dan irrational

Dave posted a link a little bit ago from Don’tEvenReply that got me clicking through that site...

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:48:39 -0800

Dave posted a link a little bit ago from Don’tEvenReply that got me clicking through that site again and re-reading my favorite one ever. Holy shit, it’s so good.

20 Best Horror Flicks of the Decade (Part II)

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:15:00 -0800

I did Part I of my subjective “best of the decade” list about a month ago and forgot about it. Whatever. Check out Part I, and here’s the next five. Ordered by release year, not by preference:

High Tension (2003) - Alexander Aja

Twist ending aside, this is an incredible movie. Sparse, simple, and lives up to its title completely. Also a shining example of a fantastic first feature. I’m really big into first features, in case you haven’t noticed. When I watch it, I like to skip over to the “reveal” of the twist and pretend it doesn’t exist. The last few minutes still kind of works if you do that.

Open Water (2003) - Chris Kentis

Surprise, another first feature. This one combines my love of first features with my love of “movies made for under $50,000.” While I’m not sure it holds up for repeat viewings, it packed one helluva punch the first time I saw it in theaters.

Shaun of the Dead (2004) - Edgar Wright

Obligatory, considering its still probably the best example of a modern horror-comedy hybrid. Some argue that its barely a horror movie, but one reason I’ve always loved it is because the zombies are treated as legitimate as opposed to as parodies. Edgar and his team were very big into the “Romero rules” by which zombie movies operate, and I argue that the last act is pretty much straight up horror.

Calvaire (2004) - Fabrice Du Welz

Those who know me well enough knew this was coming. Calvaire is potentially my favorite horror film ever made. It’s a completely weird little Belgian movie that rubs a lot of people the wrong way. But I love it. I love the villain, Bartel. He’s my favorite horror movie villain of all time. One of the main reasons I cast Larry Butler in Downsized was because he “looks like Bartel.”

I even wrote a spec remake of this film. At an alumni networking meeting, one of the panelists was the producer who optioned all those J-horror movies like The Ring and turned em into American blockbusters. During the Q&A, I got up at the microphone and we had the following exchange:

Me: “Can a writer ever sell a spec remake script to a production company?”

Him: “It doesn’t really work that way. What’s the film?”

Me: “Calvaire.”

Him: (awkward pause) “Oh… Uh, that one has come across my desk before. No one is buying it. It’ll never get made.”

Me: “OK.”

Him: (after a beat) “Did you keep the rape scene?”

Me: “…Yes.”

Audience: Awkward rumbling, a few nervous chuckles.

Watch this scene here for a taste of how Calvaire operates, and then come over to my house and watch this movie with me.

The Descent (2005) - Neil Marshall

This one tends to make everyone’s “top horror” list. I was so amped for this movie I couldn’t stand it. Thus, my theater experience was a bit of a letdown. But a few years later I watched it again and realized what a great piece of work it is. The first half is superior, before the creatures show up. Makes you feel more claustrophobic and full of dread than any movie you’re likely to see.

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Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:50:30 -0800

pauliophonic: GPOYW: The third day I ever knew Dan. He thought...

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:59:51 -0800

pauliophonic:

GPOYW: The third day I ever knew Dan. He thought I was a girl.

NOW WE’RE GREAT FRIENDS.

I thought Paul was a girl b/c he has such a big vagina. Oh, in your face!

Bring home the win tonight, Kev.

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:08:01 -0800

Bring home the win tonight, Kev.

irrationalfilms: Just got my $30 acoustics, and they seem...

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:11:00 -0800

irrationalfilms:

Just got my $30 acoustics, and they seem perfect in every way (except of course, tonal quality). They are lightweight and made from cheap material, and look like they’ll smash nicely over someone’s head.

Stoked about my prop purchase!

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Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:59:52 -0800

Sundance 2010: Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:49:21 -0800

Sundance 2010: Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil

bobbymiller: TUB IS GOING TO SUNDANCE! Press release here! New...

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:40:06 -0800

bobbymiller:

TUB IS GOING TO SUNDANCE!

Press release here!

New Tub site here!

(PS. if anyone can help me fix that annoying pixel shift in the pages, let me know!)

Dude! Unbelievable news! That is so awesome. Super proud of ya.

Six Flags + Drag Me To Hell = A great day.

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:56:50 -0800

Six Flags + Drag Me To Hell = A great day.

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Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:53:59 -0800

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Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:42:44 -0800

America, you have created a monster. (PS - It’s not a...

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:02:45 -0800

America, you have created a monster. (PS - It’s not a sketch, it’s real).

One more for all you JERSEY SHORE fans out there. Fist pumping...

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:17:13 -0800

One more for all you JERSEY SHORE fans out there. Fist pumping like champs.

A little something I made for all you JERSEY SHORE fans.

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:16:35 -0800

A little something I made for all you JERSEY SHORE fans.

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Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:12:29 -0800

Onion A.V. Club's "Best Late Night Comedy/Talk Shows of the '00s"

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:36:08 -0800

Onion A.V. Club's "Best Late Night Comedy/Talk Shows of the '00s":

#3: The Soup

braidsbraided: “Jersey Shore” premieres tonight. After watching and laughing at great writers and...

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:43:01 -0800

braidsbraided:

“Jersey Shore” premieres tonight. After watching and laughing at great writers and funny actors on NBC all night, I’ll turn to MTV at 10 and try to laugh (through the pain and horror) at the kind of stuff you just can’t write.

Don’t start it w/o me. I’m gonna bolt out right after work and come straight over. I’m already fist pumping like champs at my desk in preparation.

Upir (2003) Since everyone’s goo goo for vampires...

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:35:00 -0800

Upir (2003)

Since everyone’s goo goo for vampires nowadays, and I’ve recently been having major “Prague on the brain” for some reason, I figured I’d post this for any of y’all who’ve never seen it. It’s the 16mm short film I made with some friends during my semester abroad in Prague in 2003. I ran camera on it. It’s about hipster vampires.

Who's Got The Best Burger In LA?

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:42:51 -0800

Who's Got The Best Burger In LA?:

pauliophonic:

Apple Pan’s hickory burger all the way.

What do you think?

Gotta try em all before I can decide. I haven’t had Apple Pan yet though I’m really looking forward to it. So I currently gotta go with Umami Burger (pictured below). Wish I was there with a burger RIGHT NOW!