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December 29, 2011 11:58 AM Subscribe
Patton Oswalt talks to NPR about his role in the Diablo Cody scripted Young Adult, which is already gaining him Oscar buzz.
Love Glenn Close. Here she is on Graham Norton Show with hilarious chatty man Alan Carr. Ridiculously entertaining.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 12:13 PM on December 29, 2011
posted by Foci for Analysis at 12:13 PM on December 29, 2011
In developing the character with an acting coach — the first time he's done so for a film role — Oswalt says he had to consider the way his life might have gone had he never ventured out into the world as he did when he went into comedy as a young guy. "I really had to imagine the kind of person that I would have been if I had never left my hometown. I don't think I would have been a very pleasant person."
Hey man, that's MY hometown you're talking about!
It's always funny to hear him bag on Sterling like it was the most podunk backwards hell-hole in Virginia. It is kind of a banal place, but it's always felt like basically a far-outlying suburb of DC. Not exactly a 'hills have eyes' type of area, just a bit boring.
posted by FatherDagon at 12:16 PM on December 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
Hey man, that's MY hometown you're talking about!
It's always funny to hear him bag on Sterling like it was the most podunk backwards hell-hole in Virginia. It is kind of a banal place, but it's always felt like basically a far-outlying suburb of DC. Not exactly a 'hills have eyes' type of area, just a bit boring.
posted by FatherDagon at 12:16 PM on December 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
"Stop interpreting my questions, this is a generic interview."
Okay... I guess I only thought I was cynical about the press.
posted by heatvision at 12:17 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Okay... I guess I only thought I was cynical about the press.
posted by heatvision at 12:17 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Are you going to force me to like a Diablo Cody script? Because I don't think I'm ready for that.
posted by lumpenprole at 12:17 PM on December 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by lumpenprole at 12:17 PM on December 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
"Young Adult" was great, but one particular scene made me so uncomfortable, I nearly walked out of the theater. Realizing I was alone in the auditorium, though, I simply screamed at the characters on the screen instead. Felt much better.
posted by ColdChef at 12:34 PM on December 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by ColdChef at 12:34 PM on December 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Are you going to force me to like a Diablo Cody script? Because I don't think I'm ready for that.
I don't remember where I read it, but someone referred to the protagonist's dialogue in Juno as a cross between a valley girl and a stroke victim.
posted by griphus at 12:37 PM on December 29, 2011 [8 favorites]
I don't remember where I read it, but someone referred to the protagonist's dialogue in Juno as a cross between a valley girl and a stroke victim.
posted by griphus at 12:37 PM on December 29, 2011 [8 favorites]
Are you going to force me to like a Diablo Cody script?
Jennifer's Body was more than watchable, home skillet!
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 12:43 PM on December 29, 2011
Jennifer's Body was more than watchable, home skillet!
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 12:43 PM on December 29, 2011
I'm actually a big fan of Jennifer's Body, but i love that Heathers type crap.
Young Adult is pretty much home skillet-free.
one particular scene made me so uncomfortable, I nearly walked out of the theater.
Heh, kind of tempted to go ROT 13 to ask you if it's the bit I think it was...
posted by Artw at 12:46 PM on December 29, 2011
Young Adult is pretty much home skillet-free.
one particular scene made me so uncomfortable, I nearly walked out of the theater.
Heh, kind of tempted to go ROT 13 to ask you if it's the bit I think it was...
posted by Artw at 12:46 PM on December 29, 2011
I didn't love everything about Young Adult, but the dialogue is about one billionth as affected as those first 20 or so minutes of Juno that were so problematic. Cody has definitely dialed it back.
posted by Linda_Holmes at 12:47 PM on December 29, 2011
posted by Linda_Holmes at 12:47 PM on December 29, 2011
“a good student who could have been an exceptional student if he was interested in being an exceptional student, which he wasn’t.”
posted by Artw at 12:49 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 12:49 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Patton was great in United States of Tara. He killed it consistently in nearly every scene he was in, even the ones that required a dramatic touch. For a while there in s3 it was a gift from heaven having both him and Eddie Izzard on the show. But of course that couldn't be allowed to continue...
posted by Rhomboid at 1:17 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Rhomboid at 1:17 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Patton is king. One need only to listen to this piece of standup to realize that. That, and Stella D'Oro Breakfast Treats.
posted by prodigalsun at 1:43 PM on December 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by prodigalsun at 1:43 PM on December 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
FatherDagon: Sterling...is kind of a banal place, but it's always felt like basically a far-outlying suburb of DC. Not exactly a 'hills have eyes' type of area, just a bit boring.
Right on, brother! When I moved to Sterling Route 28 was a two-lane road. This has always been a bedroom community, and it's been fascinating to watch it change from white lower-middle-class to Latino/Asian. I now have three pupusa places and a decent Thai restaurant within walking distance; beats the hell out of the Jack-In-The-Box that used to serve as an exotic place to eat.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 1:47 PM on December 29, 2011
Right on, brother! When I moved to Sterling Route 28 was a two-lane road. This has always been a bedroom community, and it's been fascinating to watch it change from white lower-middle-class to Latino/Asian. I now have three pupusa places and a decent Thai restaurant within walking distance; beats the hell out of the Jack-In-The-Box that used to serve as an exotic place to eat.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 1:47 PM on December 29, 2011
In all of Oswalt's descriptions of sterling, he never describes it as a hills have eyes type of place, but as another instance of soulless Generica.
posted by prodigalsun at 1:52 PM on December 29, 2011
posted by prodigalsun at 1:52 PM on December 29, 2011
I think there's a kind of global tribe of people who had to leave nowheresville for somewhere else to do something worthwhile in life... I'd say it accounts for all the best and most creative people, but that's basically bias due to being that kind of person.
(and pity my descendants, who are starting out in a city. What does that mean for their future? I have no idea. Maybe they'll move to New York - tough luck for their kids who will have nowhere to go. )
I also now wonder if there's an overlap between those folk and the "could be reqally accomplished if they just applied themselves" people.
posted by Artw at 2:03 PM on December 29, 2011
(and pity my descendants, who are starting out in a city. What does that mean for their future? I have no idea. Maybe they'll move to New York - tough luck for their kids who will have nowhere to go. )
I also now wonder if there's an overlap between those folk and the "could be reqally accomplished if they just applied themselves" people.
posted by Artw at 2:03 PM on December 29, 2011
Which one, coldchef?
Spoilers
I wanted to know just what she did to to bandmate who called her a psycho prom queen bitch....and I was expecting a scene where the jocks who beat up Oswalt's character would appear.
posted by brujita at 2:06 PM on December 29, 2011
Spoilers
I wanted to know just what she did to to bandmate who called her a psycho prom queen bitch....and I was expecting a scene where the jocks who beat up Oswalt's character would appear.
posted by brujita at 2:06 PM on December 29, 2011
and pity my descendants, who are starting out in a city. What does that mean for their future? I have no idea. Maybe they'll move to New York - tough luck for their kids who will have nowhere to go.
Paris, obviously.
posted by emjaybee at 2:24 PM on December 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Paris, obviously.
posted by emjaybee at 2:24 PM on December 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
I just walked in from that movie, and wow, it evaded me on every. single. level. That guy included. Although the mini Cooper did a nice job.
posted by thinkpiece at 2:56 PM on December 29, 2011
posted by thinkpiece at 2:56 PM on December 29, 2011
This is a bit old, but Patton Oswalt held still for an entire scene on King of Queens.
posted by Brainy at 3:02 PM on December 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Brainy at 3:02 PM on December 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
I enjoyed Patton Oswalt in The Heart, She Holler, which is what I imagine Tennessee Williams directing Eraserhead would be like.
posted by Pope Xanax IV at 4:02 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Pope Xanax IV at 4:02 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Patton is king. One need only to listen to this piece of standup to realize that.
This was the routine that made me a real fan of Patton's because first and foremost, it's a very funny and very profane piece about a passion I share for the same movie. And yet never once did he stoop to dragging out the tired old "raping my childhood" line that I absolutely loathe. (Offensive foul: Poor hyperbolic analogy and potential trigger phrase, ten-yard penalty.) As I listened the first time I grew more and more worried that he was building to it. I was so happy he didn't, and even happier to immediately listen to it again without that apprehension.
posted by Spatch at 5:05 PM on December 29, 2011
This was the routine that made me a real fan of Patton's because first and foremost, it's a very funny and very profane piece about a passion I share for the same movie. And yet never once did he stoop to dragging out the tired old "raping my childhood" line that I absolutely loathe. (Offensive foul: Poor hyperbolic analogy and potential trigger phrase, ten-yard penalty.) As I listened the first time I grew more and more worried that he was building to it. I was so happy he didn't, and even happier to immediately listen to it again without that apprehension.
posted by Spatch at 5:05 PM on December 29, 2011
'Diablo' actually means 'devil' in Spanish. That's pretty edgy.
posted by dydecker at 5:21 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by dydecker at 5:21 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I really want to see Young Adult, even after reading that interview with Cody. Yikes. Never send a gushing fan to interview a subject.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 5:32 PM on December 29, 2011
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 5:32 PM on December 29, 2011
Everyone I know who has seen it has had very strong reactions to particular characters. One friend was terrified she had so much in common with Mavis, and I was forced to break out a "Don't go there, girlfriend!"
Patton surprised me, and it's kind of knocked me for a loop. Certain kinds of male vulnerability are a guilty pleasure for me, and he hit all of those buttons. But it was really interesting to see a character who was clearly supposed to fill the loser stereotype -- one who started low and miraculously got even lower -- still managing to be the one with a modicum of self respect. That felt awfully familiar to me.
So yeah. Five words I never thought I'd say: Patton Oswalt broke my heart.
posted by Madamina at 5:48 PM on December 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
Patton surprised me, and it's kind of knocked me for a loop. Certain kinds of male vulnerability are a guilty pleasure for me, and he hit all of those buttons. But it was really interesting to see a character who was clearly supposed to fill the loser stereotype -- one who started low and miraculously got even lower -- still managing to be the one with a modicum of self respect. That felt awfully familiar to me.
So yeah. Five words I never thought I'd say: Patton Oswalt broke my heart.
posted by Madamina at 5:48 PM on December 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
I strongly recommend Oswalt's bit on KFC's fiesta bowl, or whatever it's called. Great fun.
posted by Trochanter at 6:48 PM on December 29, 2011
posted by Trochanter at 6:48 PM on December 29, 2011
Oh man did I love this movie, it was my favorite this year. I'd take stories about people like Mavis over all this main-character-has-a-life-transformation-crap any day. It's getting so boring. Also, Patton was just awesome.
posted by windbox at 6:48 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by windbox at 6:48 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Another spoiler:
One has the feeling at the end that Matt can do something with his life with the liquor making, but given the Sweet Valley High clone is finished and she doesn't have anything else lined up, Mavis is through
posted by brujita at 7:26 PM on December 29, 2011
One has the feeling at the end that Matt can do something with his life with the liquor making, but given the Sweet Valley High clone is finished and she doesn't have anything else lined up, Mavis is through
posted by brujita at 7:26 PM on December 29, 2011
Actually, I believe Patton actually eats one of those KFC bowls in the movie. I had to point it out to my husband, who was the one who showed me the bit in the first place.
posted by Madamina at 8:08 PM on December 29, 2011
posted by Madamina at 8:08 PM on December 29, 2011
tough luck for their kids who will have nowhere to go.
Paris, obviously.
In my experience, the people of my generation who moved here during or after college all moved back to nowheresville before having kids. I have nowhere to go really, I can't move back to where I'm from, I have no interest in being anyplace else. I am just like one of those guys who never left his hometown except my hometown is, in my estimation and I know you guys don't like it when I say this, the epicenter of the known universe.
posted by Ad hominem at 10:45 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Paris, obviously.
In my experience, the people of my generation who moved here during or after college all moved back to nowheresville before having kids. I have nowhere to go really, I can't move back to where I'm from, I have no interest in being anyplace else. I am just like one of those guys who never left his hometown except my hometown is, in my estimation and I know you guys don't like it when I say this, the epicenter of the known universe.
posted by Ad hominem at 10:45 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I strongly recommend Oswalt's bit on KFC's fiesta bowl, or whatever it's called. Great fun.
Easily his best bit. No question. Once he starts singing, I lose it every time...
posted by interrupt at 10:38 AM on December 30, 2011
Easily his best bit. No question. Once he starts singing, I lose it every time...
posted by interrupt at 10:38 AM on December 30, 2011
Jennifer's Body was more than watchable, home skillet!
If by 'watchable' you mean 'mediocrity personified' then I agree with you. I've watched straight to video horror movies with better scripts.
posted by lumpenprole at 11:03 AM on December 30, 2011
If by 'watchable' you mean 'mediocrity personified' then I agree with you. I've watched straight to video horror movies with better scripts.
posted by lumpenprole at 11:03 AM on December 30, 2011
Once he starts singing, I lose it every time...
"Jesus, come work mah jaw for meee...."
posted by Trochanter at 4:16 PM on December 30, 2011
"Jesus, come work mah jaw for meee...."
posted by Trochanter at 4:16 PM on December 30, 2011
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