One thing people should realize about Letterman: unlike the Tonight Show (which now shamelessly steals from DL's act), it's not really a talk show. Its more of a comedy show with a couple of guests thrown in. It started out as kind of a satire of talk shows, and still is to a great degree. Longtime fans of the show watch it for Letterman. The guests are kind of secondary.
IMO, Craig's appearance did little to promote the movie. Craig was boring, although, to be fair he had little screen time. He looked nervous, and one time he looked to be scratching his arse, or looking for his wallet. I also thought the clip was a big downer, it was very dark and at times it looked like two shadows fighting. I don't think anyone watching would think, hey have to see that movie.
IMO, Craig's appearance did little to promote the movie.
Agreed. That's his sole reason for appearing on the show in the first place. Yet, as you noted, Craig was boring. My wife and I watched the Letterman show with some friends and we noticed Craig's discomfort. We noticed Craig shift in his seat a few times, as if nervous. But it was a short interview, and Letterman didn't exactly conduct an interesting interview. I got the feeling that Letterman probably didn't want the actor to be there and that Craig himself would rather be somewhere else.
I also thought the clip was a big downer, it was very dark and at times it looked like two shadows fighting. I don't think anyone watching would think, hey have to see that movie.
Y'know, that idea is something that's been at the back of my mind. I taped the interview and was watching it again this morning, when I realized that you could barely see Craig's face in that clip. The action is so fast-paced, and the scenes are darkly lit. Craig did attempt to explain the clip to add some context, mumbling in the process the name "Le Chiffre" in his monotone voice. My friends didn't understand the actor and said, "What did he say?" As it is, the clip was too short, and I agree that it probably didn't persuade anyone watching that they have to see CR. C'mon, EON. Pick better scenes to show.
superadoRegent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,654MI6 Agent
As a longtime Letterman watcher, although not of late, I can testify that he rarely if ever watches the movies (and yes -- it's out of indifference; he doesn't appear to be much of a movie fan and Hollywood is less important as a source of guests for him than Leno), which many guests who know him personally have alluded to.
That's bizarre- didn't he host the Oscars once? A great failure, I know.
I think it's an issue of NY vs. LA locales. Letterman is a guilty pleasure for me...I guess unlike a Beavis and Butthead kind of stupidity, where that is an end in itself, the kind of stupidity Letterman practices, in the guise of establishment is cathartic, since Letterman under the veneer IMO is a pretty textured individual with much heart. This is why I don't think he was invited back to the Oscars, since he poked fun at Hollywood without counting himself among the ranks, unlike a Billy Crystal or Whoopi Goldberg who would do that but made it clear that they are making fun of themselves in the process.
I can agree that his jokes at time are weak (his writers deserve part of the blame), but my theory is that the audience that seems to be mostly tourists (vs. more jaded city folks, who are harder to please), deliver outbursts of laughter out of feeling sheer fortune to have gotten into the theater.
"...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
I can agree that his jokes at time are weak (his writers deserve part of the blame), but my theory is that the audience that seems to be mostly tourists (vs. more jaded city folks, who are harder to please), deliver outbursts of laughter out of feeling sheer fortune to have gotten into the theater.
I don't mind his jokes, even the weak ones. What I do not like is Paul who IMO serves no purpose at all. (Well, beyond being the musical director.)
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
Comments
Y'know, that idea is something that's been at the back of my mind. I taped the interview and was watching it again this morning, when I realized that you could barely see Craig's face in that clip. The action is so fast-paced, and the scenes are darkly lit. Craig did attempt to explain the clip to add some context, mumbling in the process the name "Le Chiffre" in his monotone voice. My friends didn't understand the actor and said, "What did he say?" As it is, the clip was too short, and I agree that it probably didn't persuade anyone watching that they have to see CR. C'mon, EON. Pick better scenes to show.
I think it's an issue of NY vs. LA locales. Letterman is a guilty pleasure for me...I guess unlike a Beavis and Butthead kind of stupidity, where that is an end in itself, the kind of stupidity Letterman practices, in the guise of establishment is cathartic, since Letterman under the veneer IMO is a pretty textured individual with much heart. This is why I don't think he was invited back to the Oscars, since he poked fun at Hollywood without counting himself among the ranks, unlike a Billy Crystal or Whoopi Goldberg who would do that but made it clear that they are making fun of themselves in the process.
I can agree that his jokes at time are weak (his writers deserve part of the blame), but my theory is that the audience that seems to be mostly tourists (vs. more jaded city folks, who are harder to please), deliver outbursts of laughter out of feeling sheer fortune to have gotten into the theater.
Thanks for posting this, HB. I missed the interview...now I see it was nothing worth staying up for.