So they're plagiarizing an emotional throughline, but not in a bad way?

I still think we're defining most of the key words differently. I don't think Miller's Crossing is an homage, for that matter, which is probably another example of the problem.

As I said, the Coens almost always play off (or rip off, if you prefer) old movies and books and, well, epic poems. They did give Homer a credit, but I think the only other time they mentioned specific sources within a movie was when they said Fargo was based on a true story. Which was a lie. I think explicitly identifying everything they use would make their movies significantly less fun. For me, anyway.

So they're plagiarizing an emotional throughline, but not in a bad way?

I don't think it's plagiarizing to steal a storyline. You have to steal the actual words.

If stealing a storyline is plagiarism, then Shakespeare is in BIG trouble.

If stealing a storyline is plagiarism, then Shakespeare is in BIG trouble.

That's what I'm talking about.

Just caught the making-of special for Brokeback Mountain on the Logo Channel. Oof. It's cowboy slash come alive and bringing all the pain. I didn't realize Linda Cardellini was in it.

Just one thing...Did nobody ever see My Beautiful Launderette?

I saw City Hunter over the weekend. It's a Jackie Chan movie from 1992 and is a completely over-the-top action/comedy thing. Like over-the-top for even Jackie. It also has a bizzare musical number in the middle that at one point involves guys in biker leathers spinning around on their backs with sparklers strapped to their feet. Incredibly bizarre.

Kalshane - did you notice who played Chun Li? Yup, Jackie himself. That scene by itself could've made that drinking game interesting.

OK, a little controversy for the first thing in the morning:

AFI's 100 Greatest Movie Quotes.

Did nobody ever see My Beautiful Launderette?

Where are you going with that?

If stealing a storyline is plagiarism, then Shakespeare is in BIG trouble.

Well, I'd be disappointed if I found out, long after I knew his work, that King Lear had folk tale sources. It would be weird. The modes I use for reading "original" work and for reading heavily referential work are very different: even if I don't know the referents (as is the case with novels based on Chinese folk tales, or for that matter Princess Mononoke ), I know that there are referents, and my understanding of the story is made different thereby.

Did nobody ever see My Beautiful Laundrette?

I did. It was cute and funny, and remains in my mind the ur-text of all Hanif Kureishi's work. Also, sort of emblematic of that director's work, whose name I am forgetting.

ANthony Lane reviewed Brokeback Mountain in the New Yorker (which I read last night). From his point of view, teh gay is really really not the point, although he has some fun with explicating the previous subtext that informs the text. (Hint: he invokes Montgomery Clift.)

Also, sort of emblematic of that director's work, whose name I am forgetting.

Stephen Frears.

eta: I suddenly remember being told that My Beautiful Laundrette started out as a British TV series that was later reshot as a movie. Huh. Not sure if that makes sense....