Ben Wiener hates everything.
Well…
Actually, Ben doesn’t hate everything. But as it relates to his career as a critic, he does (inadvertently or otherwise) mine the film – or song – or book – or anything, for that matter – and find something that IS worth hating. And because there’s not a soul more generous, he is happy to share that hatred with everybody. His contagious ability to make others hone in on faults that might otherwise go unnoticed is nothing short of remarkable. I used to like a lot more things.
Plainly put – Ben Wiener can ruin anything for anyone, anytime. Somewhere, deep within the dark, tumultuous University of Chicago-educated mind of his, Ben knows how to chop down a fine film like George Foreman to an indoor-grilled hot dog.
Conversely, he knows greatness – even if he hates it.
Wiener’s very first selection ‘Papillion,’ was, simply put, the first true classic to grace the stucco (this is coming from the SELECTOR who brought you ‘Rocky.’) I believe it was the first true challenge to the group. Prior to ‘Papillion,’ we seemed to be selecting great movies that we’d all enjoy on the big screen. It was only a matter of time before ‘Jaws’ and ‘Star Wars’ showed up. Nobody was actually trying to make the next SELECTOR’s life miserable. Steve McQueen’s lifelong determination to escape from the atrocious confines of Isla Diabla, seemed to inspire and elevate our weekly efforts. The bar was raised, and the gauntlet thrown. Now, somebody would be foolish to select the obvious choices.
Following this was the first topical selection of Movienight. Coolbaugh (in a sick 360 tomahawk jam) snapped his Achilles tendon during a 2-on-2 pickup game with Nubs, and was confined to a wheelchair (side note: Movienight went on as scheduled.) Wiener, in a classy move, paid homage to Movienight’s fearless creator [Editor’s Note: This claim is unverified.] and premiered Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Rear Window.’ This classic thriller features Jimmy Stewart (confined to a wheelchair following a photography accident) observing some strange happenings from his apartment window, ultimately assembling the pieces of a murder plot, finding himself caught in the middle.
In a defiant demonstration to prove his oft-challenged masculine side, Wiener came out with his pants around his ankles and dick swinging with the ridiculous showing of ‘First Blood,’ starring Sylvester Stallone in his most convincing role since the original ‘Rocky.’
In summation, you can’t help but enjoy, appreciate and marvel at Wiener’s hatred of all that is great. We look forward to what he has in store for us this week...
Wiener Selections to date:
‘Papillon’
