tagged w/ Val Kilmer
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MARK TWAIN and MARY BAKER EDDY is an original screenplay by Val Kilmer. It’s a quirky, tender, tragicomic portrait of two contrasting lives, set against the backdrop of Gilded Age America.
By 1900, Mark Twain was a colorful international celebrity — the most famous American in the world. He was also a comic genius who delighted in skewering religious hypocrisy with his irreverent humor.
Eddy was nearly as famous and hugely controversial. Some said she was a spiritual genius. Her unconventional voice rankled male-dominated society and continues to spark debate a century later.
In public, Twain satirized Eddy without mercy, using language that’s still wickedly funny. In private, he was consumed with questions about mind and body, life and death, illusion and reality, which he suspected only she could answer.
Lest this sound too heavy — it’s not.
With the exception of one tragic scene, the mood is playful, at times even giddy and surreal. Spiritual questions that resonate with contemporary audiences are touched on, not talked to death. Institutional religion gets a stake through the heart at the hands of Twain, the satiric master. Yet the screenplay as a whole rises above judgment of any sort.
Ultimately, the audience finds itself face to face with two extraordinary individuals. Supposed antagonists, they had a genuine love for one another. And though both have been dead for a century, their voices still ring bright and true.
Eddy
In 1866, Mary Baker Eddy was destitute — widowed by one husband, abandoned by another, crippled in an accident, and hovering near death. Her sudden recovery marked not only her rebirth, but the emergence of a new religious movement in America.
By curing hundreds of hopeless cases, Eddy revolutionized the concept of faith in its relationship to mind and body. She was a controversial original whose novel definition of God made it into Webster’s dictionary, and who taught her healing techniques to thousands despite massive opposition.
Some of the most powerful men of her day — Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst, and Mark Twain — all published outrageous claims about her. They said she was insane, a fraud, a plagiarist, a charlatan, immoral, a thief, and even dead.
Having invented yellow journalism, Pulitzer and Hearst could take anyone out. Eddy was the first woman to suffer the full impact of this practice. Pulitzer even backed a lawsuit that attempted to prove Eddy was insane and/or incompetent. Had the lawsuit succeeded, her popular church could have been dismantled, her publishing company closed, and her substantial assets seized.
As a result of this onslaught, at age 88, Eddy founded The Christian Science Monitor. She sought to pioneer a new form of journalism that would “injure no man, but...bless all mankind.” Today, the Monitor is widely regarded as one of the world’s great newspapers and has, ironically, received seven Pulitzer Prizes.
Twain
Mark Twain once said of himself. “I’m not AN American; I’m THE American!”
Considered the pioneer of the modern American novel, Twain became obsessed with Eddy in the last decade of his life. In 1907, he published a whole book attempting to discredit her. It’s considered his worst effort, not even mentioned by some biographers.
Despite this, Twain had a fierce admiration for Eddy, both as a writer and as a spiritual thinker. He shared her critique of the religious orthodoxy of the day, and, despite himself, was attracted to her radical faith like a moth to a flame.
Eddy and Twain both died one hundred years ago, in 1910.
The Story Begins
Despite Twain’s occasional articles and public comments about her, Eddy isn't thinking about him at all. To his chagrin, she’s completely absorbed in charting “the underlying reality of things.”
But when America's man in white announces that he’s written a book about Eddy, the action begins. Twain’s comments make national headlines. But Eddy’s long-time assistant, Calvin Frye, shields her from the news by snipping her newspapers into swiss cheese.
Eccentric and exasperating, Frye does his loyal best each day to protect Eddy from the intrusions of the world so that she can work. But after nearly 30 years of service without a day off, Frye is starting to, well, fry, and Eddy is losing valuable time to respond to Twain.
Eddy has long since given up public life, but in response to so many inaccurate reports about her well being, she invites friends to visit her home. Newspapaers records that Eddy found herself greeting 12,000 people from the balcony of her country home. In our tale the visitors include Mark Twain.
Though Twain and Eddy never met in real life, they no doubt imagined many encounters. This screenplay takes flight through their imagination — playing still further on Twain’s questions about mind and body, life and death, illusion and reality.
Ultimately, MARK TWAIN and MARY BAKER EDDY is a classic love story in the spirit of DRIVING MISS DAISY. It touches on some of the most fundamental questions a person can ask, and at the same time captures the essence of two great American lives.
More at http://www.twaineddyfilm.com/MARK TWAIN and MARY BAKER EDDY is an original screenplay by Val Kilmer. It’s a... more
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Aaron Stanford -- known as Pyro from the X-Men movies and Birkhoff from the Nikita reboot -- has a small but pivotal role in David Mamet's Spartan, as Michael Blake, the college boyfriend of the President's daughter. Or would that be ex-boyfriend, given that when we meet him, he's written her a letter calling her a whore?
Photo by Jan Thijs/The CW
Aaron Stanford -- known as Pyro from the X-Men movies and Birkhoff from the Nikita... more
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Mark Pellegrino has a history of playing characters with shades of grey -- from Rita's ex-hubby Paul on Dexter to Jacob on LOST to Lucifer on Supernatural to Bishop on Being Human. In Spartan, he plays a convict on death row who is being transported for medical care when his world is blown apart by Val Kilmer.
Mark Pellegrino has a history of playing characters with shades of grey -- from... more
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Recently Complete Updates Today News Mr Jim Toth & Ms Reese Witherspoon: Ms Reese Witherspoon and Mr Jim Toth have been dating for abo...Recently Complete Updates Today News Mr Jim Toth & Ms Reese Witherspoon:... more
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Latest Complete News Updates Today Ms. Reese Witherspoon and Hollywood agent Mr Jim Toth are engaged, her rep tells Us magazine.Latest Complete News Updates Today Ms. Reese Witherspoon and Hollywood agent Mr Jim... more
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Latest Complete News Updates Today Ms. Reese Witherspoon and Hollywood agent Mr Jim Toth are engaged, her rep tells Us magazine.Latest Complete News Updates Today Ms. Reese Witherspoon and Hollywood agent Mr Jim... more
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Prince Harry’s visit to New York included taking part in the 3rd Annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic on Governors Island where he took a spill off of his horse. Easy for me to say he fell down went boom, but I’m sure that is one sport that is incredibly difficult. Didn’t his father always used to fall of his horse? There is a joke in there, but I’m trying to earn my wings today so I shall let that one go. He he he.
I would totally give that bad boy Prince Harry mouth-to-mouth even though clearly he is conscious. I would just consider that a challenge (and hope that security can’t run too fast). Holla!
Lots of celebrities (and large boobilage) attended this event:Prince Harry’s visit to New York included taking part in the 3rd Annual Veuve... more
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This week's Rotten Tomatoes reviews Kick-Ass, Death at a Funeral, and The Joneses. Plus, we run down the Top 5 Alternative Energy Sources in Movies and Brooke Shields stops in to tell us about her Five Favorite Films.
The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a movie review show that airs on Thursday nights at 10:30 e/p on Current TV. From reviews of the newest releases to commentary on cult favorites and movie trends, each episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a fast-paced, comedic journey through the week in cinema.
For more from the Rotten Tomatoes Show: http://rottentomatoesshow.comThis week's Rotten Tomatoes reviews Kick-Ass, Death at a Funeral, and The... more
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It's Earth Day! Movies tend to come up with bizarrely wonderful ideas for alternative energy. This week's Top 5 is dedicated to the most improbable alternative energy sources of all time.
The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a movie review show that airs on Thursday nights at 10:30 e/p on Current TV. From reviews of the newest releases to commentary on cult favorites and movie trends, each episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a fast-paced, comedic journey through the week in cinema.
For more from the Rotten Tomatoes Show: http://rottentomatoesshow.comIt's Earth Day! Movies tend to come up with bizarrely wonderful ideas for... more
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If the Macgruber trailer teaches us one thing, it's that fat Val Kilmer is a dangerous man.
What else is there? Glad you asked.
Will Forte in the rain.
There will be at least one reference to calling this guy a cunt. Or it'll be a running joke.
Will Forte flips the bird!
Dramatic Walking!
Forte flips the bird again.
EXPLOSIONS. Hell, you better just go watch the restricted trailer and see Will Forte dancing with a piece of celery in his ass.
If the Macgruber trailer teaches us one thing, it's that fat Val Kilmer is a... more
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The crisp air of October! Nothing goes quite as well with it as a cold glass of beer in a woman's shoe.
What? You think something like that is weird? You haven't seen anything, then, when it comes to the best drunks in movies. From the Beerfest crew's boot chugging to Marion Ravenwood in Raiders of the Lost Arc. It takes a lot to be a big drinker in film.
That's why Brett has the Top 5 all geared up and ready to go.
Now start your Monday night right and have an Aqua Velva on us.
-John Lichman
The crisp air of October! Nothing goes quite as well with it as a cold glass of... more
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The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a movie review show that airs on Thursday nights at 10:30 e/p on Current TV. From reviews of the newest releases to commentary on cult favorites and movie trends, each episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a fast-paced, comedic journey through the week in cinema.
For more from the Rotten Tomatoes Show: http://rottentomatoesshow.com
For more about movies from Current: http://current.com/moviesThe Rotten Tomatoes Show is a movie review show that airs on Thursday nights at 10:30... more
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The restricted MacGruber trailer proves a few things:
-There are explosions.
-Val Kilmer is named something that will inevitably be a running gag.
-Will Forte gets naked with a piece of celery in his...eh.
You'll see.
http://blogs.current.com/movies/2010/01/19/mini-trailer-time-macgruber/The restricted MacGruber trailer proves a few things:
-There are explosions.
-Val... more
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Let's find out which of the newest trailers are quickening our pulse with The Anticipatron.
The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a movie review show that airs on Thursday nights at 10:30 e/p on Current TV. From reviews of the newest releases to
commentary on cult favorites and movie trends, each episode of The Rotten
Tomatoes Show is a fast-paced, comedic journey through the week in cinema.
For more from the Rotten Tomatoes Show visit: http://rottentomatoesshow.com
For more about movies from Current: http://current.com/moviesLet's find out which of the newest trailers are quickening our pulse with The... more
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To celebrate Oktoberfest Brett breaks down the Top 5 Best Drunks in the
Movies.
The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a movie review show that airs on Thursday nights at 10:30 e/p on Current TV. From reviews of the newest releases to
commentary on cult favorites and movie trends, each episode of The Rotten
Tomatoes Show is a fast-paced, comedic journey through the week in cinema.
For more from the Rotten Tomatoes Show visit: http://rottentomatoesshow.com
For more about movies from Current: http://current.com/moviesTo celebrate Oktoberfest Brett breaks down the Top 5 Best Drunks in the
Movies.... more
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The Rotten Tomatoes Show asks Are Things Are Going OK, Right?
The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a movie review show that airs on Thursday nights at 10:30 e/p on Current TV. From reviews of the newest releases to commentary on cult favorites and movie trends, each episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a fast-paced, comedic journey through the week in cinema.
For more from the Rotten Tomatoes Show: http://rottentomatoesshow.com
For more about movies from Current: http://current.com/moviesThe Rotten Tomatoes Show asks Are Things Are Going OK, Right?
The Rotten Tomatoes... more
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