I just watched Switchback.

Mmkay, unengaging. Corny in spots. Not a bad movie but no need to see it twice. Ian Blake Nelson is in the very beginning of the movie as an obvious diversion. Tim Blake Nelson was in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? and Ian Blake Nelson has to be a brother or other close relation. Taller but noticeably simliar face. Switchback is the only credit listed for him and he's in this movie for 3 minutes in the very beginning.

Way too many suspense scenes involving a train. "This scene's dragging a little. Cue the train!"

The blurb on the envelope promised twists and turns. Um, well, not. They veered a couple times and jumped the curb once, but nothing I didn't see coming.

Ted has a supporting role throughout--wish he had more screen time but at least he's not bit-parting in this one. They have him in a ten, twenty, or maybe thirty gallon hat--he could have been hiding midgets under there. Goofy looking, and if he took it off once, I musta blinked and missed it.

Overall, a non-event. On a scale 1 to 10, I'd give it a 4. Danny Glover is good as the bad guy.

Anyone else see this movie that has a different opinion?

I haven't seen it but I may have to just to get a look at that hat!!

I bought a copy of The Hills Have Eyes UNRATED at my local video store and just now had a chance to view it and the darn movie wont play I tried it about 20 times then took it back and the clerk decided if she cleaned it then it would play fine, NOT !! Still wont work, so back it goes !!



I dont suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.

Darn!

Well, in another universe I am a writer, but the deal there is that I only write fortune cookies and teen beat magazines.

However, in this universe, I write lots of things besides grocery lists. For example,
I just had an interview with a screenwriter who recently had his first feature released posted on-line.

And then I also have my spec scripts with guess who as the lead.

I can't think of any movie that wouldn't be improved with Ted being in it!

I think it would be so awesome to be a writer. I wish I had that talent. My brother use to write short stories ( he has been gone for 10 years now ) and my son had the talent but went in another direction with his career. Good luck with your writing endeavors. I took the Hills movie back again because it still didnt work and lo and behold they just happened to find another copy this time and it works fine. The movie has a lot of extras and TL is in an interview with his beret on. I agree with you, Ted would improve any movie from my point of view.

I think this is a good thread to tell you all what happened to me in the Atlanta airport last weekend. I was sitting in one of the restaurants waiting for my flight and chatting with a couple sitting next to me. We were watching the television and this lady on an entertainment program was talking about scary movie characters and mentions Hannibal Lecter. Without thinking I say out loud "Screw Hannibal Lecter, Buffalo Bill was the truly disturbing character in SOTL" and the guy next to me was like "YES I agree!" So that led me to say "Buffalo Bill was so great because of the actor who played him" and the girl was like "oh yeah I really like him, I didn't even know it was him on the show Monk at first".

I think you can imagine how long this conversation continued on. I was almost sad when I had to leave to catch my flight.

That is so cool how you can get into a conversation like that with complete strangers. I know if I were to mention Teds name probably half my friends would have no idea who I was talking about until I would mention some of his work. I use to watch a lot of Alan Rickman years ago and people would say "Who ? " Ha !!!

While I was flipping channels, SOTL was on again and I watched the ending. At this rate I will eventually see the entire movie (even though I don't want to) At least at the end, BB had the night goggles on so I couldn't see his face. The captain is a charming guy and I don't want to tarnish that, at least not at this point.

It is the cult of Ted!

Oh boy, an interview with Ted! Guess what's going in my Netflix queue?

My big claim to fame is a Showtime original family film called MY HORRIBLE YEAR with Eric Stoltz, Mimi Rogers and Karen Allen (it was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Best Directing). Then I have an indie holiday film, THE TOWN THAT BANNED CHRISTMAS, which hopefully will be distributed this Christmas.

I just watched "Secret Santa" yesterday, and Ted Levine is so fantastic in that. It really demonstrates his range of acting. From singing to being shot at to dealing with a nun, to showing compassion. I just LOVE the last scene when he releases the guy to spend Christmas with his wife and little girl. It just melted my heart. He is so fine!

BTW I can't believe Natalie had to wear elf ears and striped stockings -LOL.

I seem to have a gift of striking up convos with absolute strangers. What else are you going to do sitting in an airport? As a side note, I love Alan Rickman!! How can people not know who he is??

The interview with Ted isnt very long but there might be more, I didnt get a chance to view a lot of the extras. Congrats on your writing, I think that is just wonderful !!

I think since the H.P. movies people are more aware who A.R . is . I have been a fan since the "Die Hard' movie and use to joke that it was my fav Christmas movie !

LOL! I own most of his movies. I am glad to see that the HP films have given him more exposure. Sorry for the OT rant!

Yes, Sorry about that everyone
Happy Birthday to Ted !!!

Thank you!

I do. I watched this movie and really loved it but then, I watch moviies for the enjoyment I get. I found it interesting how the writers tied it all together. Ted's role was pretty much the same as Stott's. The train scenes didn't bother me since they were an intrigal part of the movie. Danny Glover was terrific as the bad guy. Guess it's a case of 'different strokes for different folks.'

kees--

Soooooo good to see you back with us. Raven had mentioned in her telling of the Monkfest that you hadn't felt well---and then you were MIA from here for awhile. What I'm trying to say in my usual long-winded way is:

Glad you're feeling better now and that you came "home" again.

Meme

At the very end of this episode after the captain releases the man to his wife and daughter the cameras focus on Stot again and he says something at the end before turning away. I couldnt make out if he was humming a tune or actually said something. Anyone have any ideas or know what he said ?

I have trouble understanding what he says sometimes too. Ted Levine mumbles his words at times and for the life of me, I can't make out a word he's saying. I read an interview with Ted Levine and Tony Shalhoub on another Monk site and the interviewer has the same problem and at least 3 times lists Ted's response to a question as un-intelligentable. There is an interview on USA Network Monk Site with Ted Levine where he's answering a question from a fan and he goes into a story about an overly enthusiastic female fan that tried to speak with him at "His" bar and as he put it it "Got Ugly". Or at least I think thats what he said! I re-ran that interview 6 or 7 times and still have no idea what he's talking about! HUH? Anyone speak mumble-ese and can you translate this for me?

I can understand Ted most all the time but in this instance he was just about to turn around and just softly said something. I didnt have the TV caption on at the time and it just bugged me that I didnt know the last words of the show. I am sure there is someone out here in Monkland that knows.

Come on,I'll buy you a wipe.

I just watched the scene twice, he moves his mouth, but nothing comes out.

I watched it over a few times and could have swore I heard like a grunt or something, thought maybe it was just like a "uh huh" or something like that. Thanks for the reply though, maybe I am hearing things No Monk on USA this afternoon because of the "Pirates"movie I usually watch monk while preparing dinner.

Just wanted to say "Good Day " to all you Monk fans out there I love visiting this board everyday.

I'm sick of all the re-reruns, will be be very happy to get some new Ted in July.

I read on another site that Ted is in a movie called Bullet is this a remake of the old Steve McQueen movie ? Also he is suppose to be in Love At Large and Betrayed, I havent seen these on his credits , does anyone one know how much screen time he has in these ( worth renting ) ? Thanks

I don't think he was trying to say anything. I think he was just opening his mouth as he began to smile. It's kind of hard to explain online but, it's kind of like a nod of satisfaction like I did good kind of thing and you just open your mouth and the close it to smile.

The Bullet that Ted is isn't a remake of the Steve McQueen movie (Bullitt (1968)). The Bullet that Ted is in is about a junkie ex-con who gets out of prison and gets right back into his old life. It's rather disturbing, but Ted is excellent in it and has a lot of screen time, a lot of which he appears in a ratty bathrobe and underwear. His character is a bit ... odd ...

He's got a fair amount of screen time in Love at Large. I was a little bored with the movie, but it's worth seeing for Ted.

I have Betrayed, but I haven't watched it ...

HTH.

~~ Tami

Thanks Tami
Does anyone know what year these movies were made ? Just so I have some idea what I am looking for at the video store. Does Ted have much of a role in American Gangsters ? I think that was the name of the newer movie.

Betrayed: 1988
Bullet: 1996

For screentime + quality of role, go with "Moby Dick" (1998 TV miniseries with Patrick Stewart) ... It's on DVD and very much worth watching on its own merits. Ditto "From the Earth to the Moon" (also 1998 TV miniseries), except Ted's only in part 2 and part 9.

I also loved "Memoirs of a Geisha" ~~ Ted's role is not more than ten minutes, but (as I understand it) he actually campaigned for the part. (There's a long story about the character in the book being Japanese vs. the character in the movie being a Western Caucasian).

And in today's competition of "Where's Ted?" I read in Ted's Wikipedia page that Ted has "a micro part" in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), as one of the men getting the P.O.W's off the helicopter and a small cameo in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) (when the Terminator walks up to the bar). I know Wikipedia can be terribly unreliable, but I think Ted's page was being kept up-to-date pretty well ...

So if you have either Rambo: First Blood Part II or Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, look for those scenes and report back that found (or didn't find) Ted!

I saw Bullet. Ted owes me big time for making me watch two hours of Mickey Rourke. Ted's good in it--extremely dysfunctional, psycho role but still worth watching.

Moby Dick is a movie that is very worthwhile to watch. Tried to watch Memoirs--couldn't make it past the first half hour. I just got too frustrated with it. Maybe I'll give it another shot. Never did make it to Ted's part.

MOBY DICK is excellent Ted, but I am still very partial to HARLAN COUNTY WAR.

You missed Ted in a Geisha-house bath?

Thanks for all replies , I appreciate it. Anyone know about a movie called Love At Large ?

That's not Ted in Terminator 3, that's some other guy that resembles him a little. He's only on the screen for a few seconds, and at first I thought it might be him too, but when he spoke, I was sure it wasn't.

Yep. Just couldn't make it through the movie. I've watched a lot of movies I couldn't get into--some I can at least finish, this one I couldn't. Just not engaging to me at all. What can I say.

MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA is a long movie, the only good thing about Ted is that he's not wearing a toupee. In the film his character is a brash, rude, and somewhat stereotypical American Army officer.

Just curious yvette, did you read the book? I loved it, one of my favorites.

IMO, sans-toupee was not the only good thing about Ted in the movie. (I'll mention Ted in a Geisha bath, again; and the robe!



One of mine, as well! Ted's role came about to restore that part of the storyline to have that character be a Westerner (I don't recall whose idea it was to change it in the book). In the novel, that character was Japanese and there's a cultural difference there that would take too long for me to explain here ... there was a great article online at the time, but I can't find it now.

I have heard good things about "Harlan " I may have to visit Amazon since my video store doesnt seem to carry many Ted movies

Okay, Ted in Geisha bath was good.

No. A friend raved on and on about it and insisted on leaving it with me. I made it through 4 or 5 pages and got bored. It's just not an interesting story to me. Of course, I returned the book a week later saying I had read the whole thing. I think it's the whole "children sold into prostitution" thing that I'm having trouble with. I used to read a lot of WWII books--shelves of them--and by extension, a lot of books on the Holocaust--today I can't read any books on that or see movies on it either--I never saw Schindler's List. It's upsetting. I think it's most upsetting because I know it really happened. If it was a fictional event, it would be the same subject matter but it wouldn't upset me and I'd sit through the whole thing. I saw maybe 40 to 45 minutes of Memoirs and right off, I wanted to throw that one woman into a huge pit. rofl. She was just nasty to that little girl. rofl. I find myself watching a lot of stuff right now that's just a diversion for me--humorous mostly, that won't have me getting all upset over stuff I can't change or stuff that happened 70 years ago. I don't know how to explain it except that I'm just very very tired, and want to watch things that make me either happy or make me forget whatever's going on for me at the moment. Diversionary.

I can handle certain subject matter if it's completely fictional.

Excuse me: True Geisha are not prostitutes. This is not "Children sold into prostitution" story.

That's right, they aren't. It's a common misconception I think. This was one of the best novels I've ever read. The info you get about geishas, Japan, their culture, was fascinating to me. And I really bonded with the girl right away. Such a good story. I'm sorry you didn't like it, yvette.

If they're not, why do they have to be sold into it and at such a young age? Let's just say I have a serious mental block with respect to anything with certain sexual aspects. We can get more into it, but I'd rather just spend the last 20 minutes of the session singing "If Ever I Would Leave You."