For better or for worse, I pour most of my creativity into writing for OnMilwaukee.com. And, while I love to write feature articles and blogs, I've got no time and interest for a Myspace page, Facebook profile or personal blog projects. I think people who crave to read about me (and why they would, I have no idea), have more than enough material to pore over.
But I do wish I had the time, energy and creativity to write a book or a movie.
The book plot is already planned: someday, I'll pen the "Behind the Music" account of starting a local Internet company, along with its crazy trials and tribulations. But since the story isn't over yet, that book will have to wait.
As for the movie, I doubt I'll ever find the time. And if I get around to writing one, I might be the only person who'd want to get it filmed, much less watched.
Fortunately, Judd Apatow is out there, making the movies that I wish I could make myself.
Apatow isn't my favorite writer, director or producer. I'll take P.T. Anderson any day of the week. But Apatow has a unique knack for banging out poignant, if not fluffy, films that seem squarely targeted to that elusive "Andy Tarnoff" demographic.
This was reinforced last night, as I hit the budget theater for "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." Not the world's greatest movie, though pretty good. Terribly predictable with far too much full-frontal male nudity for my liking (my liking, by the way, is none). But the movies was full of jokes, emo-guy sensibility and comedic deliveries that seem like they we're written just for me.
I left with that "I should've written that" feeling. Again.
A quick scan on IMDB.com shows that Apatow has 34 producer credits and 23 writer credits. I haven't seen all of his works, but here are a few movies that left me thinking this guy is really, really good:
- "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" (2007): I know, it seemed too lame to be good ... but it was.
- "Superbad" (2007): The perfect example of Apatow nailing it. My favorite comedy of the year.
- "Knocked up" (2007): I waited until my wife was pregnant to see it, and though I was skeptical, I loved it.
- "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006): Corny, but great movie for the drive-in.
- "The 40 Year Old Virgin" (2005): Not my favorite, but some brilliant lines from Steve Carrell and company.
- " Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" (2005): Tied with "Old School" as Will Ferrell's best work.
- "The Cable Guy" (2006): I loved the darker side of Jim Carrey.
Apatow has done much more, and I plan on checking out the "Freaks and Geeks" DVD soon. And sure, it helps that he regularly works with such a stellar ensemble cast of guys like Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Seth Rogan, John C. Reilly and Paul Rudd. (And mark my words: Michael Cera may become the best young comedic actor of the next decade).
It's also notable that Apatow is a former roommate of Adam Sandler, the comedian who spoke to the "Andy Tarnoff" demographic, circa 1994-2000.
These films will never win Best Picture, and they shouldn't. But every time I finish an Apatow movie, it blows my mind: He nailed it again. And I could've made that. But I didn't.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
