1. 
   Matt 2011.May.22 7pm

   I always thought the movie was great for the first 20 minutes, while it was setting up the characters. Then it took these great characters and dropped them into a plot nobody cared about.
2. 
   Zarban 2011.Oct.10 10am

   Soulless Minions have a serious look at the famously troubled film. There’s a lot of analysis, but they like the movie, so they aren’t making jokes or mocking it.

   To me, the film is very flat and kind of a performer’s comedy. A waiter dropping a tray while Hoffman sings a bad song to old people is not funny unless you’re a performer who has been in that position. At the time, I put this in the same category as Spies Like Us and Best Defense.

   And I have bad news: this was meant to be 95% comedy. It’s just not good. Check out Elaine May’s 1960s stage comedy with Mike Nichols; it often mocks the kind of suffering Lyle and Chuck are put thru.

   Mother and Son Call
   $65 Funeral
3. 
   Frank Farina 2012.Mar.28 5pm

   After reading this book “Fiasco- A history of Hollywood’s Iconic flops,” I had to revisit Ishtar. I appreciate the high level of difficulty the minions attempt by tackling this venture. I enjoy the commentary, because it examines the movie as it is, without potshots and cheap jokes. It’s obvious you guys liked it from when you first experienced it as kids. What I learned about Elaine May explains why she hasn’t directed since. She was a notorious stickler/perfectionist, who once shot 1 Million feet of film on ‘Mikey and Nicky.’ The camel story involved a “Blind-looking” animal that the crew found immediately upon searching. They were so fearful of her rejection of the beast, that they pursued others for days on end. It is true the owner had eaten it by the time production staff returned for the first, and ideal, camel. May also ordered the Dunes to be bulldozed upon arrival, adding a 2 week delay to the location shoot. She is still quite an accomplished Screenwriter. Nice work on the commentary, it took me a long time to track this film down.
4. 
   Josh 2012.Mar.29 8pm

   I’m glad we inspired you to give Ishtar a gander. We do the best we can to spread the word on this criminally underrated film so knowing that we reached out to someone is hugely gratifying.

   Also, I think I’m gonna pick up that book you mentioned. I have similar books that I find quite interesting as well. One of them being “The Devil’s Candy” about the making of Bonfire of the Vanities. Check it out for sure, Frank.

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