Harry here, barely.... I had a bit too much Bratwurst last night at BLAZING SADDLES, damn that Lili Von Shtupp! I have to admit that feeling terrible in sync with Cleavon Little... Well, it left an indelible impression in my pounding skull! Anyway Santa the Barbarian here, provides us with a promising look at a movie that was test screened with the title CONVENTION, but has been known prior to this as HOSPITALITY SUITE. The film stars Danny Devito, Kevin Spacey and a young kid named Peter Facinelli (whom the exceptionally cool will remember from DANCER, TEXAS POP. 81).
I really enjoy your pages quite a bit and am a frequent reader, but have never had anything worth contributing. Last night however I was able to catch one of the first showings of Convention. I say it at the metro 4 in Santa Barnbara, CA. I was plucked out of the line for a Midsummers night dream last saturday and asked if I would like to attend the test screaning. I havn't seen anything written about it so thought i would say what I thought of it. I didn't do a great job as a spy and didn't even catch the name of the third actor or director of the film but perhaps you'll find this interesting anyway. It was starring Danny DeVito, Kevin Spacey and a younger actor who's name I didn't catch. There were no closing credits on the film. The film really only had 3 characters and the plot was pretty much only just a set up for the dialog between the 3 characters. I thought Danny DeVito gave a tremendous performance and wouldn't be surprised to see an(shoot me for mentioning it in May) Oscar nomination for it. Spacey and the younger actor gave really strong performances as well. The basic plot was that the 2 older salesmen were going to show the new guy the ropes of their companies salespitch at a convention and that they really needed to get one account in particular. The young salesmen is a fanatical Christian and quite wet behind the ears when it comes to the way of the world. He and Spacey's character are the main focus of the movie and Danny DeVito is the voice of reason that tries to mediate between there arguments. The movie is quite hysterical through the greater half of the movie but quite thought provoking torwards the end. As far as I could tell the movie seemed complete to me but they did say that it may have changes in the music and sound as well as visual affects(I'm not really sure that there was one or any need for any). The movie is probably aimed at a more intellectual audience then your standard comedy. It so far this year is the best movie I have seen other then the Matrix(havn't seen TPM yet).
Anyway just thought I would share,
Santa The Barbarian
