Background
- Jeff Huffman, 42, is an English teacher at West Fargo High School. Hobbies include reading, watching movies and directing and acting in theater productions at FMCT.
First movie I remember
- The Beatles in "Help!" I was about 5 years old and I remember sitting in the theater at the beginning of the movie when the Sultan is throwing darts at a projection of the Beatles and I freaked out because I thought that someone in the movie theater was really throwing darts at the screen.
Favorite movies
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- "Waiting for Guffman," "Blue Velvet," "Apocalypse Now," "Truly Madly Deeply," "Memento," "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb," "Lolita," "O Brother Where Art Thou," "The Godfather I & II," "This Is Spinal Tap," "Bound," "Following," "As Good As It Gets," "Pulp Fiction," "The Princess Bride," "Das Boot," "The Matrix," "A Few Good Men," "Jaws," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "Sling Blade," "The Lion in Winter," "Monty Python and The Holy Grail" and "The Meaning of Life," "Austin Powers Goldmember," "Prizzi's Honor," "A Clockwork Orange," "American Beauty," "Touch of Evil," "The Shawshank Redemption," "Saving Private Ryan," "Taxi Driver," "Brazil," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Silence of the Lambs," "The Deer Hunter," "Schindler's List" and "Five Easy Pieces."
Movies I've watched more than once, and why
- That's a very long list. Some that come to mind are "The Matrix" and "The Matrix Reloaded" because of all the literary, mythological, philosophical and religious allusions. Also, "O Brother Where Art Thou" because of all the parallels to Homer's "The Odyssey." I also watch "Saving Private Ryan" every year on Memorial Day because I'm a veteran and because it's a powerful and moving film.
Deceased actors I miss seeing in new films?
- A couple of great character actors come to mind: J.T. Walsh and Jason Robards.
Movie that inspired the most conversation after seeing it
- "Magnolia." Mr. Anderson, just what was up with the raining frogs?
Worst movie I've ever seen
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- A tie between the Japanese movie "Ringu" (the original version of "The Ring") and "The Company of Wolves," which is surprising when you consider the fact that it had a better than average cast (David Warner and Angela Lansbury) and a good director (Neil Jordan, who directed "The Crying Game" and "Interview with the Vampire").
Most underrated movie (The "Why Am I the Only Person Who Likes This" feeling)
- I thought "Vanilla Sky" was excellent. Great subtle use of foreshadowing. I also thought Tom Cruise gave a stellar performance, but I've found very few people who agree with me.
Foreign films: Love 'em or hate 'em?
- I really enjoyed "Y Tu Mama' Tambien," "My Life as a Dog," "Truly Madly Deeply," "Das Boot" and "Open Your Eyes," which was the original version of "Vanilla Sky," so I guess I love some of 'em.
Have you ever walked out of a movie, and why?
- I walked out of the very first "Friday the 13th" after the first 15 minutes and have never looked back.
Most surprising movie I've ever seen
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- Probably "Memento." The reversed plot was fascinating. You didn't really understand the scene you just watched until you saw the one following it.
Favorite movie lines
- "I know things about pigeons, Lilly." Clint Eastwood from "In the Line of Fire."
"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti." Anthony Hopkins from "Silence of the Lambs."
"Give me some sugar, Baby." Bruce Campbell from "Army of Darkness."
"I eat my cornflakes 300 yards from 4,000 Cubans who are trained to kill me, so don't think for one second that you can come down here, flash a badge and make me nervous." Jack Nicholson from "A Few Good Men."
Movie that was infinitely better than the book:
- I don't know if that's ever happened, but then being an English teacher might just make me a bit partial to books. The film adaptation of John Irving's "The Cider House Rules" came close to being as good as the book in some ways, but definitely not better. If anything has come close to surpassing the book version, I think "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy has been equaled on film in many ways, but probably not surpassed.
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Movie that took a great book and ruined it:
- I think that the film version of Sebastian Junger's "The Perfect Storm" hacked the book to pieces and over-sentimentalized the rough-and-ready nature of the men who work on swordfish boats. It had great special effects, though.
People interested in being profiled in Fargo Film Fanatic should contact Features Editor Dean Rhodes at (701) 241-5524 or by e-mail at drhodes@forumcomm.com
