Metameta in a bret easton ellis interview
I’m a fan of Bret Easton Ellis. Some of his work a lot more than others, but on the whole certainly a fan. So Laist.com caught my eye with this b.e.e. interview about the new followup to Less Than Zero, Imperial Bedrooms. Not sure I’m going to get the chance to read Imperial Bedrooms any time soon, but throughout the interview I was distracted with the idea of how oddly meta it would be of RDjr to star in another film adaptation of a book that incorporates the first book and film as somewhat unauthorized adaptations (not to mention RDjr’s brilliant, tragic performance as Julian itself ) as fictional elements. A brain breaking miasma of art vs. life vs. art vs. art.
Also, he also drops some screenwriting talk and the obligatory Raymond Chandler reference. I wonder if b.e.e. has listened to any Bloc Party…
PRELUDE TO A SUPER AIRPLANE.
The internet takes me to strange and interesting places sometimes. Places often best left unseen. And it makes me wonder if I haven’t somehow completely eradicated my sense of good taste. But as I often feel the need to harp on about here blogside, my tastes are questionable. I like JAWS 3-D, and that’s been around longer than Internets. So yeah, more evidence that I probably never had a sense of good taste. It’s good that I collect these here because I’m certain it’ll get me into trouble someday. Not that such a collectionwill exonerate me or anything, just know that I understand that you’re thinking “Wtf, Nicolle?!”
I don’t know, man. I don’t know.
Tonight, I found myself reading “Prelude to a Super Airplane” not quite certain whether I found it loathsome, or awesome. So I kept reading. Thought about stopping. Skipped some pages. Admired the page layout. Read some more. Then I hit this bit:
(His co-airplane-driver, an aspiring scientist named Markush Von Vendervan, was supposed to be doing these calculations, 18 but he was currently having visions of what he would later say was his “scientific destiny”.)
and I thought, Well, to hell with it, I gotta finish it now. I mean, I feel obligated in a way, I read Heart Breaking Work, hell, I read Danielewski’s Only Revolutions. This is kinda like those and the movie SPEED. And/or Chuck Norris. And JAWS- the chapter font somehow reminds me of JAWS.
So check it out if you like airplanes!
advice for anyone
Okay, so I did read the Harry Potter. It was pretty good. Today I’m practicing understatement.
Last week Cory sent me a link to a rap video that expresses an unusual sentiment- for Cory at least, since he may in fact be illiterate, that people should make and effort to read books among other things. A few explicit lyrics so check your speakers if at work:
Something I can totally get behind. Plus I’m all for tasteless booty shakin’. Animated booty even more so.
something to read
Simply Scripts posted a link to the Coen’s No Country for Old Men today- thanks much to ‘You know, for Kids’ sharing this as it’s one of my most anticipated flicks right now. Big recommend if you haven’t read the novel- hell, big recommend no matter what. I’ve always found the Coen’s scripts to be exceptionally visual and well-written. Also, I honestly expect Cormac McCarthy + the Coen Bros to be astounding. The fact that I’ve got a history of fandom with both AND Tommy Lee Jones, probably means I’ll be a little less sane after viewing the flick, but I have faith it’ll be worthwhile.
I’m not going to finish Script Frenzy. I might manage the 20,000 words by the end of the month, but it’s not going to be a coherent plot and not something I’d force anyone to read. This doesn’t worry me, I’ve been clocking in a lot of pages and developing a lot of the Braxton Frame story- but I’m working on Gallows Gulch at the same time. I don’t count it as a failure though because SF functioned the way I wanted it to- it got me writing when I’d been really bogged down. If I come out of the Summer with two new draft scripts- which I honestly feel on track for- I’ll be happy.
Needing to read and the most awesome Anithero
So I finished the Wolfe books.
All the ones I could lay hands on, with one exception. Out of 75 novels and short stories there are maybe five or so that I haven’t tracked down, and 1 that I own, but have sworn not to read until I’m in declining days. So about 70 in the course of a year. I actually have a few not by Rex Stout, but on the occasion that I cracked one, the first sentence annoyed me so much I haven’t looked back. All in all, I have to say that the two months spent without a constant supply of Archie and Wolfe were quite a bit like what I imagine drug withdrawal to be- I’ve been unmotivated, tired, and sick. Honestly! In fact, in this break of Wolfe-lessness I not only suffer minor depression and prolonged physical illness- I will in fact be needing surgery soon. Can it possibly be a coincidence? Surely not. (Surgery btw is absolutely terrifying since I’ve never so much as had a broken bone. It shouldn’t entail too much, and all my resentment falls to stupid defective genetics.)
I think it’s perfectly reasonable to say that my quality of life depends on regular exposure to Archie Goodwin’s wonderful narration. I wonder how long I’ll be able to last before I start rereading?
Most of November and December I read nothing- as I mentioned a helluva funk. Friday, being sick I figured a weekend on the couch reading would probably do me good and yes, I’ve had the Franzen forever (which I am reminded of because of tonights rerun of The Simpsons), and plenty of other stuff to read, but just no urge. Not like with the crack Rex Stout. So I hit the bookstore as there’s a few newer things that sort of appeal to me, but it’s going to take a helluva character.
I have one in mind.
Hannibal Rising opens February 9th- less than a month from now. Thomas Harris’ novel was published in December. Which is sort of an insane thing considering how well the Silence of the Lambs follow ups did without concurrent movie productions. I mean come on, it’s Hannibal Lecter- he’s the golden god of anti-heroes. Hannibal is the exaggeration of so much villainy, and the inhuman, that I actually worry about myself because I like him co much. Once you can empathize with a guy who eats people, is there any hope left?
I got a real kick out of Hannibal and Ridley Scott’s version wasn’t bad although I was particularly fond of the way the novel resolves. I was little sad they didn’t go for it in the movie (though the refrigerator scene made my stomach flipflop from teh awesome!). I guess some folks were still holding out for Clarice as the hero, but the discerning fans knew better. ‘Hannibal Rishing’ is pretty much Harris coming back and setting things straight, pulling all the holdouts in. Started and finished it on Saturday- it’s not long just shy of 400 pages- and it’s a lot fun. Completely fitting addition to the mythology of Hannibal Lecter and if you’re a fan it gets my recommend, especially if you like ‘Hannibal’.
What I can’t figure out is why the movie is buried in February, and why the PR has been so low key. The IMDB page has one review of a test screening that sounds promising, but nothing about it is making sense. Haven’t seen a poster, or a trailer in the theater, no TV or magazine spots. Like it doesn’t even exist. Although I could just be missing it, but it’s odd nonetheless considering how much press Scott’s Hannibal got. Once again though, it’s Hannibal Lecter- he’s hard to mess up, so I’ll be looking forward to it.
Now for Nyquil and some Stephenson since I can’t figure out which side of the Danielewski I’m supposed to start with.