I'm Pining Like John Cusack For Cameron Crowe

Cameron Crowe’s current project “Deep Tiki” has been posponed from shooting in 2009, after Ben Stiller and Reese Witherspoon were cast in 2008, to shooting in 2010. That’s an awfully long delay. Surely someone of Crowe’s stature within the industry and actors who want to work with him could get the ball rolling quicker? Why didn’t this happen? What happened to Cameron Crowe? His films have either been cultural artifacts or universal timeless films.

Which brings me to Noah Baumbach. He is married to “Fast Times” Jennifer Jason Leigh. Noah Baumbach’s latest film, “Greenberg”, starring Ben Stiller as a man who is taking some time to do nothing. This is the type of film Cameron Crowe should’ve already done with Ben Stiller. What is Crowe’s film going to be because I know none of us want a rehash of the disaster of “The Heartbreak Kid.”

Hopefully this is Crowe’s choice. Hopefully the studios aren’t giving him the runaround. You know he stops at 7 unreturned phone calls.

I have many of Crowe’s soundtracks to his films. What he does with music is now being compared to what Jason Reitman, Quentin Tarantino and others use music for their films. Crowe was there first. Since 2005 we have not seen Cameron Crowe. I feel like we’ve lost something with him missing. We need him back. His stories aren’t perfect but a few are timeless and others are at least exciting and engaging upon first viewing.

If you look at it, all of Crowe’s films are about examining your life, which isn’t something that wasn’t done before and hasn’t been done in his absence, but he did it so well. “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” was a sign of the times, high school in the early 80s. Should I have sex? Is sex overrated? Should Mark Rattner explain to everyone he is not related to Bret Rattner?

“Say Anything” is timeless in that it could happen at any time period, with the exception of teenagers listening to Peter Gabriel or anyone thinking kickboxing is the sport of the future.

"A career? I've thought about this quite a bit sir and I would have to say considering what's waiting out there for me, I don't want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything as a career. I don’t want to sell anything bought or processed or buy anything sold or processed or repair anything sold, bought or processed as a career. I don’t want to do that.”-Lloyd Dobbler

What kind of job can you have if you are not selling anything bought or processed, buy anything bought or processed or have anything to do with anything that is bought or processed? How did Ione Skye not become a huge star after this? Is it worth taking a big risk for love? How could this result in anything less than a restraining order unless you’re in a Hollywood movie?


“Singles” had the setting of Seattle one year after the floodgates of “Nevermind” opened up the doors for every Seattle band to hit it big in the grunge era. Pearl Jam even has speaking parts as Matt Dillon’s band mates. “Singles” is about what it means to be young and forge a life for yourself. Do you need a significant other? Is it worth it? Is love what makes life worth living? How could I have cashed in on Seattle before the whole experience of Starbucks, grunge, Microsoft blew up


“Jerry Maguire” could be a cultural artifact in the terms it is about the huge money for star athletes in the 90s along with the last time the American economy was rolling for most people. It also is a film about examining what you want in life, a theme that has been captured in many films sense. Jerry Maguire was examining his life of bottom line, profit, salary at all costs mentality over relationships and human connection.

“Almost Famous” was his masterpiece, timeless yet a love letter to his youth touring with Led Zeppelin in the 70s. Another soundtrack I had to have after leaving the popcorn littered theater. I loved Almost Famous. It’s about finding yourself in your first time away from famiy, carving out a niche for yourself while writing for Rolling Stone under false pretenses. How did Kate Hudson not keep taking good roles after this?

“Vanilla Sky” was about losing that human connection and going to any lengths to retrieve it, even if that means being frozen in a cryogenic state. I think Crowe directs Cruise better than most. I haven’t seen it in years but thank god for Crowe giving us Jason Lee in “Almost Famous” and “Vanilla Sky

A few years later, after a recut, change in lead actor, we were delivered “Elizabethtown” with Orlando Bloom. On first viewing on the Friday night opening, I loved it. I loved everything about it. I bought the soundtrack that night and saw it again on Sunday afternoon. When I called a girl and talked for hours, I thought of “Elizabethtown.” That film is still enjoyable but has not aged like a fine wine. More like Marcellus Wallace’s quote, “If you mean it turns to vinegar, yeah.”

I want Cameron Crowe back. I want to be moved by the underdog. I want to be moved to buy the soundtrack upon leaving the theater. I want to believe in love in the way Cameron Crowe paints it. What are you waiting for Crowe? Get back to work. This is your dare to be great situation.

M&M Mini Review: An Education

"An Education" started playing at my local Cinemark. Knowing it was a nominee for Best Picture plus it was set in England minus the fact it didn't have any Avatars in it, I knew it might only last a week. I saw it at the bargain price of the Early Bird matinee and was the only one sitting in the theater. It's a shame. Everyone, especially every female in the country should see this movie.

This movie deals with issues that aren't dealt with in the film, a dilemma of following your heart or your head. Something that I imagine doesn't arrive at the same place as "Avatar" stopper "Dear John". The movie deals with a girl who has been spending her nights learning Latin, reading, writing and studying to get into Oxford only to be swept away by an older man. Soon she must deal with the issue of following through on Plan A or doing what feels good right now which is going to jazz clubs, Paris and dog races. Fun now is always the better seductress over working hard for something later. Do we spend the paycheck now or do we put some in the savings account?

Love is fleeting and has the ability to feel eternal and above all things. Pop songs have enriched that narrative but few people, especially young people understand how unpredictable and unforgiving love can be.

It's a shame a film this good will have an uphill box office battle. It's sad to see "Dear John" as the female film that has girl power.

M&M Mini Review: Crazy Heart

First time Writer/Director Scott Cooper has done a great job on his first film, "Crazy Heart" with Jeff Bridges, the man he wrote the script for. Its comparisons to "The Wrestler".

The Hollywood marketing and hype have compared this story of a has been down on his luck has drawn comparisons to last year's comeback of the year, "The Wrestler" for Mickey Rourke. There are parallels and similarities but Scott Cooper is not Darren Aranofsky. Aranofsky had many films under his belt and Rourke had something to prove. It was a role Rourke had been unconsciously method acting the last twenty years.

Jeff Bridges plays Bad Blake, an older country singer run down by decades of alcohol and life on the road. This movie takes time to get rolling. What is surprising is you don't like Bad Blake. He's a jerk for the first hour or so of the film. His drinking keeps him from functioning. The film gets its energy from Collin Farrell, Robert Duvall and even Maggie Gyllenhaal who I don't like but keeps sneaking into good films. The story is true to itself and doesn't get wrapped up in a nice bow for everyone. It's good it just isn't great every frame.

It is unfair to compare it to "The Wrestler" because it's not trying to be that film and it is not anywhere in its scope going to be "The Wrestler."

Mickey Rourke's Randy the Ram, you were with him the whole film. You were with him when he was wrestling. You were with him in his struggle to work at a grocery store. You were with him when he tried to patch things up with his daughter. Your heart fell for him when he blew it time and again.

You don't have that same love and investment in Bad Blake and Jeff Bridges. This is still an enjoyable film but it's not going to make you cry. It's not going to make you cheer. It's just what it is. No harm in that.