Sorry, fresh out of 'clever' titles. Thanks for complimenting my taste in films. Many would disagree.

I would imagine von Trier doesn't have the problems with Kier that Herzog had with Kinski...

You'd be surprised. Udo can be quite a handful, especially with a few drinks in him. Listen to some of von trier's commentary tracks for snippets about their love/hate relationship. Not as intense as Herzog/Kinski, but equally strange.

An amusing "Riget" promo for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N7iUGqcXLo

For more Herzog fun, see "Incident at Loch Ness," a mockumentary that both stars Herzog and pokes fun at him. What a sport! It's sort of "Spinal Tap" for the Art-House crowd.

For more Udo, see "Modern Vampires" (Originally titled "Revenant"). Crazy vampire comedy with good blood spillage. Rod Steiger (!) plays the Van Helsing character who teams up with the Crips to rid L.A. of Dracula and his minions. Also has a vampire who was pregnant when she was changed and has now been pregnant for 110 years.

...Great taste in films! I just saw "My Best Fiend" not long ago, along with all the other Herzog/KInski films. Kinski's rant against Herzog in his book was hilarious--apparently Herzog thought up half of the various afflictions Kinski should curse him with...

I would imagine von Trier doesn't have the problems with Kier that Herzog had with Kinski, but he had similar ones with Bjørk. Unfortunately, unlike Kinski, she had zero talent but behaved as though she was Master Thespian...

I've never actually SEEN the maggot-cheese, but I suspect that it's also a memento mori! And the ethnic side of my family liked head-cheese, too...

Yes, I can see Rose McGowan as a Joan Crawford; just be careful with the kids, Rose--we don't want any "Mommie Dearest" redux!

Thank you for your article again, Stefanie. I seem to share some of your sensibilities - and even if it's just a trick of a written word, your article made me want to watch the movie. As for the different ways of looking at the thing called "film" - expressed in the letters of the readers and by the professionals of film-criticism itself - I usually find lacking one that tries not only to evaluate, but to understand the idea, the logos of the movie. This lack seems to stream from the attitude of ever wanting to be entertained, but never - taught or being told the uncomfortable truth. If one is really willing to know the "what" and "why" - the "how" becomes less important.

Looking forward for your other reviews.

DJ

In 20 years, Rose McGowan will be the new Joan Crawford.

I can see it.

And who was Freddy R., the hero? Meh -- just another pretty boy.

It was his ass.

If you're friend gets it sold, I'll give him 3/4 of the profit!

I don't know that he has that kind of pull, but I'll tell him. Have you tried peddling it yourself? Zombie scripts are usually welcome, and I'd think that they might be particularly well received right now as zombie films have been doing relatively well. They have built-in foreign sales in, yes, the Italian market!

That friend may be at the HorrorFind Weekend in Adelphi MD Aug. 15-17, and another writer friend of mine, J.F. Gonzalez, will be doing a reading there. I may also attend if the stars and finances align correctly. Consider attending with the Mrs. and bringing several copies of your script just in case. Also, speaking of zombies, Tom Savini and Ken Foree are scheduled to attend. http://www.horrorfindweekend.com/

Sally

Anyway, on the island of sardinia,

Ahhh, Sardinia. How I miss its fabled shores.

It's a cheese, and not only is it rotten and "weeps" when you touch it (in humiliation?) but it's full of JUMPING MAGGOTS!

Wow! That does sound worse than lutefisk... and I come from a family that ate headcheese! How's the smell? And what's it called? Your description had me rolling.

The cheese is illegal, in the only place anyone eats it...

And therein lies a metaphor for life.

Thought "Jenifer" was execrable.

Apparently, it's because we weren't looking at her ass.

One of Udo Kier's greatest roles was as a demon baby (I kid you not) in von Trier's "Riget", about a haunted hospital. Escellent series; haven't seen the Stephen King version yet. Any reviews?

Who needs to watch the American version when von Trier's was so good? I can't believe they didn't completely fuck it up. (although if DJ said it was worth watching, I'd consider it.) Udo appears in just about every one of von Trier's films, and they have a relationship similar to that of Hertzog and Kinski (see "My Best Fiend") BTW, did you know that von Trier is currently in pre-production of a horror film titled "Antichrist"? Can't wait to see that one!

This reminds me of the Bill Hicks routine where he rails against marketers. "You make sick, violent crap that is poisoning our world, kill yourselves."

I don't ASK for these things to pop up in my head, like Kinski etc...but at least I dont make movies out of them! I may not have any control over what comes out of my subconscious, but at least I know that it's not the most kosher stuff in the world...

--Yes, Italians seem to be rather taken with maggots--the director of Marilyn Manson's video "Beautiful People" is an Italian gal, and there are some maggots--or maggot-like worms in that one too. Maybe it's because Italy is warm and maggots are a common--if disgusting occurance? Anyway, on the island of Sardinia, there's a dish which puts lutefisk and even sørstrømming to shame. It's a cheese, and not only is it rotten and "weeps" when you touch it (in humiliation?) but it's full of JUMPING MAGGOTS! They jump up to 18 inches! Some Sardinians eat it with worms, others remove the worms. The cheese is illegal, in the only place anyone eats it...

One reason Italians are taken with maggots might be the old mediaeval Catholic effect: they're a Memento Mori. Catholic countries are rather taken with those...

Thought "Jenifer" was execrable.

One of Udo Kier's greatest roles was as a demon baby (I kid you not) in von Trier's "Riget", about a haunted hospital. Escellent series; haven't seen the Stephen King version yet. Any reviews?