"Amazon.com
A burnt-out architect (the peerlessly unhinged John Cassavetes) tries to get away from it all on a seemingly idyllic Greek isle in this extremely loose-limbed adaptation of Shakespeare's play. This pleasantly rambling, exquisitely lit portrayal of the middle-aged-crazies is rather broad even by writer-director Paul Mazursky's estimable standards, but Cassavetes's wholly unpredictable performance keeps the considerable preciousness from ever getting too thick. (He's aided by a uniformly wonderful cast, including Gena Rowlands, Susan Sarandon, Molly Ringwald, and especially Raul Julia as a wacked-out lech of a goatherd.) Not recommended for people trying to get out of reading the source material (for that, try the sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet), but patient viewers will find plenty of rewards amid the schmaltz. --Andrew Wright" posted by vronsky at 9:12 PM on November 10, 2008
It is indeed a strange night on Metafilter. That clip reminded me of the bit in Simon of the Desert where the dwarf shows off the teats of his goat to a young monk. I was hoping against hope that that little gem of a scene would be on YouTube but instead I found this bitchin' remix of the movie. posted by Burhanistan at 9:13 PM on November 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]
This is all just a reference to the ancient origins of theater. My professor in college loved to reference the ancient fertility festival of Greece, where a goat would be sacrificed ("Or maybe they danced around the goat," he would say in a thick Police accent. "We just don't know.") After all, the word tragedy may be a portmanteau word combining the words for "goat" and "song," and an early translation for tragedy was "goat-men sacrifice song."
That's right. Raul Julia was simply reenacting the performance of the ancient Greek weirdos who created theater. posted by Astro Zombie at 9:20 PM on November 10, 2008
We hear so much about big box stores and how you can run out and buy anything - but can I go to Target right now and get Raul Julia and a goat? No. Tragic. posted by Lesser Shrew at 9:46 PM on November 10, 2008
Ah yes, I snee what you are snaying , but I'm afraid I must decline clicking that link b-han... You see...
I have seen enough goat titties to last a lifetime, thank you very much.
And astro zombie -- I love you man -- but go easy dude,, some of my closest friends are ancient greek weirdos. posted by vronsky at 9:48 PM on November 10, 2008
“Every civilization sets quite arbitrary limits to its tolerances. The play is about a family that is deeply rocked by an unimaginable event and how they solve that problem. It is my hope that people will think afresh about whether or not all the values they hold are valid.” Edward Albee posted by sluglicker at 10:07 PM on November 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]
Polish accent, not police accent.
Methinks, Astro Zombie, too much Polishvodka may have muddled one's mind tonight?
...wow, that drove Mr. F away from my laptop with a quickness, and he's the one with the Vastly More Serious Film Degree. posted by fairytale of los angeles at 10:24 PM on November 10, 2008
vronksy, I swear on Bunuel's grave that there are no goat teats in that link I posted. You might even see a human boob belonging to Silvia Pinal for a moment.
And check your local torrent site for Simon of the Desert and other Bunuel films. posted by Burhanistan at 10:25 PM on November 10, 2008
wait, isn't "polish" pronounced exactly the same as "police?"
(groupies help me - with miss marlow, miss cynthia p. caster, goldie glitter, chaz, iris... :) posted by vronsky at 10:34 PM on November 10, 2008
I didn't click your dancing with goatse SLYT. Should say NSFW! posted by keijo at 10:35 PM on November 10, 2008
B-han :)
Yes, I guess, or maybe like that scene in that Bunuel film set in the slums of Mexico -- where the wolf's head flashes just for a moment, floating over the slums. posted by vronsky at 10:35 PM on November 10, 2008
concreteforest, a lot of people talk about the Bald Eagle, but yeah, the Golden Eagle is the one to watch out for. Seriously, great clips.
My brother used to date a woman who kept goats. She had a pickup truck and and rode around town with one or two of them in the cab with her. She was known as the "goat lady". But I'll tell you what, the milk is delicious, the cheese is great, and you don't have to mow your lawn. posted by sluglicker at 12:41 AM on November 11, 2008
Gene Wilder's really let himself go.
But Oliver Reed is looking uncharacteristically sober. posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:27 AM on November 11, 2008
After all, the word tragedy may be a portmanteau word combining the words for "goat" and "song," and an early translation for tragedy was "goat-men sacrifice song."
Aha! That explains that Beckett play. You know the one:
"Waiting for Doe Goat." posted by Floydd at 6:24 AM on November 11, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]
the word tragedy may be a portmanteau word combining the words for "goat" and "song
It's funny you should bring that up Floydd. Years ago I saw a documentary featuring Beckett, and he pronounced the name of his play as GOD - oh, not guh - DOE, but whenever I try and correct people about this, they stare at me like I am mad. It makes me so angry. posted by vronsky at 9:17 AM on November 11, 2008
Puerto Rican men, FTMFW but there's been nobody like Raúl Juliá --and I say this knowing that the mantle has been to Benicio del Toro.
Don't get me wrong, I would let Benicio do things to me that only Pier Paolo Passolini could dream of, but Raúl was DA MAN. I will forever love him as a goat heard, creepy monster daddy or on the down low incarcerated radical.
Seriously, Puerto Rican men ... Le sigh ...
[a comment brought to you by this very Puerto Rican woman ;) ] posted by liza at 5:33 PM on November 11, 2008
I had forgotten about about Kiss of the Spiderwoman! He was so good in that -- and I have always had a soft spot for William Hurt, although he hasn't been in anything interesting in years he really was great once. Nickyskye is related to him somehow. Cousin, or stepbrother? posted by vronsky at 7:11 PM on November 11, 2008
WTF was that??? posted by aacheson at 8:48 PM on November 11, 2008
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A burnt-out architect (the peerlessly unhinged John Cassavetes) tries to get away from it all on a seemingly idyllic Greek isle in this extremely loose-limbed adaptation of Shakespeare's play. This pleasantly rambling, exquisitely lit portrayal of the middle-aged-crazies is rather broad even by writer-director Paul Mazursky's estimable standards, but Cassavetes's wholly unpredictable performance keeps the considerable preciousness from ever getting too thick. (He's aided by a uniformly wonderful cast, including Gena Rowlands, Susan Sarandon, Molly Ringwald, and especially Raul Julia as a wacked-out lech of a goatherd.) Not recommended for people trying to get out of reading the source material (for that, try the sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet), but patient viewers will find plenty of rewards amid the schmaltz. --Andrew Wright"
posted by vronsky at 9:12 PM on November 10, 2008