Tag Archives: Sean Penn

Fast Times with President Obama and Sean Penn

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obamakimmel

President Obama and Sean Penn were both guests last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Jimmy asked President Obama if he’s seen Fast Times at Ridgemont High and he replied that the film is “a classic”. “I lived it, man,” he said. “I didn’t just see it.” This definitely tops George Bush quoting “Show Me The Money” from his State of the Union address.

Sean Penn also discussed the film (see that clip below). The third guest last night? Earth, Wind & Fire….perfect, right? Enjoy!

 

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Mar 13, 2015

Fast Times Celebrates 30 Years

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We asked Cameron to share a few words about the 30th anniversary of Fast Times at Ridgemont High. It was released in theaters on August 13, 1982.

On the last day of filming Fast Times at Ridgemont High there were high-fives and happy/sad goodbyes.  Amy Heckerling had powered through a tough schedule, and we’d snuck the movie through the studio system, in no small part thanks to our fiercely funny and protective producer Art Linson.   Sean Penn, who’d been in character the entire filming, arrived in a brown corduroy jacket and introduced himself.  “I’m Sean,” he announced.  We all felt instantly nostalgic for the blonde stoner we’d known and called Jeff for the previous three months.  I looked around, and saw one of the red trash cans that had followed us from location to location, from the Sherman Oaks mall to Van Nuys High.  It’s been in my writing room ever since.  Happy 30th Anniversary… and thanks to all the cast, crew and fine friends we still have from those bitchin’ summer days of not so long ago….

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Aug 13, 2012

Available Now: Fast Times Blu-ray!

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Fast Times at Ridgemont High makes its blu-ray debut today. The high definition picture is certainly a step up from the DVD, but this movie is nearly 29 years old (more on that next week), so don’t expect a pristine transfer. The movie was shot in the early 80s and film stock back then was a bit on the grainy side. So the grain you see is supposed to be there. Maybe at some point Universal will do a frame by frame restoration, but I don’t think Fast Times has ever looked better. In addition to the old special features, you’ll find some new bells and whistles such as a Picture in Picture (PIP) feature that includes extended interviews and outtakes (from the previously seen documentary that’s also included). Shortcomings? I’d like a better cover (how about using the theatrical poster?) and the deleted scenes, but there’s always the 30th anniversary, right?

You can find more details over at the Fast Times blu-ray page. Pick up your blu-ray in you live in North America today. Overseas readers, don’t forget that the UK and Australian versions came out on late last month.

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Aug 9, 2011

Crowe’s Nest: Fast Times Reunion Pic, Peter Bart, John Michael Higgins

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The Crowe’s Nest is a collection of random tidbits, etc. in one blog post. Here’s the latest:

  • In case you missed the Fast Times reunion at the Guys Choice awards on Spike TV, here’s a pic. Pictured above is (L to R) Brian Backer, Robert Romanus, Sean Penn and Judge Reinhold. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a picture that also included attendees, director Amy Heckerling and Forest Whitaker all in the same shot…
  • If you want to learn a bit more about writer, producer Peter Bart (who Cameron recently did a Q & A with at the Harold & Maude anniversary screening), you might want to check out this interview over at Culture Map Houston.
  • New York Magazine interviews actor John Michael Higgins. Among the topics was his musical experience on the set of We Bought a Zoo. Here’s what he said:

Did you sing with Justin Timberlake on the set of Bad Teacher, or Scarlett Johansson on We Bought a Zoo, which you also have out this year?
Justin is a professional; I would never dare to sing in front of him! Although Jason Segel and I definitely crossed paths, and he’s a good singer. And Cameron [Diaz] and I would dance a bit, off-camera. We were always doing silly things half the time. We Bought a Zoo was a more musical set. Scarlett loves to sing — she’s like a Mynah bird, she can imitate anyone — so every now and then, we’d get a good pop vocal going on. We’d make up a lot of stupid songs, joke songs, like a little piece Scarlett would write to sing to Matt [Damon] and he would sing something back. Nothing serious. And that’s how we communicated. Scarlett would sing, “It’s a really hot day,” or “I’m hungry for lunch.”

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Jun 29, 2011

Crowe’s Nest: Fast Times Reunion, PJ20 Companion Book, Reader Art & More!

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The Crowe’s Nest is a feature that collects random tidbits, etc. in one blog post. Here’s the latest:

  • Many of the stars of Fast Times at Ridgemont High gathered for induction into the Guy Hall of Fame as part of Spike TV’s Guy Choice event. Cameron was unable to attend the taping on June 4th, but actors Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold, Brian Backer, Robert Romanus, Forest Whitaker, and director Amy Heckerling appeared together onstage in L.A. to accept.  You will have your chance to see it this Friday, June 10th on Spike TV. Check your local listings.
  • Contributors to the Pearl Jam Twenty companion book coming out on September 13th include Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl and Neil Young. Cameron is providing the foreword. The book was compiled and edited by authors Jonathan Cohen and Mark Wilkinson. It will include personal drawings, behind the scenes photos and much more chronicling Pearl Jam’s twenty years.
  • The Dallas Film Society will include Almost Famous as part of a free outdoor screening series. Almost Famous will screen on October 15th. More details can be found here.
  • Reader Jon Sholly dropped us a line to share his entry into a recent Indianapolis film festival. Local designers and artists are asked to create posters that reinterpret films from all eras. They are then sold to raise money for the festival. Jon choose Almost Famous and I thought you’d like to see his poster. Pretty cool, huh?

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Jun 8, 2011

Fast Times Honor Roll

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charlesjefferson

Cameron discusses the Fast Times pedigree of Oscar winners with the San Diego Union – Tribune (the latest member of the Oscar club is now Forest Whitaker).

Saluting The Honors Class at Ridgemont High

He had just landed his first part in a movie, and as Forest Whitaker headed back to his car after the audition, the film’s director glanced out a window to see the actor “skipping and sort of jumping up in the air” as he crossed the Universal Studios lot.

Read the rest of this post

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Mar 24, 2007

  • Almost Famous- Paramount+, AMC+
  • David Crosby: Remember My Name- Starz
  • Elizabethtown- FUBO
  • Say Anything...- Disney+, Hulu, AMC+
  • Vanilla Sky- Paramount+,Showtime
  • We Bought A Zoo- Disney+, Roku