Tag: Mystic Pizza

Movies That Should Be Musicals


At about 4:oo in the morning, I was inspired by Vulture.com’s genius article about turning A League of Their Own into a musical, complete with a two-act songbook. It seriously needs to happen. And they weren’t joking when they mentioned that Rocky was being made into a musical. Auditions are scheduled in the next few weeks. Weird. Not to mention, Mean Girls, Clueless and Little Miss Sunshine have all been turned into musicals. Seriously.  That got me to thinking about other movies that should be musicals.

  1. Take note from 30 Rock, and make Mystic Pizza a musical. Seriously. You could even have a dance number with pizzas and waitresses. If performed at the St. James Theatre or Helen Hayes Theatre, John’s Pizzeria on 44th could even provide the pies.
  2. The Devil Wears Prada: Come on people. Anne Hathaway & Meryl Streep could even reprise their famous roles, and there could be dance number where they actually Vogue to the song, Vogue.
  3. Ghostbusters: Featuring your favorite 80s hits, including “Call Me” by Blondie.
  4. Home Alone: Kevin McAllister singing “All By Myself” by Eric Carmen during the film’s climax when he realizes that he misses his family. Marv & Harry sing, “Just the Two of Us” by Bill Withers.
  5. The Shawshank Redemption: Andy & Red sing “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” by the Animals among others.
  6. Iron Man: Robert Downey, Jr. actually has singing talent, and it could play across the street from Spider-Man: Turn of the Dark.  Think about that for a second. SPIDERMAN is ACTUALLY a MUSICAL. For REAL. Like currently…playing on BROADWAY.
  7. Scream: The killer with that creepy mask could sing Sting’s famous ballad, “Every Breath You Take” (I’ll Be Watching You.)
  8. Mrs. Doubtfire: The chorus could sing “Dude Looks Like a Lady” by Aerosmith. They could even write the rest of the music.
  9. Stand By Me: Come on, kids and musicals equal box-office GOLD. They could sing “Lean on Me”
  10. The Godfather: Featuring originals like “Take the Gun. Leave the Cannoli” and “I’ll Make Him an Offer He Can’t Refuse” and “Drop the Gun, Michael” during the shootout in the restaurant.

Special Bonus: The Sandlot. I mean, come on, “You’re Killin’ Me Smalls” would be the hit song!

Seriously people. Composers, lyricists, producers: take note. People want musicals of movies. Just a few suggestions with jumping off points, so get a move on! We got casting to do and opening nights to plan!

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Watching “Mystic Pizza” Makes Me Hungry

Matt Damon  made his film debut in Mystic Pizza, a small indie film from 1988 starring Julia Roberts (whom he later co-starred in Ocean’s 11,) Annabeth Gish, Lili Taylor, and Vincent D’Onofrio. He had one line: “Mom, do you want my green stuff?” He is now one of the most successful screenwriters and actors ever. Mystic Pizza has always been one of my favorite guilty pleasure movies. It’s a movie I go to in order to unwind. It’s also a movie that makes me crave pizza and lobster. Do you ever notice that when you watch something, if the actors are eating, you might just end up wanting whatever they are having? Sort of like the old woman in When Harry Met Sally, without the fake orgasm. There also happens to be a REAL MYSTIC PIZZA in Mystic, CT. It’s where screenwriter, Amy Holden Jones got the idea for the movie in the first place. Since the movie, business boomed and you can even find your own Mystic Pizza in the freezer section of your local grocery store. Then, you can go home and eat while you watch the movie, Mystic Pizza. How very metaphysical. So kick off your weekend with this movie and a slice of pizza. Throw in a cold beer while your at it.

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Thirsty Thursday: “Smashed” (2012)

Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Paul in “Smashed” (2012)

The thing with being drunk on film is that it’s not about playing “drunk.” It is about the need to conceal the fact that your character is drunk. When we cry, we often try to hold it back; and when we’re drunk, we try to appear as normal as possible. Sometimes, people forget that fact, and try to play the fact that a character is drunk.  Case in point: In one of her earliest films, Mystic Pizza (1988,) Julia Roberts and friends steal a six pack of beer. After about ONE sip, Roberts is acting drunk. There is also the stereotypical “funny drunk” that many people seem to play. Sixteen Candles(1984) and any teen movie seem to utilize this method of showing  someone as drunk.

Then, there are the movies where alcohol is the main focal point of the character’s life.  The film Smashed (2012) deals with drinking on film as its  focal point: A married couple whose bond is built on a mutual love of alcohol gets their relationship put to the test when the wife decides to get sober.

It’s a great film that deals with the specific problem of alcoholism and being drunk. It doesn’t glamorize it, or make it appealing or funny. It tells it how it really is. Troubling, sad, and fixable.It’s a film worth seeing.  It features Oscar winner Octavia Spencer, Husband and wife duo Nick Offerman & Megan Mullally, and great performances.

For more information on dealing with alcoholism if needed, go to Alcoholics Anonymous.

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