Saturday Night Loser's Club, Vol. CXIV: Military Intelligence Edition

A famous line by the American playwright George S. Kaufman goes:

"Satire is what closes on Saturday night."

Yup, SNLC movie thread time, but with a miniscule twist as implied in the title.  Further, given self's well-established obscure tastes, the next 2 weeks of SNLC will cover movies that I'm guessing none of you have seen.  The first one is about a film from 2006, Military Intelligence and You!, basically a B-movie that spoofs B-movies and WWII propaganda films.  However, the satire isn't all directed at films of the time, as you might guess.

Note: I planned this SNLC before the recent death of George Carlin, whose monologue from the first Saturday Night Live show included:

"The term Jumbo Shrimp has always amazed me. What is a Jumbo Shrimp? I mean, it's like Military Intelligence - the words don't go together, man."

However, I'm going to include one counter to that idea below.  With that....

Part of the movie's plot, such as it is, revolves around an attempt to take out a German secret attack force, urged by Major Nick Reed (Patrick Muldoon, a young Warren Beatty-lookalike).  However, Major Mitch Dunning (Mackenzie Astin), admonishes Reed:

"You can't attack based on a hunch!"

General Jake Tasker (John Rixey Moore) then chimes in, pretty much giving away the movie's ideological game:

"What sort of nation would we be if we just went around, sending in the troops, just because we thought something might be there?"

Yup, of course, the real target of the films satire is "Mess-o-potamia".  Some of you may recall Ron Suskind's 2004 NYT article, with this bit, with Joseph Biden starting the exchange:

"'Mr. President,' I finally said, 'How can you be so sure when you know you don't know the facts?'

Biden said that Bush stood up and put his hand on the senator's shoulder. 'My instincts,' he said. 'My instincts.'

Biden paused and shook his head, recalling it all as the room grew quiet. 'I said, 'Mr. President, your instincts aren't good enough!'"

No kidding.

One would like to think that with such a target, Military Intelligence and You! would have found some reasonably sized audience, even if it was just preaching to the converted.  However, it didn't, as indicated by the box office data, where the total box office take was $14,251.  A very small portion of that box office receipts was from self, as you might have guessed.

Having seen the film, though, I can sort of understand why it didn't get any box office traction.  It's actually not that great a movie.  Not awful, just not all that terrific.  It's only 78 minutes long, but somehow to me, it still felt heavy and I was kind of relieved when it was done.  The splicing of footage of contemporary actors with old-time footage of Elisha Cook, Jr., Rap Master Ronnie, Alan Ladd, and others is pretty smooth, but it's been done before (e.g. Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid).  The movie dates from 2006, but didn't get any sort of general release until 2008, with the box office results as noted.

Before closing, here's the serious (as if the above weren't) sidebar as promised.  If you have not seen this article by Thomas Powers from the NYRB on Iran and the idiot-in-thief's bellicose rhetoric toward them in the face of all reality, please note this passage:

"Until his resignation in March, [Admiral William] Fallon often contradicted and undermined the tough talk of the administration, speaking dismissively about the prospects of war with Iran. "Another war is just not where we want to go," he told the Financial Times. "This constant drumbeat of conflict...is not helpful and not useful," he said to al-Jazeera television......

Fallon's open and outspoken resistance to the idea of war with Iran represents something new and extraordinary—maybe. It is too early to be sure. But beneath the surface of recent statements by Fallon, Gates, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, something large seems to be swelling up—resistance by the Pentagon to passive acceptance of a wider war."

So with respect to George Carlin, maybe military intelligence isn't completely a contradiction in terms - at least among some.

Also, major thanks and apology to jlms qkw for covering for me last week, out of good intentions, because I waited too long before putting up the one I originally intended (i.e. this one).

Fair warning for next week; having covered an American satirical movie in this SNLC, next week's SNLC ties into a country with its own national holiday close to ours and that occurs next week.  Otherwise, the usual SNLC ritual below, your loser stories welcome for everyone else's delectation....

•  OK, from here

  Once this week, self decided to be Mr. Environmental goody-goody and bike to work (OK, with help from public transport along the way).  So what happens on the way home?  He gets caught in the rain, big time; major soakage.....

  by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:05:28 PM PDT

•  Well Here Is A TV Suggestion

  Secret Diary of a Call Girl on Showtime. I am in the process of watching the first four shows (almost through the third) OnDemand and I have to say it is interesting to say the least.

  by webranding on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:11:49 PM PDT

  •  no cable, sorry

    3CM did say he was a loser, after all :) .

    Hey, might need your help; I have to bail in about 20 minutes, so if you can stick around to keep the conversation going as long as you feel like it.  I'll stick around as long as I can, and definitely spread tip mojo later.

    by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:15:12 PM PDT

  •  I've heard good things about this

    ...and Weeds.  I haven't seen either yet but I have heard good things.  

    I'm waiting for Skin-o-max to air Eastern Promises tonight (Russian Mafia flick with Viggo Mortensen)

    by jpfdeuce on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:42:17 PM PDT

    •  Eastern Promises Is Pretty Darn Dark

      good, but dark.

      by webranding on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:44:48 PM PDT

      •  Hope not too dark

        I couldn't watch much of "One Hour Photo" with Robin Williams because of how dark it got.  At the same time, there are dark movies that draw you in deeper and deeper into the world they portray -- Pulp Fiction, Fight Club (great adaptation of Chuck's book), Seven...  

        Though I don't particularly want to see Viggo's fight-in-the-nude scene :p

        by jpfdeuce on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:53:56 PM PDT

    •  Weeds is pretty good

      I just started watching the second season.

      by otto on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 05:17:35 PM PDT

•  When I moved to Chile for the first time

  in 1988, in the midst of the plebiscite campaign to end the dictatorship, the most popular book in the country -- available not only in all the bookstores, but on sale at the cash register of every corner convenience store everywhere -- was a small volume called La inteligencia militar.  It was probably about 250 pages long.

  When you opened it up, every page was blank.

  by litho on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:15:09 PM PDT

  •  so in other words, Chileans used it....

    .....as private notebooks?

    Speaking of Chile, don't know if you saw this.  You might have to get past Mike Villines' comment about Michelle Bachelet for a moment.

    by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:17:34 PM PDT

    •  That's pretty funny

      It sure is nice to see Republicans taking lessons in fiscal responsibility from Karl Marx...

      About that book, everybody seemed to be buying it, but you never saw anyone actually using it.

      by litho on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:22:51 PM PDT

      •  thing about Marx....

        ....and of course, I've never actually read him, but from what I understand about his economic writings:
        (a) he was right about the disease,
        (b) but majorly wrong about the cure.
        Fiscal responsibility jibes perfectly well with capitalism, but that's something Republicans gave up long ago.

        by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:24:55 PM PDT

  •  Well in truth, dh gave me a book for

    my birthday in May, titled 365 ways to have sex after you have been married for 10 years, and when I opened it up, all of the pages were blank..............

    I guess that means you make it up as you go along??

    Great diary, ching.

    by panicbean on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:42:53 PM PDT

    •  or was it meant for you....

      ....to write down notes on novel ways to have sex for remembering later?

      Thanks for the compliment :) .

      by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 08:40:58 PM PDT

•  an early SNLC! w00t!

  reporting from sante fe:  
  not loserly section:
  totally awesome scenery and history
  incredible restaurants
  fabulous museums
  great day trips
  and
  a trader joe's!

  loserly part:

  condo has
  fussy toilet
  NO cell phone coverage
  NO internet

  smooches all SNLC's and 3cman, find you-all later, and hope to see some of you in Austin later this week.  

  by jlms qkw on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:17:19 PM PDT

  •  was wondering when was.....

    ....the best time to post.  I have something to run to, so this is another "blog and run" edition.  Otherwise, it would have gone up past 10:30 or so my time (and we can't have that, can we? ;) ).

    Plus, on this blog, do we really want to know what city you're in?  After all, "they" are watching us. :) .  But yup, the restaurants there are great, and have actually been to the Trader Joe's (not to mention Whole Foods) when needed.

    by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:19:33 PM PDT

  •  If you have the chance, please do check out

    the opera while you are there.  It is an open air opera, and well worth the bucks!

    Enjoy!

    by panicbean on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:45:51 PM PDT

    •  second the recommendation

      The next performances are Wednesday (Billy Budd) and Friday (Falstaff).  If only for the view of the sunset in the mountains, it's worth it :) .  Not sure what the kiddies would think, though...

      by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 08:42:51 PM PDT

  •  I am glad to hear from you

    and I had been wondering. :)

    It sounds like fun. :)

    I came by so late tonight that I have to be the biggest loser, but finding a note from you makes up for that.

    I don't know when you will read this greeting, but keep on having fun and I am hoping for reports about Austin!

    by cfk on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 07:49:49 PM PDT

    •  wonder what would have happened if....

      .....I'd posted it this late, which is what I intended to do with the one originally planned for this week, which of course is now deferred to next week.  That's kind of why last week, I wanted to post it later than usual, to kind of get people acclimatized to a late SNLC.  Oh well, the best laid plans, and such.

      by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 08:44:13 PM PDT

      •  I guess you would get a different

        cliental with differing times... :)

        The night owls of EST and the after supper crowd from the West coast are out and about now.

        Best wishes for whichever time you post!  

        by cfk on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 09:04:57 PM PDT

        •  clientele: true enough :)

          The next 2 weeks will be posted at fairly "normal" times, FWIW.  The trick is a day when I'll post it at an odd time.  The advantage of me doing it late is that I'll stick around, of course, to reply and mojo.  Evidently, though, there is a limit of patience on the lateness of posting time :) .

          BTW, did you see teacherken's rec'd diary linking to Frank Rich's column?  Pretty depressing stuff....

          by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 09:09:51 PM PDT

          •  sorry...about the spelling

            I didn't read it...I am pretty tired, tonight.

            I may have reached the saturation point on depressing news.

            I will try to be a better loser and find you on time. :)

             

            by cfk on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 09:14:06 PM PDT

            •  no worries :) / ? for you

              Here's a question; I'm contemplating that when symphony season starts, I'd want to start posting them after the concert, rather than before, which would allow me to at least run the diary that night.  Of course, this means extremely late postings (though not by West Coast standards), vs. extremely early.  (The unspoken subtext, that I wouldn't meet anyone to go out for a nightcap after the concert, I will spell out, being a loser.)  Your thoughts?

              by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 09:20:26 PM PDT

              •  I am not sure

                I would like you to be able to go out afterwards...

                that is what my son remembers best the year we took him and stopped afterwards for dessert and coffee.  He was 8 years old and got decafe and loved being with us alone while his siblings stayed home. :) That was the only year we could find a babysitter.  It was fun, though.

                Maybe a poll for your usual people about preferring earlier or later or much later.

                When does the season start?  How long is it?

                by cfk on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 09:25:25 PM PDT

                •  late September start

                  It's 26 weeks or so, but they don't play every weekend.  Likewise, some nights, I'll catch the Friday night or Sunday afternoon concert, but usually because some other event is going on.

                  One thing about me going to the symphony is that I almost always go on my own.  It's not the best place to meet ladies my age on their own (most such women already have dates for the concert).  Thus there isn't much chance to begin with of going out later.  Anyway, enough of that.

                  I could just start warning people as the time gets closer that "start time" will be late the next week, or something like that.

                  by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 09:31:55 PM PDT

                  •  a warning would be good

                    so many new things happen in the fall. :)

                    by cfk on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 09:47:39 PM PDT

                    •  true enough

                      Assuming that I don't get hit by a truck or something, I'm looking ahead to Saturday nights when I'd do SNLC at a "reasonable" time, vs. more irrational times, and nights when I'd need a sub.  Plus, as you said, when fall rolls around, seasonal events take hold.

                      by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 09:52:50 PM PDT

•  I wish I could say I contributed

  However, I didn't.

  A movie that might be tangential CSA- the Confederate States of America

  What if the South won the war?

  by otto on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:21:07 PM PDT

  •  missed that movie....

    ....heard it was interesting, if uneven.  In a way, though, now, 135 years later, the South did win the Civil War, politically speaking.

    by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:22:57 PM PDT

    •  Not as great as it seems

      Really, I still have it, but I probably won't ever watch it again.  Funny, but forgettable.

      by otto on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:27:51 PM PDT

      •  thing about a lot of movies, books, CDs

        They're OK to see/read/listen to once, but then does one really want to go back and revisit them, and keep them on the shelf?  Possessions can be a bear.

        by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:29:30 PM PDT

        •  A lot of those things...

          ...can be a bear but some movies, some books, some artwork, some music and CD's...  You revel in them.  You immerse yourself in them.  You let go of the problems and the distractions and find yourself lost in their world time and time again because they are so good.

          They can lift up your spirits, or they can just distract you and entertain you again and again.  Possessions can be a bear but they also can be a lifeline to your sanity and happiness.

          by jpfdeuce on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 05:12:20 PM PDT

          •  true, as one doesn't overindulge

            Some CDs I have, for example, I plan to hold to for as long as the CD player works, not because I would listen to them every day, but just becaues I appreciate the music enough to want to have a recording around.  Same with books, I suppose, to randomly flip to pages.

            by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 08:45:42 PM PDT

•  How do you satirize absurdity......

  Some classic comic figures were "Senator Foghorn" types, those who would utter inanities and keep getting elected.  We could laugh at them because they were seen as exceptions to something more rational, more substantial.  It was the contrast that was essential to the humor.

  Now we have an entity, the Congress of the U.S. with an approval rate of 9%, yet the re-election rate of incumbents is over 90%.  What does this say to you?

  To me it shows a system, the very two party democratic system that has evolved over more than two centuries, is failing.  I see it as a combination of the dumbing down of the public, wider and more profound than any who spend time with our readership can believe.  

  And those in elected office know this in detail. So, they can thrive, remain in office, gain the perks known and unknown, not by dealing with the fundimental issues, such as the inherent defects in our housing-financing system, but by giving the public what it wants.

  And fellow kossoks, I am describing both parties, not only the Republicans.  For seven years the Republicans were in charge so they were the worse miscreants, but our legislators, by and large, are cut from the same cloth.  

  I see the current foreclosure bill as Exibit A.  It is immoral, ineffective and will exacerbate the current social-economic crisis.  If anyone wants my detailed explanation, you can read it in this dairy, which happened to gain the support (based on a poll) of a large majority of readers.

  This will pass because in the short term it will win votes, and more importantly, keep the big contributions coming from the financial establishment.

  The defects that I describe in the foreclosure bill, which most American agree with,  are of no interest to members of congress.  They know the voters attention span is short, and their need for a constant flow of campaign funds is their first imperative.  

  So, congress is populated by Senator Foghorns, which makes no longer funny, but tragic . Political satire doesn't work for me anymore.  It's a shame, since I used to enjoy it.  

  by arodb on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:29:59 PM PDT

  •  book review: "The Dumbest Generation"

    Haven't read the book, but here's the review.  Of course, part of it is "yeah, all politicians are corrupt, but not my local politician.  Plus, the average citizen doesn't make the effort or have time to keep up with everything in politics and the big picture.  It's stressful enough to focus on one's own personal issues.

    by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:33:40 PM PDT

    •  My very good friend

      an ex-viet nam vet liberal, whom I considered fairly savvy politically, shocked me over lunch.  He was not sure whether Obama was a US Senator, or an Illinois Senator.

      We are really a rarified group on dailykos, not in being progressive, but in our knowledge of political life.  

      The vast majority of people know their sports teams membership, much more intimately than their Congress persons, or the members of the Supreme Court.

      For most Americans, what we talk about so intensly could be happening in a different country....or really a different planet.

      So, congress passes bills that "sound" effective-responsible, rather than being so.  The GI bill, yeah every one here loves it.  It is a world class disaster for more reasons that I didn't even want to argue on this site, so I put it on another blog.  

      The foreclosure bill, most here don't like it, but they really don't want to go against their Democratic leadership.

      Politics, and partisan politics which is the purpose of Dailykos, has become unpleasant.  But this site has other attractions, the humor, the personal stories, the occasional enlighting article, and of course the immediacy of human contact, just a few key strokes away.

      by arodb on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:54:41 PM PDT

      •  good point; people on this blog forget....

        ....that most Americans are just not heavy-duty savvy about the minutiae of politics, as you say.  This is why "purity" can be dangerous when applied in real life, when it's necessary to win enough people to our side by talking to their level, which isn't necessarily that of people here.

        by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 08:48:07 PM PDT

•  SATIRE! HORRAY SATIRE!!!

  I think I've gotten lost in the poor mainstream spoofs to find any movies of satirical note.  

  But speaking of movies, and absurdity in an art-immitating-life / life-immitating-art Wag The Dog type of paradox, did anyone ever see the Director's Cut of Gladiator?

  Here's a movie that Russell Crowe filmed after "The Insider" (a fine piece of work as well) in the late 1990's before Bush was even elected...  The directors cut was, and I believe I saw Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News fame say this, more in line with the original edit of the film before it's release.  

  But beyond all that BS -- while watching the movie I couldn't help but be slayed with parallels between some politics displayed in the film (Commodus selling off the future in order to pay for the Gladiator spectacle to distract/win over the mob).

  People had been complaining about movies being jabs at the current state of politics when the Directors Cut finally came out on DVD...  And yet what gets me is this couldn't have been influenced by Current Occupant's half-assery.

  Honestly, it felt like a huge analogy for the Bush administration.

  by jpfdeuce on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 04:51:24 PM PDT

  •  never saw the original.....

    .....I'm not much of a blood and guts movie kind of guy, even if it is all special effects and no one really died or lost his head (hopefully).  But with Gladiator, that was all before the current thugs swiped power, of course.

    by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 08:49:54 PM PDT

•  Any post that opens with George S. Kaufman...

  ...will get a rec from me, no questions asked. Even if the rest of the diary is unadulterated dreck.

  (Thankfully, not the case here, I hasten to add!)

  by slksfca on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 05:02:52 PM PDT

  •  thanks :)

    Well, my SNLCs tend to be high-class dreck, if nothing else :) .

    by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 08:50:35 PM PDT

•  Working on a Saturday Night LC

  I'm helping put together the final touches of a new web site and one thing that is coming up internally with some people involved on the staff is a mailing list and mailing list program.  

  Can anyone make any recommendations of List-serv software or a web site for email announce/newsletter lists?  

  by jpfdeuce on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 05:06:31 PM PDT

  •  not from me, sorry

    I'm so computer illiterate that it's not funny (though not so bad as one of the POTUS candidates).

    by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 08:59:25 PM PDT

•  asdf

  Just saw the second Hellboy movie. It was good, but the first one was better. Guillermo del Toro's style on this one is very strong, but it could have been darker.

  I saw it at a locally owned theatre that serves food during the movie. Good food. I can't watch a movie anywhere else now that I've got myself addicted to the Drafthouse.

  For a better introduction to Guillermo del Toro's work, I'd recommend Pan's Labyrinth.

  by Texas Revolutionary on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 08:30:18 PM PDT

  •  didn't see "Pan's Labyrinth"

    I've heard it's amazing, but also incredibly stomach-churning (self's weakness for gross-out movies noted above).

    by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 09:00:12 PM PDT

    •  It *is* amazing.

      There is some "gross-out" stuff, but the real stomach-churning is because it has all the most terrifying elements found in fairy tales, but without the sugar coating. Difficult to watch at times, but well worth seeing.

      by Texas Revolutionary on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 09:17:54 PM PDT

      •  I rarely see violent movies....

        ....or at least plan to, so it can be jolting when a moment comes in them that I didn't expect.

        Interesting what you say about fairy tale themes in that movie.  I haven't read the original Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm "fairy tales", for example, but I've heard that the originals are actually pretty harsh, vs. the sanitized and Disney-fied versions of the themes later on.

        by chingchongchinaman on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 09:22:25 PM PDT