It may be a few days until I figure out what I want to say about why I didn't like Saving Mr. Banks. A couple of folks wrote to ask if my objections were the same as Harlan Ellison's, as expressed in a much-discussed online video. I understand Harlan's point and he and I actually discussed it on the phone the other day, before I saw the film. He didn't like the movie as a representation of what really happened and my thoughts don't quite make it that far. I don't like the movie as a movie. I admire it as a movie but I don't like it…if you can parse the difference in those two verbs. I'll get around to explaining myself better.
I've suddenly gotten quite busy with top o' the year business. In fact, I'm so busy that this is the only one of many year-end screeners I've had time to watch. For those of you who don't know: If you're in a Hollywood union or academy, you're likely to deluged with these DVDs of recent movies. They're hoping you'll watch them and vote for them for Oscars or other awards and they come…Lord, how they come. I must have thirty of them here, all adorned with cheery messages that say they hope you'll watch their labor of love and consider it when it comes time to mark your ballot. And — oh, by the way — this unsolicited gift they've given you is Their Property, Not Yours…and if you misuse it by selling it or copying it, they will send Ninja Warriors over to kill your housepets and then cart you off to prison. Happy viewing!
Anyway, I get a lot of them and I never know what to do with them all. I just found a great use for one. Sergio Aragonés called and said that MAD wants him to do a parody of a certain current movie and he asked if I received a DVD screener of it. I did, and he's coming over tomorrow to borrow it…because otherwise, he has to go sit in a movie house with his sketch pad and draw in the dark. Glad to be of service.