Home from the Hill [1960]
1. “Okay, now before I bleed to death I’d like a swallow of whisky and some medical attention.”
2. Her father throws him out. He slowly walks away from the house. Two blasts of a horn from a faraway train. Then he tosses the corsage into a bush.
3. Reprobate’s Field.
Engrossing. And it makes really interesting companion piece to Some Came Running.
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island [1956]
1. Picking insects out of his ramen using chopsticks.
2. “Crush me to death! In your arms! As a final favor!”
3. A head wound, a trickle of blood.
Ocean’s Thirteen [2007]
1. He flips the coin over, balances it on the coin slot, and walks away.
2. “Okay, this is me offering you an olive basket. And this is you spitting in my face.”
3. Mametspeak parody by the fountain.
Ever wonder what the heck exactly tiki is, or why I’m so preoccupied with it? Check out this new episode of Sky Full of Bacon, wherein I talk tiki with the likes of Ed Hamilton, rum expert extraordinaire, and Paul McGee, mastermind of Chicago’s fantastic new cocktail establishment Three Dots and a Dash. I think you’ll find our chat to be an excellent primer on tiki. Speaking of Three Dots, I’ll be posting an in-depth examination of it next week, so keep your eyes peeled.
The Day the Earth Stood Still [1951]
1. A dollar a diamond.
2. Theremin duet. Who else but Bernard Herrmann would dare?
3. Gort has no mouth. It makes him more sinister.
Gone with the Wind [1939]
1. “If it ain’t fit, it ain’t fit.” Beat. “It ain’t fit.”
2. Just after Intermission, a green snood.
3. The stained glass windows at the top of the stairs depict a castle and a knight with a sword.
Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid [1982]
1. Cleaning woman. Cleaning woman.
2. “If you need me, just call. You know how to dial, don’t you? You just put your finger in the hole and make tiny little circles.”
3. Alan Ladd munches on a cookie.
Countdown [1967]
1. “If Lee says we’re going to the moon, then we’re going to the moon until Lee says we’re not going to the moon.”
2. When she sings, Barbara Baxley sounds like Blossom Dearie.
3. He stuffs the rubber rat into the package with the American flag.
Very interesting; seen from today’s vantage point it almost plays like an alternate history, a la The Man in the High Castle. You can already see Altman trying to get away with some overlapping dialogue, and multiple “little” scenes unfolding simultaneously in a larger setting. It’s actually a really fine screenplay too. Pretty happy that I watched The Right Stuff so recently. The two movies are fascinating to compare.
A friend asked for my recipe this morning. I was flattered! There are as many margarita recipes as there are grains of sand on the beaches of Cozumel. But here’s mine.
ULTIMATE MARGARITAS
For 1 margarita, combine equal parts tequila and margarita mix. The ratio can be varied according to taste, but 2.5 oz. tequila + 2.5 oz. mix is a good rule of thumb. Then, either (a) shake very well with ice, and strain into a margarita glass; or (b) combine with 1.5 cups of ice in a blender, blend until smooth, pour into a margarita glass.
MARGARITA MIX
3 parts fresh squeezed lime juice
1 part triple sec
1 part Mathilde XO Orange Liqueur (or Grand Marnier if you’re feeling decadent)
To make mix, combine all ingredients in a pitcher, stir well, store covered in the fridge.
The Fisher King [1991]
1. “Behold my magic wand and free your golden orbs right now!”
2. Beveled glass, his face split in half.
3. Harry Nilsson over the end credits. The last song he ever recorded.
