May 8, 2010

Brandon Hardesty plays "Goodfellas" as Jimmy Stewart and Stephen Hawking.

It's #2 in a series that is up to #56. Why haven't I noticed this YouTube channel before? This adorable reenactment is quite brilliant (with the familiar "Goodfellas" language):



The video that got my attention is Hardesty's reenactment of the famous bunker scene from the movie "Downfall." This was embedded at BoingBoing a few days ago and linked in the NYT last night. There's that annoying German production company that got YouTube to take down all the "Downfall" parodies that used the original footage from their movie. I hope they don't come after this use of the script.

I'm not going to watch the other 54 videos all at once, but I'm going to get to all of them. I was going to watch the "Fight Club" one, but I see that it's the scene that reveals the key secret, and I can't play it while Meade is in the room. He's never watched "Fight Club," though we've started the DVD a couple times.

(How long is it supposed to take to get your new lover/spouse to get through all of the DVDs you deem essential? I don't think we're going to live that long.)

15 comments:

ricpic said...

Chaz sure gets around.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

(How long is it supposed to take to get your new lover/spouse to get through all of the DVDs you deem essential? I don't think we're going to live that long.)

The last time, I gave up in the middle of the movie.. if she didn't think Dr Strangelove was amusing, there was no use moving on to the other DVDs.

Largo said...

I love impersonations of one celebrity impersonating another.

My favorite (alas, I don't recall who did it) gave an impersonation of Elmer Fudd impersonating Kurtz from Heart of Darkness.

[Looking distraught]

Da Howhah...

[Pause]

Da Howhah...

[Pause, then face turning slowly to a grin]

Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh!

If anyone knows the source, please tell!

Wince said...

Largo,

Gilbert Gottfried @1:35

Paul Kirchner said...

The Fight Club scene he does is not the one that reveals the movie's big secret. (Unless you have a different opinion of what the secret is.)

I looked at several of these and found some funny, like the Hitler one, and others kind of lame, like the Joker scene or Full Metal Jacket. I suspect you'll find they wear thin before you get through 54.

Rialby said...

Here's a question to ponder... why do we have to go back to an actor whose golden period was at least 50 years ago (1935-1960) for a good impression? Is it because we are producing bland movie stars today?

Jeff Gee said...

Some of them are definitely better than others, but his best stuff is absolutely killer. His Daniel Day Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" is my favorite. And if you've seen "The Room," the kid's version will take your breath away. Plus, he does requests!

Ron said...

If Ann plays that video that EDH linked to out to about 2:30, she'll find that Bob Dylan and Yosemite Sam may indeed be the same person.

Largo said...

@EDH,

Thanks.

You guys are the best!

lemondog said...

(How long is it supposed to take to get your new lover/spouse to get through all of the DVDs you deem essential?

Statute of limitations?

.. why do we have to go back to an actor whose golden period was at least 50 years ago (1935-1960) for a good impression?

Thought occurred to me that maybe many/most viewers may not know who Stewart was.

But had a similar question regarding current crop of American Idol (never watch it) and what, if any, musical talent is comparable to Elton John, or maybe Cat Stevens or Bob Dylan?

Unknown said...

Wow! Mrs. Meadhouse thinks "Fight Club" is essential viewing too? Strangely, I am somewhat gratified.
(But my SO/GF already likes that movie so it wasn't a problem for me. But, screening some of Kubrick's stuff hasn't gone so smoothly) Mrs. Ann, do you have (or could you produce) a list of "DVD's you deem essential?". I'm sure it would be a massive comment get (but maybe not on a weekend). Anyway, I'd sure find it interesting. P.s. His name was Robert Paulson.

WV: 'guesess': suppositions based on conjectures derived from misspellings.

William said...

The first and best use of Jimmy Stewart mannerisms in an inappropriate role was Anthony Perkins' in Psycho.

Ann Althouse said...

@C Black Here it is.

Methadras said...

Meade, buddy. You gotta watch fight club.

Jana said...

Ah, his newest reminds me of the video Althouse posted the other day from Annie Hall.
http://www.brandonhardesty.com/videos/?action=view&id=yox2OGNW

I've been subbed to this guy's YT channel for a while now, being drawn in by his "Labyrinth" re-enactment.