#ricky jay

[spockvarietyhour]

[typingtess]

"The Amazing Maleeni" - when Mulder and Scully met Ricky Jay

[thishadoscarbuzz]

280 - State and Main

Forgotten cinema, you ask? This week, we're coming to you with 2000's State and Main, a Hollywood satire and ensemble comedy from lauded playwright David Mamet. A farce about a film production wreaking havoc on small town America, the film featured a very Mametian cast of Alec Baldwin and William H. Macy along with of-the-moment stars on the rise like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Julia Stiles. An ensemble win from the National Board of Review helped coast the film through the season, but it managed little other award mentions despite strong reviews.

This episode, we talk about David Mamet's high (but waning) regard in the American theatre in contrast to his more under-the-radar film reputation. We also talk about PSH's late-90s breakthrough years, SJP's reign over the Globes for Sex and the City, and WHM's surprising lack of an Oscar nomination since Fargo.

Topics also include "so that happened" as a punchline, Fine Line Features, and NBR giving Best Picture to Quills.

The 2000 Academy Awards

Vulture Movies Fantasy League

[abs0luteb4stard]

W A T C H I N G

[twiststreet]

The gamut of Ricky’s interests — from gambling and magic (obviously) through cons and swindles (also obviously), circus, low life, unusual entertainers, learned animals equilibrists, ceiling walkers, pickpockets, jugglers, quacks, eccentrics, remarkable characters, phantasmagoria, giant babies, giant schoolboys, fortune tellers, carnivals, sideshows, fortune tellers, spirit rappers, spirit trumpeters, spiritualists, anti-spiritualists, escape artists, shadow artists, armless artists, armless fiddlers, blind pianists, hucksters, hoaxsters, card throwers, giants, strongmen, tattooed ladies, music hall artists, legendary con-men of the Klondike, and London’s own King of the Beggars. And Little Tich.

-- from a Twitter description of an auction of items from the Ricky Jay Collection last week.

[ljones41]

“TOMORROW NEVER DIES” (1997) Review

"TOMORROW NEVER DIES" (1997) Review Recently, I had watched "TOMORROW NEVER DIES", Pierce Brosnan’s second outing as James Bond. Roger Spottiswoode directed the 1997 Bond movie. It co-starred Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Pryce and Teri Hatcher.

  When I first saw "TOMORROW NEVER DIES" many years ago, I had a low opinion of it. I wish I could say that my opinion of the movie has improved over the years after this latest viewing . . . but I would be lying. TOMORROW NEVER DIES had some highlights, but unfortunately, it possessed more negative traits than positive ones. I think it would be best if I list both the good and the bad about this movie: Positive: *What else can I say? Michelle Yeoh. *I found Bond’s romantic scene with a Danish linguist rather sexy. *The film's foreign locations – Hamburg and Thailand (as Vietnam) - looked more lovely, thanks to Robert Elswit's cinematography. *Bond and Wai-Lin’s escape from Caver building in Vietnam proved to be one of the better stunts I have seen in the entire Bond franchise. *Thanks to Roger Spottiswoode's direction and Michel Arcand's editing, I thought the Saigon motorcycle chase was handled very well. *Pierce Brosnan gave a very natural performance, especially during his scenes with Yeoh. *Oddly enough, I rather liked Vincent Shirerpelli as Dr. Hamburg. He proved to be a more interesting henchman than Mr. Stamper. And his death proved to be even more interesting. *Mr. Gupta seemed like a pretty sharp and cool guy. *The movie's main theme song, performed by Sheryl Crow - what can I say? I realize it is not regarded as one of the best theme songs from the Bond franchise. But I have always had a soft spot for it, thanks to Crow's vocals and the lyrics she co-wrote with Mitchell Froom. I mean . . . the song did earn a Golden Globe nomination. Negative: *Brosnan's angsty scenes with Teri Hatcher seemed stiff and unnatural. And his voice sounded odd in scenes featuring Bond's attempt to suppress his emotions. *Why did the director Roger Spottiswode, have Brosnan shooting two machine guns at once during the final confrontation on Carver’s boat? The actor looked like a walking action movie cliché. *I thought Jonathan Pryce had portrayed one of the most overbearing and annoying villains in the Bond franchise. Only Sophie Marceau in the latter half of "THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH" may have surpassed him. *Is it just me or is the plot of this Bond movie seemed like an extended rip-off of a "LOIS & CLARK" episode from its first season? Perhaps the discovery of Teri Hatcher’s casting must have given screenwriter Bruce Feirstein an idea. *Why is it that nearly every sentence directed by Ms. Moneypenny to Bond came off as a sly, sexual joke? Their dialogue grew very annoying. *Spottiswoode managed to transform Bond and Q’s Meeting in Hamburg into a hammy production number. Q was simply in Hamburg to hand over an armored company car to Bond. What a bore and a waste of time! *Carver's top minion, Mr. Stamper, struck me as a second-rate version of Red Grant from "RUSSIA WITH LOVE". Where was Robert Shaw or Andreas Wisnewski when you need them? *The entire car chase sequence inside a Hamburg parking structure featured Bond using a remote control . . . ah, never mind! The entire sequence struck me as a bore. Even worse, it happened after the marvelous Bond/Kaufman scene. What a waste of my time. *Despite all of the gunfire exchanged and the other action during the final confrontation sequence aboard Carver’s boat, I thought it was too long . . . and boring. *Joe Don Baker seemed wasted in this film as C.I.A. liaison Jack Wade. *Bond’s Cover as a Banker – I am beginning to suspect that Bond makes a lousy undercover agent. By opening his mouth and hinting at Carver’s boat, he ended up exposing himself. What an idiot! *Teri Hatcher seemed wasted in this film. And her angsty scenes with Brosnan seemed forced - almost unnatural. TOMORROW NEVER DIES did managed to produce a few favorite lines of mine: Favorite Lines: "Believe me, Mr. Bond. I can shoot you from Stugartt and still create the proper effect." – Dr. Kaufman to Bond BOND: "You were pretty good with that hook." WAI-LIN: "That’s from growing up in a rough neighborhood. You were pretty good on the bike." BOND: "Well, that comes from not growing up at all." "No more absurd than starting a war for ratings." – Bond to Carver KAUFMAN: "Wait! I am just a professional doing a job!" BOND: "So am I." (Then kills Kaufman) Despite some virtues, "TOMORROW NEVER DIES" is not a favorite movie of mine. In fact, it is my least favorite James Bond movie featuring Pierce Brosnan. Unfortunately, director Roger Spottiswoode seemed unable to elevate Bruce Firstein's generic screenplay marred by an unoriginal plot and one of the hammiest villains in the franchise's history. Hmmm . . . too bad.

[archivist-dragonfly]

Book 469

Jay’s Journal of Anomalies

Ricky Jay

Farrar, Straus and Giroux 2001

I actually met Ricky Jay once. At the time—this was in 2008—my friend was working on the UFC tv show, and he invited me to watch the Ultimate Fighter finale which was being filmed at the Palms Casino in Vegas. So we’re there in the food court area having something to eat after the fight, and who should walk in and grab a table near us but the unmistakable Mr Jay. Now this was a bit odd, because I happen to know that he was banned from playing cards in casinos because his slight-of-hand was just that good. However, the David Mamet film, Redbelt, about an MMA fighter and in which Jay had a role, had recently been released, so I imagine he was also there taking in the fight. Anyway, I really wanted to meet him and let him know how much I admired his books. So I screwed up my courage, approached him, and introduced myself. After a few awkward compliments from me, I then sheepishly asked for an autograph, but the only piece of paper I had on me was my ticket for the fight. So he graciously signed that. I’m looking at it right now as I write this—it’s dated June 21st, 2008 and on the back is Jay’s signature, written in faded ballpoint. It’s one of the very few autographs I have ever asked for, and the only one I still have.

[2ndaryprotocol]

The bombastic ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ blasted its way into theaters this day 25 years ago. 📰🏍🔥

“𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚜, 𝚜𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚢.”

[masorad]

[ruleof3bobby]

STATE AND MAIN (2000) Grade: C+

It felt dated, will be an edgy movie now, felt like they were holding back a little. Creative & clever plot that a movie lover will still enjoy the details.

[josefksays]

Magnolia (1999)

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WATCHLIST 2022: Heist

[twiststreet]

People are passing around this other Ricky Jay story online, which is a pretty good one-- I can’t knock it-- but for myself, this story (from the Ricky Jay episode of American Masters) is the best and my favorite Ricky Jay story. (Setting aside Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Nevertheless” story, which is more about a story Ricky Jay told to him, than a story about Ricky Jay). 

[scottwellsmagic]

740: P.T. Murphy - Big Fish in a Small Pond

This episode hopes to inspire you to dream it, make your dream a reality, then follow your dream. Patrick P.T. Murphy was doing well in Chicago and performed regularly with David Parr in the Chicago Magic Cabaret. But ten years ago the stars aligned which took him three hours away to a tourist destination to Northeastern Illinois where he began performing in a small theater with his own one-man show. Sometimes it’s best to “buck the norm” and become a big fish in a small pond.

P.T. shares some personal stories about his magical life and his brushes with magic celebrities like Bill Malone, Tony Andruzzi, Paul Harris, David Roth, Ricky Jay, Eugene Burger and others. Plus he talks about the magic dealer scene in Chicago. We also talk about making a dramatic change in his life by picking up and moving his family and belongings three hours northeast of Chicago where he has become recognized by Trip Advisor as the top attraction in the small pond of Galena, Illinois.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Nightmare Alley was discussed in this week's episode. To order your copy of the book and also help The Magic Word Podcast with your purchase, please follow this link.

[archivist-dragonfly]

Book 468

Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women

Ricky Jay

Villard Books 1986

And we’re back.

By the one, the only, the great Ricky Jay (1946-2018), this is a thoroughly fascinating and entertaining book. With hundreds of posters, playbills, and other such ephemera culled from Jay’s own collection as well as from the archives of the Mulholland Library of Conjuring and the Allied Arts in LA, Jay presents an utterly magnificent tour of the notable personalities—the eccentrics, geniuses, daredevils, and charlatans—throughout the history of stage magic. Within these pages you’ll learn about Harry Kahne, the Multiple Mental Marvel, who could write five words simultaneously with pieces of chalk held in each hand, each foot, and in his mouth; Toby, the Amazing Pig of Knowledge, who was able to add numbers, guess cards, and who wrote his own autobiography; Max Malini, who could sit at a dinner table for many hours, never leave, then lift his hat to reveal a large block of unmelted ice; and many many more.