Saturday, February 02, 2008

Obscure Movie of the Week: Playing For Keeps

In an on-going weekly segment we'll have here on this post (and frankly, it's something we'll hope that brings Bsmoked & Mackenzie to write maybe a column or two a year), this one's in honr of Travis RoastBeef, who's been trying to find this movie like Jake Gittes in Chinatown trying to figure up why Faye Dunaway's character is so fucked up. Leave it to Mackenzie to finally find this movie: Playing for Keeps (1986). A movie I literally never knew existed, but now it seems to have quite a history a part from Travis' love for it:
  • Really the film debut for future Oscar-winner Playing for Keeps, and they seem to now market whatever market there is for the movie around her appearance (in fact, she's billed , "And introducing Marisa Tomei as Tracy!"
  • Written by a couple of guys named Bob Weinstein and Harvey Weinstein, who would later start Miramax films and make way for the great movies we love of the 1990's.
  • Not a good movie, and if you look at the trailer at this link, it's likened obviously to Footloose and Satisfaction (no, not the Stones song, the Julia Roberts/Justine Bateman flick).
  • Has your typical cheesy 80's soundtrack of songs, including the obiquitous "I'm So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters, and what would be considered throaway songs from the likes of Peter Frampton, Pete Townshend, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark(that's OMD, yeah you know me, to those in the know), and, hold on...wait for it, wait for it....Phil Collins.
  • Uhm....other than that, it's really a movie that Travis RoastBeef and three other people remember.

Interestingly enough, it's up 33% on the imdb.com movie meter, which is WAAAY higher than Heath Ledger's. Which means Travis has some serious pull, becuase this means way too many people have been trying to find this movie. I frankly have nothing else to add to this mess, other than to say there's an imdb poster named OKCRay who has this shoutout for Travis:

"I have a copy of the PLAYING FOR KEEPS soundtrack on CD, and most of the songs have either "play for keeps" or "playing for keeps" somewhere in the lyrics."

Don't worry, Husker signing day is Tuesday, we'll have some coverage there and we'll go back to regularly scheduled programming then. But nominations for next week's movie of the week (and Trav, feel free to write next week's edition) are being accepted now.

8 comments:

Your Home Team, LLC said...

If you were crazy enough to think the 86 Bears and the movie Playing for keeps had nothing in common check out this little dandy I found.

http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?vid=47379&artist=16269

Your Home Team, LLC said...

Anyone know the wherabouts of BST? I would like to know if he remembers this film. Also I am thinking for the movie of the week next week, anyone remember the 80's bmx flick rad, witha young Lori laughlin.

BSmokedTurkey said...

I've been lurking.

Two comments for DL:
1. I have a post idea coming, as long as you;

2. Don't involve me in your Lou Grant editorial wet dream fantasies. My muse mustn't be rushed.


TRB-I don't remember "Playing For Keeps" but the trailer sparked a memory of the Family Guy "80s fixin'-stuff-up montage" bit (since taken down from You Tube for copyright infringement).

I have a murky memory of "Rad" but that's it.

notorious DEK said...

The movie Rad oozes awesomeness and is the reason why my entire wardrobe was neon for the majority of the mid-80's...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMeD9nrpfeY

Your Home Team, LLC said...

Yes, Rad is another classic. If you remember Mr. Hand(Ray Walston) from Ridgemont High was in that movie as well. I have to think this movie helped Talia shire jump the shark, after nice roles in Godfather 1 and 2, and the rocky movies her only gift to us has been Jason Schwartzman(her Son). also, believe it or not Bill allen is trying to cash in on his role in this movie.

http://www.billallenrad.com/

Your Home Team, LLC said...

If you link around on this site it actually takes you to a site reporting Bill allen is dead, I think incorrectly. Cause their is a large recent bio on this site.

Tree's Trunk said...

What do Kris Benson, Barry Bonds, Shawn Chacon, Tony Clark, Bartolo Colon, Shawn Green Livan Hernandez, Kenny Lofton, Kyle Lohse, Kevin Mench, Doug Mientkiewicz, Trot Nixon, Corey Patterson, Mike Piazza, Sammy Sosa, Shannon Stewart, Mike Sweeney, Ron Villone, David Wells and Preston Wilson have in common?

They’re all among the unemployed at the moment. With spring training approaching, you’ll start to see some of these guys accept minor-league deals or incentive-laden major league contracts. It’s either that or retirement.

Maybe the KC Royals should sign all these guys.

Your Home Team, LLC said...

Tree,

While that would make an interesting combination for the royals those players have a few more thing in common than not being signed and never dave been in my kitchen.

1. Their irrelevence is known to everyone except, them and their agent.
2. Most likely all expecting big $$ and few will be willing to offer.
3. Not one of those guy's breakdanced in playing for keeps.

that being said, I wouldnt mind seeing the Cubs pick up Lofton, and send a few pitchers and Felix Pie to the Oriols for Brian Roberts.