It's tried and true - there are only so many roles for women out there. Supportive Wife. Kindly Mom. Bitchy Girlfriend. Nondescript Love Interest. And, since we're in the 21st century, Zooey Deschanel.
Reese, who I never REALLY liked, did as good a job managing her career as anyone. She got some lead roles. She won an Oscar. She worked in some different genres with different directors. And she did a movie like Election, a stone-cold fucking masterpiece of acidic anger and ugliness that has the balls to introduce the ballbusting Tracy Flick with someone else saying, "Her pussy got SO wet."
"This Means War" is a misstep, because it's a poorly made film where nothing works, and it will hurt her career, much like How Do You Know. But at this point, she's had a more-than-solid run, no?
Posted by Gabe@ThePlaylist
at February 18, 2012 4:17 PM
comment #17
Heinz, the Baron Krauss von Espy
says ...
I love how Tracy's campaign slogan "PICK FLICK', looks like "PICK FUCK" on her election day cupcakes. The whole thing would make break into giggles like a Japanese schoolgirl weeks after I saw the movie.
"PICK FUCK" (titter, titter).
Someone else must have picked up on this too, because if you look at the cover art on the Blu-Ray, the bottom of the "PICK FLICK" campaign button is framed out and looks exactly like what I just described.
Posted by Heinz, the Baron Krauss von Espy
at February 18, 2012 4:35 PM
comment #18
Soma
says ...
Reese's choices suck post-Oscar, but the fact that she actually got an Oscar just 7 years after she was billed below Sarah Michelle Gellar--is a pretty amazing feat. She was determined to get to the top and she did.
I think she could've been a candidate for a role like Mavis Gary, but I don't think she would play unlikable now.
Posted by Soma
at February 18, 2012 5:45 PM
comment #19
JLC
says ...
I think it also bears mentioning that she had two kids and raised a family in there. Maybe she didn't always want to play Tracy Flick. I'm sure she's broken hearted that her career choices didn't meet Jeffery's approval.
Posted by JLC
at February 18, 2012 5:54 PM
comment #20
Errol Flynnn
says ...
I'm with Lex on this one. Mendes isn't that hot. Everytime i see i shot with her and Gosling, i wish he'd move on to something better. Plus, all i see is the meth head in her. She loved the meth for a while...
Posted by Errol Flynnn
at February 18, 2012 6:05 PM
comment #21
Gabe@ThePlaylist
says ...
Well, you know what they say, Errol. Crazy in the head, crazy with the penis.
Posted by Gabe@ThePlaylist
at February 18, 2012 6:08 PM
comment #22
nemo
says ...
"Certainly her most memorable, in part because she wasn't "acting" -- Tracy Flick is inside Witherspoon as surely as Tom Dunson and Ethan Edwards were inside John Wayne."
And here I always thought it was Freeway's Vanessa Lutz inside Reese Witherspoon.
Posted by nemo
at February 18, 2012 6:10 PM
comment #23
Errol Flynnn
says ...
Off topic, but maybe Andrew Stanton deserves some apologies regarding the budget of John Carter...
http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/john-carter-director-insists-he-stayed-on-budget.html
Posted by Errol Flynnn
at February 18, 2012 6:12 PM
comment #24
LexG
says ...
Wait a minute, tell me more about this Man in the Moon... Can't believe I've never seen that, of all classic RW movies...
Classic Spoon:
Fear
Cruel Intentions
Election
Walk the Line
Freeway
TWILIGHT WHERE SHE'S NUDE WITH PAUL NEWMAN
Best LAID Plains
Legally Blonde (aka LOOK AT HER)
The Hoku PERFECT DAY video
How Do You Know (LOOK AT HER and MASSIVELY underappreciated)
American Psycho
SFW
I don't care what ANYONE says, WITHERSPOON RULES, one of my favorite actresses, HUGE fan, GUARANTEED I'm buying a ticket every time no matter what genre-- she is the Triple Threat a) Hotness b) Makes Good Movies c) TOTAL charisma. Been on board with Witherspoon since Fear/Freeway and she STAYS HOT, funny, awesome etc through any genre.
ALSO I lover her Type A bossy personality... Usually I like women who are demure and VERY fragile and submissive, but Reese is kind of saucy in this button-down, bitchy, sort of unpleasant way where she means business and would tell you EXACTLY what to do and would expect to get her way at all times. For someone without low self-esteem, Reese would be a pretty good deal because she could just yell at you all the time and you'd take it because then your mind wouldn't wander and SHE IS HOT.
SPOON.
Posted by LexG
at February 18, 2012 6:18 PM
comment #25
coxcable
says ...
Witherspoon is one of the few actresses who can be both cold and warm at the same time. That's a real gift. She'd be a great Lois Lane.
Posted by coxcable
at February 18, 2012 6:21 PM
comment #26
Luke Y. Thompson
says ...
I'd put her tough-talking biker-chick sidekick role in PENELOPE up there as a slightly risky choice. An entire movie about Christina Ricci having the nose of a pig was in no way guaranteed to be a hit - and indeed, I don't think it was much of one.
Posted by Luke Y. Thompson
at February 18, 2012 6:25 PM
comment #27
Rev. Slappy
says ...
Election is the best high school movie ever made.
Posted by Rev. Slappy
at February 18, 2012 6:32 PM
comment #28
LexG
says ...
Not quite: Risky Business, Last American Virgin, Fast Times at Ridgemont High are all better than Election.
Election's REALLY good, but it's still in Payne's early SATIRE! days, like Citizen Ruth, before he started doing the humanist-sadsack middle-American ennui thing 100%; That's not to say the BRODERICK stuff doesn't work, because it's FUCKING GOLD, Broderick in that is an ALL-TIME classic performance and portrayal of a sadsack loser-- doesn't he stop off to wash his balls or feet or something when he thinks he's gonna score with Witherspoon? TOTAL thorough portrayal of a small, bitter, rage-case dork, 10000% relatable, and it's BRODERICK who's gold in that movie... Some of the FLICK/high school/Chris Klein stuff is more in that camp-satire snarky realm that's been done to DEATH in high school movies, even before Election.... 75% of the movie is this precise and brilliant examination of desperation and small minds... the other 25% is in that JAWBREAKER/SUGAR AND SPICE tart-tonged wah-wah HIGH SCHOOL CASTE SYSTEM comedy that seems like it's written by a bitter Mike White type ex-misfit. It's okay by those standards, but it's pretty stock then and now.
Posted by LexG
at February 18, 2012 6:39 PM
comment #29
coxcable
says ...
Never thought about that, Lex.
Alexander Payne seems to think that every middle American limp-dick's life can be redeemed by merely discarding the oppressive woman in his life.
Posted by coxcable
at February 18, 2012 7:03 PM
comment #30
Ksaday
says ...
Witherspoon is one of the few actresses who can be both cold and warm at the same time. That's a real gift. She'd be a great Lois Lane. TV ONline
tv streaming
tv internet
Posted by Ksaday
at February 18, 2012 7:14 PM
comment #31
Jesse Crall
says ...
@LexG: I'm with you on Reese's talent/charisma all the way, but I'm also with Jeff on her career choices. But I totally forgot about American Psycho; she was hilarious in that, just totally playing up that shallow, whiny, prissy angle in a humorous way that's pretty damn difficult to do. Also, she reminds me of Reese's Cups, always a good thing.
... think Election's better than Fast Times but Risky Business and Ferris Bueller take gold and silver. In Risky, you had Tangerine Dream in the shower scene and Phil Collins on the metro. Just amazing use of music that is steeped in the 80's but still comes across as retro, not dated. And Bueller was the ultimate fantasy, with the crazy ass day, the hot girlfriend, doing something transgressive but also totally harmless...It was like what Home Alone was to 9 year olds. Hell, I even had a siamese cat named Ferris.
Part of the problem may lie in Reese's look: Very cute, very normal, fun, spunky...Her face seems a little too open for a Mavis Grey type. Like if Charlize was the American Psycho character, it wouldn't work because she could match Bateman stare for stare. Reese just gives off immediate likability which unfortunately plays better in rom-coms than in heavier genre pics.
@coxcable: Huh? Not in Sideways.
Posted by Jesse Crall
at February 18, 2012 7:15 PM
comment #32
HarveyLime
says ...
I wouldn't say her choices are necessarily bad, just that the final products are lacking.
A political thriller by Gavin Hood, a James L. Brooks dramedy, and an adaptation of a bestseller (Water for Elephants). Regardless of how they finally turn out, on paper they all probably seemed like solid bets.
Posted by HarveyLime
at February 18, 2012 7:33 PM
comment #33
Jesse Crall
says ...
@HarveyLime That's a very good point. You're probably right.
Posted by Jesse Crall
at February 18, 2012 7:40 PM
comment #34
cyanic
says ...
Clueless is the greatest high school movie of all time. Rolling with the homies...Why am I even listening to you...you're a virgin who can't drive.
Posted by cyanic
at February 18, 2012 8:54 PM
comment #35
cyanic
says ...
A preview for Man in the Moon is shown on a VHS copy of Shattered (1991).
Posted by cyanic
at February 18, 2012 8:57 PM
comment #36
Eloi Wrath
says ...
Lois Lane is a great suggestion for Witherspoon. Unlucky, I guess.
Election is massively overrated, to be fair. It's the Rushmore of Payne's career. Decent enough, but hugely overpraised because it was the first one that critics noticed from that particular filmmaker.
Posted by Eloi Wrath
at February 18, 2012 9:09 PM
comment #37
Eloi Wrath
says ...
Matthew Broderick is also TERRRRRRRRRRRRIBLE in Election, as he is in every single movie he's been in except Ferris Bueller. It's actually kind of amazing he has a career.
Posted by Eloi Wrath
at February 18, 2012 9:14 PM
comment #38
White Woman
says ...
& I'm blond!
Posted by White Woman
at February 18, 2012 10:59 PM
comment #39
Raising_Kaned
says ...
Shocking to me that Lex hates Winslet because he think she's some kind of no-talent mugger, but at the same time praises to high heavens the thespian skills of Witherspoon (whose range as an actress seems to be extremely "narrow bandwidth" to me).
Posted by Raising_Kaned
at February 18, 2012 11:43 PM
comment #40
Rashad
says ...
Water For Elephants was very good.
I await Jeff's article on Freeway. If he has seen it that is.
Posted by Rashad
at February 18, 2012 11:58 PM
comment #41
LexG
says ...
SWEET HOME ALABAMA POWER
You have a baby... in a bar.
SPOON
Posted by LexG
at February 19, 2012 12:20 AM
comment #42
Raising_Kaned
says ...
Less offensive Sweet Home Alabama -- the "classic" rock song, or the "classic" romcom?
I'm going with the Skynyyyyyyyyyrd!
Posted by Raising_Kaned
at February 19, 2012 12:23 AM
comment #43
LexG
says ...
How can anyone not like Witherspoon?
Funny, SEXY, skinny, BLONDE, gold skin, CHARISMA, TYPE A BOSSY PERSONALITY, makes good movies, is awesome, is cool, wears LITTLE OUTFITS, has looked the same for 20 years...
Posted by LexG
at February 19, 2012 12:24 AM
comment #44
LexG
says ...
Also as long as Kaned is wasting Jeff's bandwidth with dumb musical jokes, SWEET HOME ALABAMA (the song) is SECOND TIER MINOR SKYNYRD, everyone-- everyone-- knows SIMPLE MAN and FREEBIRD are a zillion times better, as is Mr. Saturday Night Special.
Posted by LexG
at February 19, 2012 12:28 AM
comment #45
LexG
says ...
Witherspoon Election more like Erection GOOD JOKE.
LOOOOOOOOOOK AT HER.
Best SKIN TONE and HAIR COLOR COMBO EEEEEVER
WHITE. BLONDE. WHITE. BLONDE. What else do you need?
WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITE WOMEN.
Posted by LexG
at February 19, 2012 12:34 AM
comment #46
Raising_Kaned
says ...
Gimme Back My Bullets POWER.
Posted by Raising_Kaned
at February 19, 2012 12:41 AM
comment #47
Jesse Crall
says ...
THAT SMELL. SMELL THAT SMELL. SMELL REESE'S WHITE CHICK PUSSY SMELL!!!
Sorry, Lex just possessed me. Reese is cool but Winslet is Queen.
Posted by Jesse Crall
at February 19, 2012 12:46 AM
comment #48
LexG
says ...
Winslet SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKS.
Except in Little Children, I liked her in that. And in Contagion. And Titanic, which I love... And David Gale-- basically anytime where she isn't full of shit, which Winslet USUALLY is.
Also in Little Children, it went against every instinct I ever have, but she has a nude scene in that where she's all curvy and sweaty and kind of "thick," and in my brain I was like EEEEE, what is THAT about, but somehow I got SUPER turned on and actually popped a boner in the theater.
Later I punished myself like Bettany in Da Vinci Code for having such a reaction to Winslet, it was inexplicable, but she was strangely HOT in that scene.
Posted by LexG
at February 19, 2012 12:52 AM
comment #49
Jesse Crall
says ...
For me, Winslet exists almost outside sexuality. I mean, she's lovely and if she was naked in front of me I'd be turned on but she's not someone who I physically fixate on in movies. She looks like a woman an old lady in a 50's novel would describe as "a great beauty." Very refined, like your friend's wife who looks really good by the pool but usually dresses kinda formally. She was perfect in Revolutionary Road playing that type.
Little Children was boss and I've never seen her act full of shit. She goes big and I guess you either believe her or you don't. Same with her boy DiCaprio.
Posted by Jesse Crall
at February 19, 2012 1:06 AM
comment #50
Raising_Kaned
says ...
Hard not to post at 4:50 AM and not feel at least a little bit like Lexy-pooh.
So you actually popped a boner for a real WOMAN? Our little boy's all growns-up!
Surprised you didn't mention Heavenly Creatures on your Winslet shortlist -- aren't the girls in that like right in your sweet spot, age-wise?
Posted by Raising_Kaned
at February 19, 2012 1:13 AM
comment #51
Raising_Kaned
says ...
Yeah, I don't get the acting "full of shit" comment at all. I'm sure she's hit a few wrong notes here and there -- who doesn't? -- but I certainly don't remember any roles where she was just totally off from beginning to end, either (that's not to say they don't exist, just that I don't ever recall a performance of hers being "bad," or -- if she was -- I must've skipped those flicks).
Posted by Raising_Kaned
at February 19, 2012 1:18 AM
comment #52
LexG
says ...
Winslet is 90% awful, Witherspoon is 90% AWFUL.
K-Stew, Shailene, Dakota, Elle, Seyfried, REESE, Moretzy, Emma Stone, Mia Wasikowska are awesome 100% of the time.
Posted by LexG
at February 19, 2012 1:23 AM
comment #53
Jesse Crall
says ...
From what I've seen, Winslet's given Oscar quality performances in Revolutionary Road, Eternal Sunshine, Little Children, Heavenly Creatures, Titanic, and the actual win for The Reader. I'm not saying those were necessarily the year's BEST, but they all were fantastic and challenging, the 1st two ranking as my favorites by any actress ever. That's an insane legacy for any actress, let alone one still shy of 40.
DiCaprio and Damon are probably the only other two actors to give such a big number of amazing performances at such a young age. Even legends like Streep, Pacino, Newman, etc took awhile to get their careers rocking. Winslet did Heavenly Creatures at 18 and she was a force.
Posted by Jesse Crall
at February 19, 2012 1:25 AM
comment #54
Rashad
says ...
She looks like a woman an old lady in a 50's novel would describe as "a great beauty."
Perfect description.
Posted by Rashad
at February 19, 2012 1:28 AM
comment #55
LexG
says ...
Kristen Stewart has given 15 Oscar-worthy performances already, and she's only 21.
Also AFFLECK > Damon.
Posted by LexG
at February 19, 2012 1:29 AM
comment #56
Rashad
says ...
Winslet's best is Revolutionary Road. Everything is either okay, or too self-aware/hammy. Little Children, the exception.
And I always liked Affleck more too. It's funny how everyone liked Will Hunting more, but I always wanted to hang out with the Afflecks and Cole fucking Hauser. They were the highlightss, and the best acted scene in the movie is Ben telling that "50 yr old" speech. I actually knew someone who was confused by that, and thought Affleck's character was 50 already.
Posted by Rashad
at February 19, 2012 1:33 AM
comment #57
Jesse Crall
says ...
@Rashad: I'm a Damon guy (The Informant! was SO underappreciated), but my favorite moment in Good Will Hunting comes at the end when
SPOILER
Affleck sees that Damon has taken off and he has this little smile on his face. His earlier speech set that moment up so well. The Williams therapy scenes have been justifiably dissed lately but everything with Damon and the Afflecks in that movie is killer.
Posted by Jesse Crall
at February 19, 2012 1:40 AM
comment #58
Raising_Kaned
says ...
"Kristen Stewart has given 15 Oscar-worthy performances already, and she's only 21."
Including Best Supporting Culkin in Panic Room (zingggggdong).
"Also AFFLECK > Damon."
I know you don't mean Casey -- but if you did, I might actually consider endorsing this sentiment.
ANYWAY, since this thread has long since jumped the 3AM/Closing Time/Up All Night Off-Topic Shark,nice callout there with Affleck's little smile at the end of GWH, Jesse.
Fair to say Van Sant's probably the most underrated component of that flick? Without his smooth touch behind the camera, I'm not entirely sure how much further the Damon/Affleck matrix advances beyond the stage of Kevin Smith Troupe All-Stars.
Posted by Raising_Kaned
at February 19, 2012 3:04 AM
comment #59
Chicago48
says ...
If Hollywood was making film noir again, she would fit in very well. I think she could be the Barbara Stanwyck bitch type. We read about young wives all the time who have killed their husbands or had a lover behind the back of their husbands. She could do that part.
Posted by Chicago48
at February 19, 2012 3:13 AM
comment #60
Anthony Thorne
says ...
Before Jeff inevitably deep-sixes Lex's various cut-and-paste psycho rants directly above, I've got to say it would be funny if the Nike shoes spam bot that selectively grabs HE quotes for its own nefarious purposes unwittingly took some of the undiluted LexG psychopathology above and reincorporated it in the usual fashion. "I agree with your blog post. GET ME A WHITE WOMAN!" etc.
Lex, go and have a wank or something, you'll feel better, seriously.
Posted by Anthony Thorne
at February 19, 2012 3:33 AM
comment #61
Raising_Kaned
says ...
So, anyway, LexG seems like a GREAT guy...
Posted by Raising_Kaned
at February 19, 2012 4:40 AM
comment #62
Raising_Kaned
says ...
That above comment won't really make any sense in a few hours (in the unlikely event that even MY posts survive the inevitable Sunday morning purge), but trust me -- it was really funny.
Posted by Raising_Kaned
at February 19, 2012 4:43 AM
comment #63
LexG
says ...
How do you hang out in HOLLYWOOD (like WELLS AND TAPLEY) if your car has NO COOLING FAN and no air conditioning, and overheats going over "the hill"? How do you work in this BIZ if you can't get acoss town?
What if your EX WIFE'S CHINESE MOM PAYS YOUR BILLS AND LIVES NEXT DOOR TO YOU AND THEY MAKE YOU CHOW FUN AND DON'T LET YOU DATE OR SPEAK TO OTHER WOMEN?
I HAVE NO FREEDOM/.
Posted by LexG
at February 19, 2012 4:43 AM
comment #64
Glenn Kenny
says ...
Have you heard that they're posthumously publishing a Donald E. Westlake novel that he wrote in the late '70s, entitled "The Comedy Is Over?"
Posted by Glenn Kenny
at February 19, 2012 5:32 AM
comment #65
York "Budd" Durden
says ...
Aw, I take everything back that I ever said about what a great guy Lex is, how he really really makes worthwhile contributions to the professional industry blogs he frequents, etc etc. MADNESS POWER. RESPECT.
Posted by York "Budd" Durden
at February 19, 2012 5:37 AM
comment #66
Ray DeRousse
says ...
I'm sure most of what Lex wrote above is destined for the guillotine, but I just wanted to isolate this bizarre moment:
" ... in debt because I bought a DVD COLLECTION in my 20s-early 30s..."
LOL What does this even mean??
Posted by Ray DeRousse
at February 19, 2012 5:45 AM
comment #67
York "Budd" Durden
says ...
Ooooh I just saw Lex's 'R Budd Dwyer' reference. GOOD IDEA, bro.
Posted by York "Budd" Durden
at February 19, 2012 5:52 AM
comment #68
Chicago48
says ...
Where's the Report abuse button?
Posted by Chicago48
at February 19, 2012 5:52 AM
comment #69
Hank94
says ...
This entire thread is the boring LexG. Hate it. When he is being real, and not trying to be provocative, he's great. The rest of the time he's worse than Rashad.
Posted by Hank94
at February 19, 2012 6:44 AM
comment #70
Super Soul
says ...
Well, that happened.
Wait, there's an ex wife? And her Chinese mom who lives next door and pays half the bills, and keeps him away from women? What the hell is going on here? How can somebody work 70 hour weeks at an LA post house, have half their bills paid, and yet be stuck driving a twenty year old Taurus with no air conditioning? Please don't tell me child support is involved.
Posted by Super Soul
at February 19, 2012 6:46 AM
comment #71
Gabe@ThePlaylist
says ...
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
But seriously, Lex. If you ever come to NY, you can get my spillover.
Posted by Gabe@ThePlaylist
at February 19, 2012 6:54 AM
comment #72
Joshua Katz
says ...
@Super Soul...
He's lying (or, to be more charitable, greatly exaggerating the truth). Lexy Baby just wants attention and has cycled into the third stage of his "LOOK AT ME" plan (Step 1- Make insightful film comments. Step 2- Start to degenerate into infantile Moretz/K-Stew trolling. Step 3- Pornographic, faux-suicidal hit-baiting that reads like third-rate Bret Easton Ellis). It's all part of his "awesome" "comedy" persona.
Posted by Joshua Katz
at February 19, 2012 7:02 AM
comment #73
Hallick
says ...
Sadly, this Best Witherspoon Ever thread has not ellicited the best LexG ever.
Posted by Hallick
at February 19, 2012 7:26 AM
comment #74
scooterzz
says ...
hmmm...apparently last night was a party night...what time does the maid get here?
Posted by scooterzz
at February 19, 2012 7:48 AM
comment #75
York "Budd" Durden
says ...
Don't sell him short, Hallick. This represents the apotheosis of the persona, does it not?
Posted by York "Budd" Durden
at February 19, 2012 7:50 AM
comment #76
Bob Violence
says ...
Asians have enslaved LexG's penis
Yellow Peril 2012
Posted by Bob Violence
at February 19, 2012 8:01 AM
comment #77
lovethefuture
says ...
Jeff, if you don't ban LexG immediately and for life then you are out of your mind. I find LexG's contributions to be wildly disturbing and sad. However his posts on this specific post alone are my breaking point. I'll continue reading HE however I refuse to even browse the comments section as long as you allow this pathetic excuse of a human being to contribute to this site.
There comes a point in life where you simply have to declare..........enough. The fact that you let LexG contribute to HE in this regard is an enormous mistake and a shit stain on what is otherwise a wonderful website.
Posted by lovethefuture
at February 19, 2012 8:23 AM
comment #78
Raising_Kaned
says ...
Without counting, I am going to set the over/under of # of Lex posts in this thread at 39 (his age) out of 100 total.
Sadly, I actually think I might be lowballing.
Posted by Raising_Kaned
at February 19, 2012 8:24 AM
comment #79
Glenn Kenny
says ...
Stop complaining guys, all this is just the groundwork for a VERY SPECIAL episode of "intervention."
Posted by Glenn Kenny
at February 19, 2012 9:17 AM
comment #80
Bob Violence
says ...
Jeff, if you don't ban LexG immediately and for life then you are out of your mind.
let Jeff figure out how to ban people for five minutes, then maybe he can work his way up to life
Posted by Bob Violence
at February 19, 2012 9:30 AM
comment #81
eddie mars attacks
says ...
Lexg is hilarious.
Posted by eddie mars attacks
at February 19, 2012 10:18 AM
comment #82
Jesse Crall
says ...
Did Jeff already delete a shit-ton of LexG posts from this site? Because all I see is Reese is white and hot & Kate Winslet generally sucks. Now, he's way off on the latter but that's not a ban-worthy offense...Actually, it kind of is, but whatever...
Posted by Jesse Crall
at February 19, 2012 10:33 AM
comment #83
Super Soul
says ...
Only because Jesse asked:
http://www.freezepage.com/1329666392OJXXAFVRCV
Posted by Super Soul
at February 19, 2012 10:34 AM
comment #84
DukeSavoy
says ...
Has anyone seen Lex and Wells in the same room? Could it be that Lex and his Pupkin-esque ramblings are just a sock puppet for Wells' traffic needs?
Is Lexxy Jeff's S1m0ne?
BTW, Kaned is right: "Gimme Back My Bullets."
Posted by DukeSavoy
at February 19, 2012 11:01 AM
comment #85
Jesse Crall
says ...
@Super Soul: Danke. Not quite Philip Roth, was it?
Posted by Jesse Crall
at February 19, 2012 11:07 AM
comment #86
RoyBatty Returns
says ...
Major kudos, Super Soul - that was so more more stupefyingly pathetic than I could have ever imagined.
Yet, the more telling aspect of the outcome is the fact that it was the this and not the endless misogynistic/borderline pedophilic rants that caused Jeff to take immediate action.
Posted by RoyBatty Returns
at February 19, 2012 11:53 AM
comment #87
roland1824
says ...
How can it be her "very best performance" if she "wasn't 'acting'..."?
Posted by roland1824
at February 19, 2012 3:37 PM
comment #88
Sollicitatiebrief
says ...
I think Winterspoon is going to do really good.
Posted by Sollicitatiebrief
at February 20, 2012 1:32 AM
comment #89
Paul
says ...
Holy shit...thanks to Jesse for the link. I was wondering what could have been so bad that it prompted another Jeff Wells post calling out Lex in public. Honestly, I would have guessed someone hacked his account and posted that before thinking Lex actually wrote those expurgated posts.
Though it was a kind of disturbing poetry...kind of like the Hollywood Elsewhere equivalent of reaching the middle portion of Ginsberg's "Howl".
Posted by Paul
at February 20, 2012 11:31 AM
comment #90
Raising_Kaned
says ...
Fork > Spoon.
Posted by Raising_Kaned
at February 20, 2012 9:29 PM