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Ben Stiller Ripped Off That Joaquin Phoenix Impression

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TryThisAtHome
02/26/09

In reply to Ben Stiller Ripped Off That Joaquin Phoenix Impression
Regardless of who "thought of it first," Stiller's Phoenix went on way too long, just like this thread.
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Rick Thomchick
02/26/09

In reply to Ben Stiller Ripped Off That Joaquin Phoenix Impression
How does one "rip off" an impersonation? Everyone and their stoner boyfriend has done an impression of Joaquin already...is satire now covered under intellectual property law?

"Every poet is a thief" -- Bono (stolen from Bob Dylan)
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jrhys
02/26/09

@Rick Thomchick: Would you feel the same if it were a book or an article? Is a performance and / or performance idea considered intellectual property?
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GuyBitchy
02/26/09

In reply to Ben Stiller Ripped Off That Joaquin Phoenix Impression
Hey, I called this out in the comments back on Monday. (Maybe on Gawker, but that counts now...)

Show a faithful peon some love/credit, yo.
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MsMuffinMcGuffin
02/26/09

In reply to Ben Stiller Ripped Off That Joaquin Phoenix Impression
It wasn't funny and he dragged it out endlessly. Blech.
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trucha
02/26/09

In reply to Ben Stiller Ripped Off That Joaquin Phoenix Impression
Ben Stiller IMDB quote: Normally, people tend to shut off their ambitions and competitive thinking because it doesn't help them much in normal life. But in the movie business you've constantly got to prove yourself. So I can be a real asshole on the set sometimes.
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bytememehard
02/26/09

@trucha: So he really was playing himself in his appearance on Extras?
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LucilleMcGillicuddy
02/26/09

In reply to Ben Stiller Ripped Off That Joaquin Phoenix Impression
Ben Stiller is so legendary at ass-holery. Has anyone had a positive experience with him? All of my stories include tantrums, cell-phone throwing, etc.
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Iron Gossett Jr.
02/26/09

@LucilleMcGillicuddy: ANY story about this spolied brat involves tantrums.
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bytememehard
02/26/09

@RealTomatoKetchup: Learned it from his mother. I once worked in a restaurant she frequented, and if her soup wasn't hot enough or her special requests weren't fulfilled to the letter, she would go off. Much bigger names used to come in and never make the slightest fuss nor special request.
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saythatscool
02/26/09

@bytememehard: Really? Which establishment? She seems like such a nice Jewish mom!
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bytememehard
02/26/09

@saythatscool: No, she was a bitch. We learn the the less bright the star, the more attitude they bring.

Funny story -- Jackie Mason used to get up from his table and walk around the restaurant almost begging for people to recognize him.

Big names (DeNiro, Newman, Pacino) were kind and gracious to a fault.

Won't tell you the name -- it was against our code.
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polypam
02/26/09

@LucilleMcGillicuddy: Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but I've actually worked with Ben & Anne very closely on separate occasions and both were great (she endlessly cracks my shit up). I had heard negative things about Ben so I was pleasantly surprised he was so cool.

But ask me about Ed Norton and I'll tell you about a real assclown.
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Deskhackla at gmail dot com
02/26/09

@polypam: Tell me about Ed Norton. I could listen to shitty stories about him all day.
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Deskhackla at gmail dot com
02/26/09

@LucilleMcGillicuddy: Not anyone I know. We share a mutual friend, and many years ago when I was new to the business, I'd heard Ben was looking for an assistant. I mentioned this to our friend and asked for an introduction and she just shook her head and silently mouthed "no" and then said that she wouldn't want to do that to me.
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bytememehard
02/26/09

@polypam: I think it all depends on the role you play for these people. Did they regard you as someone whose duty it was to serve them? She definitely can pull that, "Do you have any idea who I am" attitude.
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LucilleMcGillicuddy
02/26/09

@polypam: I am glad to hear something nice, since I never have.
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Weegee's bored
02/26/09

In reply to Ben Stiller Ripped Off That Joaquin Phoenix Impression
You mean he wasn't making fun of ZZ Top?
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MrInBetween
02/26/09

In reply to Ben Stiller Ripped Off That Joaquin Phoenix Impression
Being first is not nearly as important as being best. And Ben's Joaquin was, by far, the best.
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FormerEnglishMajor
02/26/09

In reply to Ben Stiller Ripped Off That Joaquin Phoenix Impression
Blind item - REVEALED!

"CDAN - This is actually from the day prior to the Academy Awards, but it happened in the theatre so I think that is close enough. So, this actor who is A list all the way but has never been nominated for anything that great had a part in the actual show telecast. Comic actor. Mostly movies. Apparently though on Saturday he decided that it was his role to p* everyone off with his behavior. He yelled at the writers of the show saying their work wasn't good enough for him and made them change his lines three times. Surrounded by people who had been working almost 24 hours straight doing backbreaking work, our actor who spent a grand total of one hour at the theatre started snapping his fingers when it was time for him to rehearse and yelling that he had places to go and didn't have time to sit around waiting. I really hate the whole snapping the fingers thing. He seems to like it though."
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Weegee's bored
02/26/09

@FormerEnglishMajor: Snapping the fingers is second only to spitting in the face to make me go seriously postal.
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badasscat
02/26/09

In reply to Ben Stiller Ripped Off That Joaquin Phoenix Impression
Wow, Batman's really let himself go since defeating the Joker. Guy obviously needs a fight to keep himself in shape.
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Private Hangnail
02/26/09

In reply to Ben Stiller Ripped Off That Joaquin Phoenix Impression
Expecting originality from Ben Stiller is a dangerous game to play.
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PaisleyPajamas
02/26/09

@sandinista: I second that observation. Less pretension, more funny, actually hopeful that there may actually be something worth going to the theater for next year...ah...yes..the Indies got it goin' on.
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Calraigh
02/26/09

In reply to Ben Stiller Ripped Off That Joaquin Phoenix Impression
This pissed me off the minute Stiller came out on stage! Coraci was funnier-by a mile. And Steve Coogan was fucking excellent.There were lots of the same actorati at the Spirit Awards as at the Oscars, surely it didn't go unnoticed?
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deleteboy
02/26/09

@Calraigh: True - but if an artist makes a great thing - and 3 people at a venue see it - then another artist takes 'inspiration' from the first artist - and presents it at a venue with many more people and tv views - let's say for the sake of argument that the second venue is hosted by Hugh Jackman - then I say that the original artist's intent has been satisfied = ridicule.

Regardless - JF's Letterman appearance was not proprietary - it was out public, for anyone to consume - available for anyone to parody. Cor was first out of the gate, true.

QV - The 'Good Times' episode where JJ writes a pilot for a tv show based on a hard scrabble family making it. Then thru a twist, he gets to see a pile of submitted scripts - all with the same meme.

So Stiller did the same riff. Big deal. It was GOOD! they both should be happy - they made folks laugh = WIN for Cor and Stil.
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deleteboy
02/26/09

@deleteboy: Make that JP's appearance - apologies.
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PaisleyPajamas
02/26/09

@deleteboy: I'm just glad there weren't ferrets being slammed into trash cans or lap dogs in body casts.

Stiller's schtick is so tired OF COURSE he's going to start borrowing from the "little people" at the Independents. He's a big STAAAH.

*loses lunch*
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