Lane Meyer, Cinematic Soulmate

Technically, yes I am a child of the eighties. But that was eons ago when I could barely speak or walk on two legs. Recently I was asked to review a non-auteur film. I wracked my brain and out of sheer love (and laziness), I decided to churn out a small love letter to Better Off Dead (1985).

The film was directed by Savage Steve Holland. It stars John Cusack as Lane Meyer, a Colorado teen pushed to a series of unsuccessful but extremely comic suicide attempts after his perfect girlfriend Beth dumps him. It was originally written as a drama, but when the script was shown to people, they succumbed to fits of laughter. Its deadpan tone and surrealistic animation sequences (especially the hamburger stop-motion sequence) makes this a unique gem from the eighties film vault. I don't care if John Cusack doesn't want to talk about this film; nonetheless, it will make you laugh until you cry. And it has a happy ending, proving true love is out there for everyone, even hapless dreamers that can't ski the K-12. 

Find the youtube of the hamburger sequence below for your enjoyment. :)



Where is my modern day Lane Meyer, a hopeless romantic willing to mold hamburger puppet sequences for me?

John Cusack interviews Diablo Cody

Artist on Artist John Cusack - Diablo Cody


A simulcast of The Who? Damn, JC is old...

AV Club interviews Cusack for 'Grace is Gone'

The AV Club got a decent interview with Mr. Cusack. He's promoting his new movie, Grace is Gone, which I hope is as good as they say.

Don't you just love him?

John Cusack gave a very candid interview to the Guardian this week. His honesty only makes me love that guy more. He actually admitted that he makes crap romantic comedies. He goes as far to say that he's only made ten good films, and most people know which ones those are.



And yet, the interview made me more curious to learn about him. He does keep his personal life relatively in the dark. Cusack explains his reasoning behind this: "It seems like common sense to me. When I was growing up, I never wanted to know what my favourite musicians or artists ate for breakfast, or who they were dating. I found out what they felt about the world from their work."

Isn't he just wonderful? I have own pretty much all of his movies (bad and the good). It's sorta a hobby of mine. But I will be the first to say, 'Must Love Dogs', was just horrid. That is one that I have held off on buying.

Here's my top ten John Cusack films:

1. Grosse Pointe Blank
2. Better off Dead
3. Being John Malkovich
4. The Grifters
5. High Fidelity
6. The Sure Thing
7. 1408
8. Say Anything
9. True Colors
10. Pushing Tin

Where did this come from?

My Johnny boy made a movie with Samuel L Jackson called 1408? This is great fucking news! And it's based on a Stephen King story. The trailer actually got me a tad excited.

I have no idea who this director, Mikael Hafstrom, but if he convinced John and Sam, then I'm in. I'm sure it won't be awesome, but possibly decent. Can't be as bad as Identity. I do have pretty low standards when the Cusack is involved.



1408 hits theaters on June 22nd.

Oh no he didn't!

Apparently, Jeremy Piven has been talking trash about my man! See, I have a healthy crush on Mr. John Cusack. And Jeremy and John are buds from childhood. John always found a part in one of his films for Jeremy. I especially love him in Grosse Pointe Blank as the real estate agent. He sells Cusack's character's childhood home (and turned it into a convenience store! HAHA).

Now that Piven is all hot shit with "Entourage", he's badmouthing Cusack. In some interview for Best Life Mag (what is that?), he claims that he always had John's back. I guess this implies that John doesn't has Jeremy's back in return This is mere heresay and a pure PR waste of CNN.com's time. I officially hate Piven's PR agent.

I bet they've just lost touch. And Cusack's not into all that flashy, open shirt, Tom Ford-esque style that Piven's got going on. It happens sometimes. You're friends with a person, but you're just not into the same scene that they are.

I hope they kiss and make up. I think they are too old for this anyway. Let it go Piven, Cusack is clearly the better actor. If this keeps up, I might have to boycott "Entourage". Team Cusack right here! I'll get out my boombox anytime for the JC. I'll just blast Peter Gabriel outside Piven's window. Just try me.