Top 5 Taxi Drivers in Film

Well, as I told you last week, I got a new job recently. This is the big reveal (for those of you who didn't hear about it already). I'm working at Yellow Cab, mostly because you can make your own hours, take days off or weeks off when need be, and I reckon one can meet lots of interesting characters, like these guys, who famously drove cabs in movies.

5. Jim Varney as Ernest P. Worrell in Ernest Saves Christmas

Confession: Ernest P. Worrell is a guilty pleasure of mine, which is why he beat several contenders for the last spot on this list. Yeah, Ernest movies are corny, cheaply produced and reuse many jokes. But the character of Ernest has a sweetness and innocence to him which is missing in today's comedies, and that should count for something. Plus, his version of "O Christmas Tree" is a holiday classic.




4. Robert Duvall as Weisberg in Bullitt



This movie came out right before Duvall's career exploded in the seventies, with major roles in such films as The Godfather parts 1 and 2, True Grit, Apocalypse Now, and Network. So this character is special because it was one of Duvall's last small roles before he made it big. Of course, now he does nothing BUT small roles, so the cycle is complete, I guess.



3. Jamie Foxx as Max in Collateral


Michael Mann directed this tense thriller about a cabbie who is taken hostage by a hitman and forced to drive him around as he kills several targets. Something like this probably actually happened, but I really don't want to know anymore.


2. Frank Faylen as Ernie in It's a Wonderful Life




Had to include this because it is one of my all time favorite movies. Ernie has a dual role, first as the friendly small-town cabbie who knows where everyone lives and probably gives rides for free, then as a more hard boiled, down on his luck taxi driver in the reality without George Bailey.


Speaking of hard boiled...

1. Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver



Honestly this one shouldn't require an explanation. Just know it is an awesome movie about a taxi driver who turns into a vigilante after witnessing the crumbling of society through his taxi windows.




Honorable mentions: Peter Falk in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Bruce Willis in The Fifth Element

Olympus PEN Your Short 48 Hour Contest

Well, it was a long crazy weekend but it is finally over! The Vail Film Festival is where I spent much of it and let me tell you, it was a blast. Hanging out at my first real festival (My Bloody Violentine doesn't count), with a laminate and everything, was way cool.

As for the contest, well, our team didn't quite win. We did shoot a really solid film called The Getaway, and had a great chance at victory, but the winning film Running Colors was spectacular, so mad props to those guys.

But the weekend was certainly not a total loss. Team Running Riot (this time featuring Jeffrey Gustafson, Jason Breheny, Anthony LaRocca, and my girlfriend Stephanie filling in for Steve Valdeck) made a neat little film that I hope you will all enjoy, and we once again improved on our techniques and are already looking forward to our next challenge. The awards ceremony featured a Q&A session with celebrities Josh Lucas, Michael Imperioli, and Kate Bosworth, which was interesting. So all in all, it was a great experience, even without the win.

New Job/Next Assignment

The last couple weeks have been pretty busy for me, as I have been in the process of starting at a new job. I'll get into the details of that later on today in a special Top Five List...

In other news, next weekend is the Vail Film Festival! Olympus is sponsoring a 48 hour film making contest in conjunction with the festival and I am happy to say I will be participating! We will be a very small team this time around, please wish us luck.




Anyway, back to business with a long forgotten feature, the Follower Suggestion Box. In honor of his birthday, this week I am featuring my friend Jeff's choice, American History X. Jeff cites the film's take on the negative aspects of racism and violence as his reason for the Ed Norton flick being his #1 favorite. A review will be posted shortly :)

Featured New Release Poll- 3/11

These next couple of weeks have a recurring theme at the box office; that's right, it is alien season at the local cineplex!

This week sees Battle: Los Angeles square off against Mars Needs Moms. One is a gritty action movie in the vein of Independence Day, the other features a motion capture performance by Seth Green as a rambunctious 9 year old. We'll leave it up to you which is which.

Also in the mix this week is a twist on Red Riding Hood, directed by Twilight's Catherine Hardwicke and starring Amanda Seyfried.

Winner: Rango

Wasn't much of a contest as Johnny Depp's Rango easily beat out the competition.

Have to say I am glad this one won, I am intrigued with the way they made it (filming Depp and the other actors, recording their audio performances, and animating over the visuals) and the CG effects looks very impressive as well.

Featured New Release Poll- 3/4

This week makes up for the lack of highly anticipated releases last week... here we have four big ones with A-list talent, big budgets, or impressive animation.

The Adjustment Bureau features Matt Damon as a political candidate who uncovers a big-brother organization attempting to control his fate.

Next is Beastly, a modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast with Vanessa Hudgins, Alex Pettyfer, and one of the Olsen twins (I know right?).

The long awaited Rango fills the third slot. Johnny Depp voices the eponymous Chameleon, a timid sort of lizard who winds up as the sheriff of a lawless Wild West town populated by various animated critters.

Take Me Home Tonight is the final film this week, an '80s buddy comedy with Topher Grace and Anna Faris.

Haven't had a poll this big for a while, go vote!

Winner: Hall Pass

Hall Pass won last week's abysmal poll, which is probably good because if history is any indicator Nicolas Cage's Drive Angry might not stay in theaters long enough for me to have seen it. Will be nice to see a comedy, here's hoping it is actually, you know, funny.