A bit on Shopgirl


http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/tickermaster/listing.cfm?TMID=931
Shopgirl
Release Date: TBA 2005
Movie of the Day for Monday, June 28, 2004

Don't make me go all Terminator on your ass.

She was just a small town girl living in a lonely world. She did not, however, take the midnight train going anywhere like that girl Steve Perry knew. Instead, she moved to L.A. and took a job behind the accessories counter at Saks. Well, she originally took a job at Neiman Marcus in the book, but in Hollywood, there exists a thing called product placement, and Saks ponied up more dough for their spot in the movie.

Anyway, the point here is that Mirabelle, our heroine, is living a half-life. She tries to sell gloves in a city of perennial 70 degree weather, then she goes home to an empty apartment. There, she is even shunned by one of her two cats. Her dream of becoming a successful painter leads her to fill canvas after canvas with vivid imagery, but these works of art have received no attention outside the confines of the apartment.

Mirabelle is technically in a relationship with a kind-hearted but deadly dull boy-man named Jeremy. Since their chance meeting in a laundromat, the two have become lovers, but Jeremy's inexperience and general ineptitude prevent Mirabelle from attaining any sort of comfort in his fumbling, twitchy hands.

Then one day, a handsome, older man enters Mirabelle's life. This rich and successful stranger, Ray Porter, romances her in his fashion. He offers her the finer things in life but the best gift he gives this shrinking violet is dutiful attention. Like many lecherous men of his ilk, Porter wants to possess the beauty of Mirabelle but in a safe, controlling manner. His impact on the woman is profound, and it eventually leads her to question if his cold but loving touch is enough to satisfy her life's longings.

Shopgirl is a classic tale of a woman blossoming from timorous waif into mindful woman well aware of her needs. Paralleling her journey is the background arc of Jeremy, who is similarly growing into something of a more appropriate mate for our heroine. In the end, she will be left with the same choice all such characters have: to accept financial security in exchange for the sacrifice of her heart or to take a shot on a late bloomer recently showing some unexpected potential.

The Steve Martin story was universally hailed as a literary treasure upon its publication, so filming the script was simply a matter of time. The lone surprise is that Martin chose to take no chances with the character of Ray Porter by accepting the part for himself. Rushmore's Jason Schwartzman is a most appropriate choice for the romantic competitor of Jeremy, and the presence of such exceptional actresses as Frances Conroy, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras and Rebecca Pidgeon (in her first non-Mamet project in 15 years) confirms the pedigree of the project.

It's the casting of the shopgirl herself that clearly draws the line on this being more than your run-of-the-mill romantic comedy/drama. Claire Danes, one of the most gifted actresses of the current generation, takes on the title role here in a casting viewed by the staff of BOP as something of a masterstroke. Having watched her evolve from the tortured teen in My So-Called Life through a recent evolution into an action hero in Terminator 3, we are convinced there was no better choice available for this role.

As with L.A. Story, Steve Martin has again created a universe filled with archetypal characters in Shopgirl. The insecure beauty, the body-obsessed Model/Actress/Whatever wannabe, the aimless slacker with a pure heart, and the rich, dirty old man are L.A. society mainstays, and Martin takes a sledgehammer to all of them in the novella. After a streak of shameless moneymaker projects like Bringing Down the House and Cheaper by the Dozen, the cerebral but tortured Steve Martin best demonstrated in Grand Canyon and The Spanish Prisoner is back in play with this, his most personal film project. BOP is not even going to bother acting unbiased on this one, as we as a group have been counting down the days for the movie's release ever since the day of the novella's publication. (David Mumpower/BOP)
- posted by sookeyjane 8/30/2004 01:30:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

How disappointing


Daily Record (Scotland)
August 27, 2004, Friday
NEWS; Pg. 12
OFF THE RECORD
Pat Roller

****

THE Lonach Gathering in Strathdon tomorrow has become a mecca for star -spotters in recent years since Billy Connolly set up home at Candacraig estate. The word is he's scaling things down this year and we shouldn't expect to see the likes of Robin Williams,Sean Connery and Steve Martin doing their tartan twirls in the showground.
****
- posted by sookeyjane 8/28/2004 02:51:00 AM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Steve on being a novelist


Miscellany, Writer,May2004, Vol. 117, Issue 5

****

A NOT-SO-WILD MARTIN
"I know I will never be perceived as a novelist," says actor and author
Steve Martin. "If I wrote the greatest book in the world, I know I'll
never be taken seriously." Yet, as if to counter his onscreen persona,
Martin writes serious books, including Shopgirl and the recently released
The Pleasure of My Company. "I'm not trying to be a novelist," Martin
tells The Washington Post. "I'm only writing when I have something to
say." Nevertheless, he notes, "I am an entertainer. I have a sense of
audience. I want them to like it. I'm invested in the book."

Neither book was written with the intent of turning it into a movie, yet
both are now being filmed--and Martin has written the screenplay for each.
But he finds a special pleasure in writing fiction. When Martin's
housekeeper and assistant leave and it's time to close the door and work
on a novel, he thinks, "Oh, goody!"
****
- posted by sookeyjane 8/24/2004 09:57:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

A little royal humor... or in this case, humour


The Scotsman
August 20, 2004, Friday
Pg. 24
SIMON PIA'S DIARY: BILLY STILL REVVING UP ON THE RADICAL ROAD
Simon Pia

****
One will not have one

THAT little old namedropper Kathy Lette (left) was entertaining us with tales of her visit chez Connolly in Billy's Donside castle. Among the other guests at the time were Steve Martin, Robin Williams ... and Prince Charles.

Steve challenged Billy on how he could have socialist principles and live in a castle. The Big Yin was unfazed: "Oh no, come the revolution we will all be living in castles."

A forlorn voice from the royal end of the table murmured: "I won't."

****
- posted by sookeyjane 8/23/2004 07:46:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Steve, be careful out there


Almost every year, Steve goes to stay with Billy Connolly for the Lonach Games and so we can have some pictures of his naked knees. This year the gathering is this weekend... so watch out for beasties, Steve.

Daily Star
August 16, 2004
NEWS; Pg. 21
SIGNS NEAR BIG YIN'S HOME ARE NO JOKE; PULL THE ADDER ONE
KEN ADAMS

A COLONY of deadly snakes have set up home in Billy Connolly's backyard.

Signs have gone up on a hill overlooking the funnyman's luxury Highland home warning tourists to "Beware of Adders".

The Big Yin's GBP 2m Candacraig Home, at Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, has become a playground for the rich and famous.

Connolly has entertained a host of Hollywood pals including Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Sean Connery and Kim Basinger in the sprawling garden of his Victorian mansion.

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles also turned up for his 60th birthday bash in the garden two years ago.

But purple heather covering the nearby hillside is the perfect spot for the adders to breed.

The adder is Britain's only poisonous snake and is protected by law.

It has bold diamond shapes on its back and one bite can be deadly if medical help is not found.

Locals last night claimed the warning was "tongue-in-cheek" and may have been put up to scare off unwelcome tourists.

One of Connolly's neigbours added: "Nobody knows who put the sign up and it's the kind of thing Billy Connolly would certainly see in his travels.

"But there are adders on that hill and the chances are it is there to warn people."

But a spokesman for the Canadacraig Estate, which borders Connolly's home last night insisted the warning was "no joke".

A spokesman said:

"I'm afraid it's deadly serious.

"There are an unusually large number of adders in the area."

Connolly already has a big cat prowling in his neighbourhood. Three years ago a panther attacked a woman in a forest.

A spokeswoman for the star last night refused to comment.
- posted by sookeyjane 8/23/2004 07:44:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

New Yorker Festival approaching


The New York Times
August 23, 2004 Monday
Late Edition - Final
Section E; Column 3; The Arts/Cultural Desk; Arts Briefing; Pg. 2
Ben Sisario

HIGHLIGHTS

NEW YORKER FESTIVAL -- The fifth annual New Yorker Festival will run from Oct. 1 to 3 with about 50 events throughout the city. Highlights include a conversation at Town Hall between David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, and its investigative reporter Seymour M. Hersh, whose new book, ''Chain of Command: The Road From 9/11 to Abu Ghraib,'' is to be released next month; a ''Friday Night Fiction'' event with Salman Rushdie, Jeffrey Eugenides, Jonathan Lethem, Martin Amis, Dave Eggers, Zadie Smith, Chang-rae Lee, Jhumpa Lahiri and others; panels and discussions with Ben Stiller, Robert Crumb and Aline Kowalski-Crumb, Frances McDormand, and Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings; and a comedy event in Town Hall with Steve Martin, Paul Rudnick, Calvin Trillin, Noah Baumbach, Christopher Buckley, Nancy Franklin, Patty Marx and others. The full schedule will be announced on Aug. 30 and tickets go on sale Sept. 9.
****
- posted by sookeyjane 8/23/2004 07:36:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Steve has a new essay out


The New York Times
August 19, 2004 Thursday
Late Edition - Final
Section A; Column 1; Editorial Desk; Pg. 31
The Sports Report
Steve Martin.

TENNIS -- ''I'm just not hitting the ball like I used to,'' said Jon Gretz of Holland. ''I think I'm going to temporarily up my dosage.'' When asked about his surprise defeat by an unrated Swede, he said: ''Doig responds well to steroids and for that he should be commended. But he also showed himself a gentleman when he thanked his supplier, the unsung hero in all this. That was true sportsmanship, which is almost forgotten in today's 'anything to win' atmosphere.''

BASEBALL -- The San Diego Calisthenics lost to the Oakland Warriors after Ernie Dawson hit his 8,998th homer of the season, leaving him two homers shy of the exclusive 9,000 club. ''Dawson really whacked the ball,'' said Coach Smith of the Calisthenics. ''His steroids really kicked in. I would love to know his exact dosage.'' When asked how long he thought it would take Dawson to reach the magic 9,000 number, Coach Smith said, ''It's not a given. It might take two minutes, three minutes, maybe even five minutes.''

FOOTBALL -- ''Jerome got completely overrun out there today,'' said Coach Peters, still steaming over his team's 18-point loss to the Fireballs. ''He was putting too much effort into it. You could see it on his face. He should have relaxed and let the steroids do the work. He's got 10 years experience, yet he made the mistake of so many rookies -- he tried.''

BIKING CYCLIST -- Asa Wells edged out Peter Jung in a tight finish at Davenport. Jung said: ''My thighs kept rubbing together and slowing me down. I may have to cut back on my dosage and bring them down in size a little.''

LONG JUMP -- Ida Lorenzo fell 89 feet short of her own record of 93 feet in the long jump, after leaping just 4 feet in the finals in Chad, where steroids, curiously, remain illegal.

SWIMMING -- Russia's top female swimmer, Anna Protsky, dove into the water today at the start of the 100-meter freestyle in Odensk and sank.

LITTLE LEAGUE -- The 300-pound 5-year-old catcher for the Sparklers squeaked a blooper just short of first base, prompting his angry dad to run onto the field and turn the embarrassed young man's pockets inside out. ''You didn't take them, did you!'' he screamed. ''You ate broccoli instead, didn't you!''

- posted by sookeyjane 8/23/2004 07:32:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Hey Cindy -- News should be NEW, even if it's gossip


Cindy Adams, antiquated gossip diva of the New York Post, has come up with some "news"... about Steve and Roger. Something Steve posted on his own site 2 weeks ago. It's the bit about Roger's dinner in the Paris Ritz. The actual articles follow.

Hey, Cindy, the more intersting question is... where is Steve since coming back from Paris. I'm betting he's in New York visiting his significant other. How about something fresh?

http://www.nypost.com/gossip/cindy.htm
HIP-HOP QUEEN TELLS PRINCESS WHERE TO GO
Cindy Adams

August 20, 2004 -- ****

ROOM service in Paris for a little rice and chicken for his hound cost Steve Martin $110. He barked. They then sent up dog food — free . . .
****

---And from Steve--->

http://stevemartin.com/steves_message/index.php?PHPSESSID=8f1f1ea6bb153f96ee8d5bd6ec9f3c07
News from Paris
Dear Friends,

I have recently finished shooting the Pink Panther, in New York and Paris. I was working with the lovely Beyonce, the genius Kevin Kline, the brilliant French actor Jean Reno, and the delightful Emily Mortimer. On the weekends, I would bike through Paris and visit the Louvre, the Pompidou, the Picasso museum, the Musee D’orsay, and the Rodin museum. Plus, I had to eat soupe du poisson, lightly grilled fillet of sole, or just a salad and some wine. It was a tough shoot.

I ran out of dog food one night, and I called room service to see if they could make something for my dog. They said yes, and sent up some rice, peas, and a little chicken. The cost? Make your wildest guess. One hundred and ten dollars.

After two days went by, I complained to the desk personalities, who looked a bit shame-faced, and they gave my dog free food for the rest of the stay. A nice atonement in such a fancy place.

And now, a bit of promotion. The Pink Panther is hilarious.

That’s all I’ll say for now.

Steve
August 6, 2004
- posted by sookeyjane 8/20/2004 12:58:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

A PP tidbit


Must be the effect of that pencil-thin mustache

The New York Post
August 4, 2004 Wednesday
All Editions; Pg. 14
VANDERBILT INKS NEW TELL-ALL
Cindy Adams

****
KEEPING his energy up on "The Pink Panther" set, Steve Martin does soft-shoe routines . . .
****
- posted by sookeyjane 8/06/2004 05:45:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS