The Epic Super Bowl Commercial Seen Only In Georgia

There has been lots of talk about how this year's lineup of Super Bowl spots were cute and cuddly and non-offensive. Budweiser's puppy ad seemed to be the gold standard for a kinder and gentler advertising onslaught, with not the usual raunch of the past.  However, there is one Super Bowl commercial you probably have not seen that it sorta out there. Not raunchy really but raw and kinda kickass, like a music video from the '80s. 

This ad was for a personal injury attorney in named Jamie Casino, which already makes it sounds like he's in an '80s crime movie. I mean, you know you are in for something unique when a TV commercial starts off quoting the Bible. What follows is an epic (for ads anyway) 2-minute long heavy metal music video story of redemption and vengeance, not to mention flame throwing and slow-mo sledge hammering. It is awesome and, despite being shown as a local spot at a Fox affiliate in Savannah, it is racking up the hits on YouTube (almost 5M today). My only question--is that really his actual son in the video too? The Daily News has more details on how this all happened, if you're interested. 

It Was 30 Years Ago Today--Apple Introduces Macintosh

30 years ago today, just a few days after a remarkable Super Bowl commercial touting it's new product, Apple introduced the Macintosh computer to the world and personal computing would never be the same. Below is the video of a very young, charming Steve Jobs introducing the new machine to loud hoots and hollers and he slips in a 3.5 inch disc (remember those!) and the small B/W screen starts to some some graphic and letters. By our standards today, it seems pretty ho-hum and the audience reaction over the top. But this was the first personal computer with a graphical interface...and it truly blew people's minds.

I have fond memories of the original Mac. I remember a guy in my college dorm who had one, which amazed everyone (it retailed for nearly $2500 bucks!). And then, a year later, the computers were available to everyone in the Boston College computer center. I remember writing my first short stories and crafting the plots for my first films using the Mac. I even used it to draw some characters for an animated cut-out film (ala SOUTH PARK) that I shot on Super 8. I'd like to get that one online one of these days! In the meantime, here's Steve Jobs and the Macintosh...

Former Indie Filmmaker Directs "Halftime In America"

The only commercial that seemed to get people's attention during this year's Super Bowl was "Halftime In America", an odd 2-minute ad for Chrysler that sounded like a political spot.  With 5 million plus official views, the spot has struck a chord and been a lightning rod for discussion over the last few days on everything from Clint Eastwood's political affiliation to whether it would help Chrysler sell cars.

IndieWire, like many of us in the film community, wondered who was behind the spot and it turns out the director was an indie filmmaker; David Gordon Green. I was a big fan of some of Green's earlier work, the much praise GEORGE WASHINGTON and ALL THE REAL GIRLS. Then he moved to L.A. and started making studio comedies, like PINEAPPLE EXPRESS which was fun.  But now, with this ad, he has turned back to his moody, realist roots to remarkable effect. 

IndieWire calls it something of a "second-coming" of his indie career. I wouldn't go that far....I mean, it is a car commercial! Green himself had no comment on the situation other than to say he is working on a new film which is more like his earlier work, a small romantic drama called Q. 

Billy Eichner Kills It On CONAN With Super Bowl "Interviews"

Billy Eichner, one of my favorite NYC comedians, killed it on CONAN last night as a special correspondent reporting from the Super Bowl.  He basically ran around the parking lot at Lucas Oil Field, asking hardcore football fans if they were excited about seeing Madonna.  OMG--too funny!

Billy's trademark style of being too loud and too enthusiastic worked brilliantly in the Super Bowl setting.  And his insane excitement about Madonna gets some truly incredulous looks from the diehard football fans. Even better is when he gets on the football field at the end of the game and starts asking Giants players who have just won the Super Bowl what they thought of Madonna's halftime show.

In case you hadn't heard, Billy now has his own show on the Fuse network where he runs around New York City asking people insane questions and giving them money if he approves of their answers. Definitely worth watching!

Madonna Wins The Super Bowl

If you were on Twitter last night during the Big Game, the most trending topic was easily #Madonna.  Not to mention the flurry of opinions and wisecracks that filled Facebook before, during and after her much-anticipated half-time show at the Super Bowl.

Today, there are plenty of post-mortems online about her over-the-top and very entertaining 17-minute show. It has generally received great notices and rightfully so.  If Madonna knows anything after 30 some years in showbiz, it's how to put on a show!

Over at NPR.com, there was a nice appreciation of not only her half-time show but also Madonna in general.  Writer Linda Holmes remarks about the unlikely span and breadth of Madonna's career as an entertainer; one that began in 1984 with "Borderline" and has not let up since.  Holmes points out how many laughed at the Material Girl, expecting her to fade away like many of the neon-colored fads of the day. But the bottom line is that her staying power and her showmanship are remarkable by any standard.  So for all the criticism out there, you gotta admit that Madonna is still here and still putting on an incredible show.