Working the Weekend with Luke-Gone Girl, A Night with Whiskey Rose, Trilogy Countdown #2

Welcome to the October 12th edition of “Working the Weekend with Luke”. I’ve got a little bit of everything this week. I read a book. I actually went to the movies this week. Yes, it was the movie version of the book I read. Bet you can guess what it was without looking at the title of this week’s column. I went to a concert last night, and of course, I’ve got the next entry in the trilogy countdown. So let’s get to it.

GONE GIRL-THE NOVEL

I haven’t read anything this good (I mean, besides all the great weekly columns here at Binge Media) since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. The way Gillian Flynn constructs this bizarre series of events is done to absolute perfection. I’m not big on spoilers so I won’t give anything away, but there is so much to this book that I wasn’t expecting. First, you find yourself laughing more than you think you would, but in the best way possible. But the best part is that for the first half of the book, you develop a mindset about how the novel will progress and then just get completely blindsided. I couldn’t put it down. I started it on Wednesday night, getting through 112 pages before I went to sleep, and I read the remaining 300 pages on Thursday, the last ten in a passenger seat on the way to the 9:50 showing of…….

GONE GIRL-THE FILM

He may have already been, but if he wasn’t before, David Fincher has become my favorite director. He’s directed so many of my favorites anyway, from Seven to Fight Club to The Social Network, and he’s got another winner in Gone Girl. It’s rare when a movie can really stay true to the novel, but it was done here. I really dig that Gillian Flynn wrote the screenplay as well, as I’ve always believed this should be done more, as nobody can write the characters better than the person who created them. Her words added to Fincher’s brilliance and the chilling score of Reznor and Ross makes for one hell of a movie. David Fincher is the closest thing my generation gets to Alfred Hitchcock. That’s right, you heard me. Again, I’m not big on spoilers, so it’s difficult to write too much. What I can tell you is that the directing, the writing, and the casting are just about perfect.

A NIGHT WITH WHISKEY ROSE

About three months ago, I wrote a piece on a new country duo, Whiskey Rose. If you missed that, go ahead and click HERE to introduce yourself or just to revisit my own introduction to these lovely ladies. I met them a few months back when they were here for the Country Life Music Festival and this weekend, Skye and Kristen were back in town for an even better cause, to raise money for St. Jude. What I really enjoy about seeing Whiskey Rose is the simplicity. Two girls, two guitars, and two microphones. No lights, no lasers, just great music that even those who don’t particularly listen to country will enjoy, as evidenced by my buddies that came along who never listen to country and had a blast. The girls played for around three hours, a nice combination of a few covers that they put their own spin on and their own original songs, which they write together. One of their newest songs, “I’m Too Pretty To Go To Jail”, was a big hit last night, so much so that they played it twice. I said hello right before they went on and they were nice enough to come and join my table during one of the set breaks and they were just as sweet, personable, and humble as I remembered them to be. If you haven’t heard of Whiskey Rose, believe me, you will. Nice to see you again last night, ladies. I look forward to catching up with you again down the road. For more info on this dynamic duo, head over to whiskeyrosemusic.com.

TRILOGY COUNTDOWN

#10-THE INFERNAL AFFAIRS TRILOGY-IF YOU MISSED IT, CLICK HERE

#9-THE NAKED GUN TRILOGY-IF YOU MISSED IT, CLICK HERE

#8-THE LECTER TRILOGY-IF YOU MISSED IT, CLICK HERE

#7-THE MAN WITH NO NAME TRILOGY-IF YOU MISSED IT, CLICK HERE

#6-THE KARATE KID TRILOGY-IF YOU MISSED IT, CLICK HERE

#5-THE BACK TO THE FUTURE TRILOGY-IF YOU MISSED IT, CLICK HERE

#4-THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY-IF YOU MISSED IT, CLICK HERE

#3-THE TOY STORY TRILOGY-IF YOU MISSED IT, CLICK HERE

 

#2-THE ORIGINAL STAR WARS TRILOGY

STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, RETURN OF THE JEDI

Is there really anything that I could go into detail about that you don’t already know. It’s Star Wars for crying out loud. So for the #2 entry in the trilogy countdown, instead of listing all of the awesomeness that is this trilogy (that would take way too long), here’s a few pics from the only real Star Wars trilogy. Seriously, don’t even pretend that you liked the prequels, outside of maybe the last half hour of Episode III and Samuel L. Jackson’s purple lightsaber and the small hope that he might say “May the force be with you, muthafucka.”

A NEW HOPE

I’ve always loved this scene. Obi-Wan proves that he was always the teacher, even if at that moment, Vader doesn’t quite realize it.

Okay, let’s just get this out of the way. A kiss for luck. Gross. That’s either George Lucas not thinking ahead or being a really perverted individual.

I really don’t have a witty comment for this. It’s just to let you know that I was done talking about the first movie.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

If only we all had a mean little green man to guide us through life.

“What do you mean you drank all of my Colt 45?” Maybe that’s why Lando can’t think straight and is forever changing his mind, and maybe Boba is always too drunk to actually do his job. Seriously, if you really think about it, he’s the worst bounty hunter ever.

“I love you.”

“I know.”

BADASS!

Arguably the biggest “oh damn” moment in movie history.

The same look I get when any stranger I ever meet tells me that they’re my father. And seriously people, if you’re going to be unoriginal, at least get the line right. Vader never says “Luke, I am your father.” Google it.

RETURN OF THE JEDI

The scene that sped up the sexual awakening for so many young boys. No, I’m talking about Leia in the bikini. Take your fat guy fetish somewhere else sickies.

Until Jar Jar Binks came along, the most annoying characters in the Star Wars universe. But at least they were helpful.

Nothing funny to say here. This is just the best scene of the entire trilogy. The final showdown between father and son is done perfectly. The camera angles are fantastic, but what really makes this scene is the musical score. It honestly gives me goosebumps every single time I watch it.

Dad doing the right thing. “If I can’t kill my son, then there’s no way that I’m going to let you.”

Come on, admit it. You still know it doesn’t look right when Luke takes the helmet off and his dad isn’t black.

“But I saw you kiss Luke on numerous occasions. Like, really kiss him.”

Just so you can put back into your brain that Hayden Christiansen does NOT belong in this shot.

I know I made a few jokes, but in all sincerity, the original trilogy is simply fantastic. The originality and the great storytelling makes for a great cinematic experience and these movies will continue to be discussed forever. Are you a Luke guy or a Han guy? Are you a C-3PO guy or an R2-D2 guy? Who shot first? And on and on and on. I lived for these movies as a kid, as did millions of other kids. They tried so hard to ruin the legacy with the prequels and who the hell knows what we’re in for with the next trilogy, but standing on its own, it’s hard to get better than the original Star Wars trilogy.

Okay, I know that was a lot to deal with this week, but I hope you enjoyed it. Come back next week for the final entry in the trilogy countdown. Think you can guess what it is? Take a shot below or follow me and tweet @THElukenorris.

And as always, here’s your Beverly Hills, 90210 clip of the week. I choose…..