| Author |
 Topic  |
|
ginbot
Archdeacon of Jabootu
12 Posts |
 Posted - 05/04/2009 : 12:09:44 PM
|
As I stated in a previous by niccolom:
quote:
Coming to theaters in 2010, Straw Dogs in which: "James Marsden (X-Men) stars as a Los Angeles screenwriter who moves to the American south with his spouse."
Let me guess, LA liberals get harassed by a bunch of gap-toothed
rednecks until they take the law into their own hands.
Made we wonder what others thought were good versus bad uses of the South as the venue. Sort of like "Witness" versus "Stranger Among Us".
You have classics such as "Gone with the Wind" or "To Kill a Mockingbird".
Ones focused on racism or civil rights struggles such "Mississippi Burning" or "The Long Walk Home".
But, to me one that makes good use is that it didn't HAVE to be Southern, however it does benefit from it. So, I'm not talking Civil War or Civil Right period pieces. Those are more of a given on location.
For example, "Slingblade". It doesn't have to be in Arkansas (However, Hot Springs does have a famous mental institution. One reason was due to the mercury used to treat syphilis in the old days. Insert your own Clinton joke here.) Thorton was from Arkansas so it's unsurprising that he got it right. i.e. Write what you know.
Does that mean I would have to write a remake of Space Camp since I'm born/raised/live in Huntsville?
I know I've seen ones that irritated me in their "Sourtherness", but only MST ones such as Squirm (writer/director was from New York City - inevitably I am saying this in my best Pace picante sauce voice) or Boggycreek II come to mind. And this being the site it is, it's the bad ones I am really interested in.
I didn't see "Sweet Home Alabama" - can't legitimately comment, but it seems like it would fit the bill for me. I.e. the "Southerness" is a tacked on character trait.
James Bond Live or Let Die is a mix bag for me. Hard to come down on a Bond film for using broad strokes on characters when that is what is (was?) what the franchise was known for.
And, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans -- we'll have to see.
|
|
|
RossM
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
427 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 3:59:29 PM
|
There are some very good books about the Hollywood version of the south. One is
Framing the South: Hollywood, Television, and Race during the Civil Rights Struggle
by Allison Graham |
 |
|
|
Greenhornet
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1791 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 4:24:06 PM
|
Many "southern" movies are uncomfortable for me to watch since I'm a Florida Cracker and have relatives all over "the south".
One thing about the southern characters in movies, is that the men are portraied as LOUD! One of the few times I've seen my fellow "confeds" like that is at the point where they just pulled a prank on you and are encouraging you to join in the laughter. People from the north east seem to YELL in a normal conversation. Why is that? And why don't movies and TV play them that way?
As for southern women in movies (GRRRRR!), they are either shy, delecate flowers, or over-sexed sluts. REAL southern women include such notables as Dinah Shore, Bettie Page and Col. Jacklyn Cockrane. What's wrong with them?
Try to find the book "Having It, Y'All"; it extols the achievements of the south.
"The Queen is testing poisons." CLEOPATRA, 1935 |
|
|
|
Greenhornet
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1791 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 4:29:12 PM
|
I think the origonal The Beverly Hillbillys was an accurate (And funny) portrayal. But then, they did have SOUTHENERS playing the Clampets.
"The Queen is testing poisons." CLEOPATRA, 1935 |
|
|
|
Sardu
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1126 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 11:13:47 PM
|
Well, there's always the Andy Griffith show. Maybe it was an extreme idealization even in its time but I'm a Pittsburgh-er who's lived in TN. for over 20 years now and there really is much more of that feel down here than you would expect. Most rural southerners that I've encountered are kind, God-fearing good hearted folk. Of course, there are a lot of crazy beer-swilling red-necks too, many of which can be a$$holes. But they are a minority. My sister-in-law still lives in PA. I swear, she honestly thinks we're all bare-foot and ready for a good lynchin' on Saturday night down here. It's nuts.
---------------------------------------
I sleep now!! |
|
|
|
ginbot
Archdeacon of Jabootu
12 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 07:55:22 AM
|
| I've lived in city and now rural (everybody knows everybody) South, and the cliche is true about how kind hearted people in the country is. A new exception is the crazy meth cooker - burns down an abandoned house or trailer or something else stupid. Surprised that has been a movie on trailer meth problems specifically. |
|
|
|
AnnGora
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
252 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 12:34:24 PM
|
Being a Southerner, I almost always wince at the standard Hollywood Southern accent, particularly by people whose only connection with the South was seeing Gone With the Wind. There are about 20 different kinds of accents all over the Southeast, yet Hollywood knows only two: the Southern Belle and Refined Gentleman or the Trailer Trash Rednecks. Flame me if you must, but Gregory Peck's accent in To Kill A Mockingbird was all wrong and it generally ruins the movie for me. Read the book. It's much better.
Also, we actually have normal names here in the South like Michael, Susan, Debbie, Richard, Lisa...etc. Not everyone here is Bubba or Truvie or Spud or Weezer...Steel Magnolias is a supreme offense to my ears. Dolly Parton had the only realistic accent and then she kinda went off the deep end. Yes, we do give nicknames, but that just shows off our creativity and imagination. However, we all don't walk around with our fingers up our noses and believe it or not, some of our Sheriffs are not fat corrupt slobs.
She was bred in old Kentucky, but she's just a crumb up here. |
|
|
|
Neville
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
Spain
1590 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 2:37:46 PM
|
Mmm... what do you guys have to say about True Blood? I've always thought the way Anna Paquin speaks is way over the top. It certainly adds to the character, but c'on, does anybody actually speak like that?
Same with Kyra Sedgwick in The closer. |
|
|
|
Greenhornet
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1791 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 4:55:13 PM
|
quote:
Also, we actually have normal names here in the South like Michael, Susan, Debbie, Richard, Lisa...etc. Not everyone here is Bubba or Truvie or Spud or Weezer...
I got a big laugh from the Barney Miller show when a southern businessman was being interviewed and he made a comment deriding the steriotype. Deatric (Spelling?) asked him his first name, the gentleman replied "William... Joseph" and Deatric came back with "Billy Joe, huh?"
"The Queen is testing poisons." CLEOPATRA, 1935 |
|
|
|
niccolom
Preeminent Apostolic Prelate of the Discipleship of Jabootu
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 5:21:00 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by AnnGora
.... believe it or not, some of our Sheriffs are not fat corrupt slobs.
I never saw the movie Driving Miss Daisy, but I remember one review that praised the movie for its sympathetic portrayal of a southern sheriff. Can anyone confirm this??
"When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk."
Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez, aka "Tuco," aka "the Rat," aka "Ugly," aka "il Cattivo" |
|
|
|
Ericb
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
648 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 05:52:54 AM
|
I know it takes place in Wisconsin but Giant Spider Invasion could pass as a Southern stereotype film. A Southern fried Northern movie?
"I am Temujin ... Barbarian ... I fight! I love! I conquer ... like a Barbarian!" |
|
|
|
ginbot
Archdeacon of Jabootu
12 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 09:44:30 AM
|
quote:
I almost always wince at the standard Hollywood Southern accent
Yea, if someone can't do an accent .. why bring attention to it. Less is more... I don't even have an accent. I'll get "You're from Alabama?" Like I am suppose to be talking like Rosco or Uncle Jesse. Side note, I thought Jesse's (Denver Pyle) accent was good (He's from Colorado). But, maybe that's because it was the end of a career playing those types or from smoking. I didn't watch Gunsmoke, so can't comment.
If you live in the South, you can tell a difference between a (real) Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, etc. accent. Even within a single state if it's pronounced, such as North/South Alabama.
This made me think, did Michael Caine ever attempt a Southern Accent? Sure enough ... Hurry Sundown. Haven't seen it, but this is Michael Caine we're talking about. |
|
|
|
Ericb
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
648 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 10:13:30 AM
|
Richard Burton was in the Klansman. I haven't seen it but it would be interesting to hear what accent he uses unless the screenwrighters incongruously put a Brit into a film about the KKK.
"I am Temujin ... Barbarian ... I fight! I love! I conquer ... like a Barbarian!" |
|
|
|
ginbot
Archdeacon of Jabootu
12 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 10:15:39 AM
|
quote:
I know it takes place in Wisconsin but Giant Spider Invasion could pass as a Southern stereotype film.
Other MSTies to mention were Bloodwaters of Dr. Z and Devil Fish (that was so Florida). What's the deal with sheriffs in southern movies? Hell, movies in general. Is it some Writer's Guild demand?
I'm going to make a movie about sheriff's apprentice (give him a title like, I don't know debutante. And cast Ben Stiller). Whose father was sheriff (Jerry Stiller would actually make it good, so how about John Voight) that was engaged to his high school sweetheart (yes, sheriff, there all sherrifs. Younger Voight played by Beck and sweetheart by Angelina).
However, a jealous rival (played by Ben Stiller with a goatee to denote the EEEEvil-ness. Oh this one needs the Southern accent.) wins her because he has the money to pay for Angelina's mom's (Marisa Tomei - she needed the work) surgery (any cancer, it's Hollywood so no need to differentiate between different cancers). One night, Angelina dies in a tragic car accident when EEEvil Ben had been drinking. Surprisingly, no sheriff shows up to do a write up on the accident. So, Beck creates a Canadian Sheriff Zombie (played by Jon Mikl Thor from Zombie Nightmare) to seek revenge and kills EEEvil Ben.
Now, decades later, EEEvil Ben has come back to seek re-revenge (I don't know, a kid playing sheriff throws a ball down the well or some damn thing.) Voight tragically dies (surprise! oh, you're not surprised.) and now good (relatively speaking) Ben is all that stands between salvation and certain doom. Owen Wilson has a cameo (of course). Eddie Murphy directs.
|
|
|
|
Ericb
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
648 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 10:31:44 AM
|
Oh, and don't forget Attach of the Giant Leeches.
"I am Temujin ... Barbarian ... I fight! I love! I conquer ... like a Barbarian!" |
|
|
|
AnnGora
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
252 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 1:13:50 PM
|
Filmmaking Rule #359:
No matter if a film's location is set in Mooseball, Maine, the evil corrupt sheriff must always have a southern accent, terrorize teenagers, leer at heroines, and call African-American men "bow-eeee."
She was bred in old Kentucky, but she's just a crumb up here. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Forum Locked
Topic Locked