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