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I like to think his 2nd best was Demolition Man. I won't inflict operation dumbo drop on myself, even though I love Danny Glover. Anyways The Ref, an example of perfect casting. Mostly. The focus is Dennis Leary being himself while Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey play a dysfunctional rich married couple pretty well. I'm not sure if this is a christmas movie or a sly anti christmas movie. Director Ted Demme's other notable works are Blow, Homicide: Life on the streets and Yo! MTV Raps. JK Simmons pops up to do nothing much. Just says hi. If you grew up in the 90s and hated your family it's mildly comforting.
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Dec 13, 2015 06:22
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I think Leary works as an angry anti-authority rogue or angry blue collar guy or angry, loudly Boston Irish firefighter. I can't buy him as a cop or assassin or soldier. Just doesn't fit him. For me, his late 80s early 90s stand up appearances are deffinitive Leary. He can't stretch his acting ability beyond that. I want to check out Judgement Night now. There's a mild fear it will be like suicide kings, but that rear end in a top hat from big bang theory won't be around making GBS threads things up with a bad jerry lewis impression. Is Dumbo Drop as painful as i think it is?
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Dec 13, 2015 20:36
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The Beauty of the Ref is that Leary gets just enough time to do his thing and there's a good cast to bounce it off. Not just Spacey and Davis but also a house full of soft brained rich suburbanites. The point of the thread is that Leary is a limited actor, but in the right place and time he can shine. I'm nostalgic for the 80s and 90s and the people who caught my attention then, so there's my focus. Think of Andrew Dice Clay, or Jean Cleaude Van Damme, or a whole host of comedians or martial artists turned actors. Hollywood tries to make headliners out of them, like with everyone, but it's a lost cause. We can still enjoy what talent they had (arguable in some cases i know) rather than be bitter about who may have copied what from whom. Stand up has it's waves and styles and cliques like any other art form. So there isn't just bill hicks in Leary's performances. There's Sam Kinison an Dice-Clay and Bill Hicks and probably a legion of lesser known comics active in the late 80s New York scene.
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Dec 13, 2015 23:28
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