Archive for the ‘(4) RANTS & RAVES’ Category
R.I.P. “@ THE MOVIES” (1982-2010)
March 25th, 2010 | 
Author: “@ The Movies” has officially been cancelled.
In remembrance and tribute we post the following review by Roger Ebert (cir January 1, 1981)
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CANNONBALL was probably always intended as junk, as an easy exploitation picture. But it’s possible to bring some sense of style and humor even to grade-zilch material. This movie doesn’t even seem to be trying.
Burt Reynolds sleepwalks through a role he’s played several times before, but never so indifferently. He’s a hotshot driver in a big, illegal cross-country road race; first one to California wins. That means Reynolds gets to drink a lot of beer, talk like a good ol’ boy, and get in the middle of a lot of crashes and other stunts. The movie was directed by Hal Needham, a onetime stuntman who graduated to directing with SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT (1977), the first and still the best of the Burt Reynolds car-chase movies. After that, each Needham movie has been worse than the one preceding it. His downward spiral has included HOOPER, THE VILLAIN, and SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT II. Movie buffs will note that three of Needham’s four movies have starred Burt Reynolds, one of the most important properties in Hollywood. Reynolds is so popular he can make money in almost anythingÑa maxim that CANNONBALL RUN puts to the extreme test. Reynolds and Needham are friends, and indeed the whole cast of CANNONBALL seems to consider the movie a reunion. The film ends with outtakesÑspoiled shots during which somebody breaks up or says the wrong line or otherwise goofs. It’s supposed to show us how much fun everybody had. Alas, the outtakes don’t look much more goofy than the takes they intended to put in the movie; CANNONBALL assembles a giant cast around an absolutely minimal amount of screenplay, and allows them to kill time expensively. There’s not much plot and no suspense. The filmmakers’ excuse, no doubt, is that they were really making a comedy, not a road race picture. That would work if there were any laughs in the movie.
But just look at the cast. It’s like a cattle call. It’s like an Actor’s Guild picket line. It’s like Hollywood Squares on Wheels. Some of the actors are talented, some are not, but they look equally awful in this movie. At one time or another during this unspeakable experience, you can share it with not only Burt Reynolds but also Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dom De Luise, Dean Martin (looking as if a big-a pizza pie hit him straight in the eye), Sammy Davis, Jr. (looking like a severe case of vitamin deficiency), Jack Elam, Adrienne Barbeau (whose role consists of unzipping her jump suit), Terry Bradshaw, Jackie Chan, Bert Convy, Jamie Farr, Peter Fonda (as an aging Hells Angel), Michael Hui, Bianca Jagger, Molly Picon, Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder, and Mel Tillis. This isn’t a cast, it’s the answer to a double acrostic.
Posted in (4) RANTS & RAVES | 
Tags: adrienne barbeau, bert convy, bianca jagger, brock yates, bull run, burt reynolds, cannonball run, dean martin, dom de luise, farrah fawcett, fireball run, florida, gumball rally, hal needham, jack elam, jackie chan, jamie farr, jimmy the greek snyder, mel tillis, michael hui, molly picon, orlando, peter fonda, roger ebert, roger moore, terry bradshaw, universal studios | 
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Networking the Fireball Run
JJ here…
So business is down and all your sales people are suckin wind… What to do what to do? Well how about the Fireball Run?
Here’s the real deal reason registration in the Fireball Run is exclusive to business owners/ leaders…
We work hard to provide our teams a near $30,000 experience for $8k… however in order to do so we must help meet the needs of our progressive host cities.
What are their needs…? Business. Or at least the opportunity to meet business leaders…
Why? Well because there stands a chance as a business leader you might indentify opportunity in their city. As a result Fireball Run gets everyone into in the process; from the Convention & Visitors Bureau, to the Chamber, even Economic Development gets involved. Hosting the Fireball Run is truely a community wide effort.
Together it is our mutual goal to showcase and highlight the best in city vitality, economic opportunity, and of course- fun!
Above all Fireball Run is an unprecidented experience… It’s every bit a challenging and VERY competative game (just ask past participants!), with the added benefit of business opportunity. The opportunity to make lifelong friends with Governors, Mayors, and business leaders from every corner of America… And the opportunity to roll with some of Americas most forward thinking business owners…
Do you have to be a billionaire? No. Do you have to be a millionaire? No. The main registrant can be a small or independent business owner or key individual at a company- your team can be anyone you like.
Other than our registrant requirement there is no “business base” to Fireball Run- we are NOT a business event… Simply put our staff and our host cities just want you to have a fun memorable experience, see America in a whole new way, and of course aid in our campaign to recover Americas Missing Children.
It is because of our registrant requirement Fireball Run enjoy Presidential-style police escorts, an interactive game involving the entire city, and one of a kind celebrations everywhere we venture.
I like to say, “begin as strangers and end as friends”… friends that have the full capacity to help each other either by doing business together or with “connections”. 1000 sales persons, knocking on 1000 doors, for 1000 days cannot offer you the access to the “right” crowd the way Fireball Run does.
No selling in the event- don’t event think of entering this event to “hard sell”… You won’t have to. Just have fun, be yourself, be competative, and be real. Everyone likes to do business and connect friends… sol here’s your shot to impress an A-list roster of f’ing cool people. To say the least- they love each other so much they do business together. Put good people together to have fun and do the right thing and the magic just happens.
Arrogance is not tollerated in the Fireball Run- if you think you are better than others due to your financial or leadership position or whatever the reason… oo elsewhere. There are plenty of arrogance class road events for you to choose from- but don’t bring your drama here. Good, successful-minded people Are in the Fireball Run.
If you don’t finish the Fireball Run with at least a $250,000 contact you are simply put- dumb (or you were the team no one liked).
If you are not a business leader or owner then it’s still fun and valuable- here’s a chance to impress your future boss… All you need is a friend who is a boss.
It all boils down to networking. So what would you rather do? Job hunt on Monster.com? Keep pokin away at LinkedIn in the hopes your new digital “friend” throws you a million dollar contract? Maybe those mailers really are making the phone ring off the hook? Or you can just keep beating the dead horse sales staff till they bleed out one more itty bitty contract…
We’ve got a better idea- take a (working) rolling vacation.
It’s the Fireball Run Adventrually and it’s going to be one bad ass good time.
Hoepfully we will see you at the starting line in Lake Las Vegas- and then again…. on the otherside!
Cheers & Drive Safe America!
JJ Sanchez, Executive Director of the Fireball Run Adventurally
& The Race to Recover Americas Missing Children.
Rolls Royce Orlando
Hanging out with Monte Patterson, GM @ Rolls Royce Orlando… They were the VIP party sponsor for Fireball Run in 2007. We are chatting about Concorso Italiano… He’s on the phone selling yet another Rolls… Must be nice!
Posted in (4) RANTS & RAVES |
Tags: fireball run, monte patterson, orlando, rolls royce |
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