The opinion of Marty Richman
With Oscar night fast approaching, I feel as if I’ve seen this
political theater before. It’s like watching the fifteenth squeal
of a formula movie
– you know in your heart that no matter how many times they kill
Freddy or Jason, they are never really dead (by the way, the record
for sequels is a Japanese film with 45).
The opinion of Marty Richman
With Oscar night fast approaching, I feel as if I’ve seen this political theater before. It’s like watching the fifteenth squeal of a formula movie – you know in your heart that no matter how many times they kill Freddy or Jason, they are never really dead (by the way, the record for sequels is a Japanese film with 45).
Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street) is No. 40 on AFI’s list of 100 greatest movie villains; somehow, Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th) didn’t even make the cut. First place went to Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins: The Silence of the Lambs) one scary dude. The ‘top’ rated female villain was The Wicked Witch of the West at No. 4 (Margaret Hamilton: The Wizard of Oz), which just goes to show you that we never get over our experiences as children.
The hero list is a bit strange too; Will Kane (Gary Cooper: High Noon) is No. 8 while Moses (Charlton Heston: The Ten Commandments) only makes it to No. 43. Man, that’s a tough crowd.
I believe you can sum up the current political situation using famous movie quotations. See if you can identify the character, the actor, the movie and the year from the fictitious interview below. See the box below for answers.
Q:Governor, give us a minute of you time, please.
A: “You talkin’ to me?”
Q: Yes, you came looking for bailout funds. How do you like Washington?
A:”I’ve have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Q: You’ve asked for money time and again. Why aren’t you getting it?
A: “What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.”
Q: Governor, why are you trying again?
A: “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?”
Q: The rumor mill has it that you wanted to run for higher office. Why?
A: “I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could’ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.”
Q: This crisis has been going some time, Governor, why come now?
A: “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”
Q :What did the president say to indicate things would be different this time?
A: “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
Q: Did the president say anything else about his mood?
A: “Made it, Ma! Top of the world!”
Q: I heard you discussing the possible funding mechanisms with Carville. What method did you recommend?
A: “Bond. James Bond.”
Q: Do you have any bargaining chips to get this deal done?
A: “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
Q: How can they satisfy your demands in the end?
A: “Show me the money!”
Q: Suppose you can’t firm up a commitment. What then?
A: “After all, tomorrow is another day!” and “I’ll be back.”
Q: Well, last time you visited the White House, you had problems with security. They would not let you in. What was that all about?
A: “Badges? We ain’t got no badges! We don’t need no badges! I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!”
Q: The rumor around town is that this deal is dead. What’s your personal opinion?
A:”It’s alive! It’s alive!”
Q: Governor, do you have a final message for the federal government?
A: “Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into!”
ANSWERS:
Travis Bickle: Robert De Niro: Taxi Driver: 1976
Dorothy Gale: Garland: The Wizard of Oz: 1939
Captain: Strother Martin: Cool Hand Luke: 1967
Harry Callahan: Clint Eastwood: Dirty Harry: 1971
Terry Malloy: Marlon Brando: On the Waterfront: 1954
Howard Beale: Peter Finch: Network: 1976
Rick Blaine: Humphrey Bogart: Casablanca: 1942
Arthur “Cody” Jarrett: James Cagney: White Heat: 1949
James Bond: Sean Connery: Dr. No: 1962
Don Vito Corleone: Marlon Brando: The Godfather: 1972
Rod Tidwell: Cuba Gooding Jr.: Jerry Maguire: 1996
Scarlett O’Hara: Vivien Leigh: Gone with the Wind: 1939
The Terminator: Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Terminator: 1984
“Gold Hat”: Alfonso Bedoya: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre: 1948
Henry Frankenstein: Colin Clive: Frankenstein: 1931
Oliver: Oliver Hardy: Sons of the Desert: 1933
