by Frank James
Legendary actor Jack Nicholson has made a little mash-up of some of his movies which he has placed on YouTube to encourage support for Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.
Here's an Associated Press story that gives the story behind the video.
By JOHN ROGERS, Associated Press Writer
He was The Joker in Batman, but Jack Nicholson says he wasn't fooling around when he said in "A Few Good Men" that there was nothing sexier than saluting a woman.
Nicholson, who is backing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president, took his endorsement to the Internet on Saturday with a humorous collection of clips that put his support into the mouths of his most film famous characters.
"And now folks, it's time for who do you trust. Hubba, hubba, hubba. Money, money, money," Nicholson, as The Joker, asks his audience in the video titled "Jack and Hill."
Then he goes on to make it clear he puts his in Clinton. He also makes it clear he isn't happy with the current administration.
"Things could be better, Lloyd. Things could be a whole lot better," Nicholson, as frustrated writer Jack Torrance, tells Lloyd the bartender in "The Shining." In the movie, Nicholson's character then goes on a murderous rampage. In the video, a message flashes onscreen saying Clinton "has a plan to deal with the nearly 47 million Americans without health care."
She will also end the Iraq war and restore America's credibility abroad, the video says after Nicholson, as angry Col. Nathan Jessep in "A Few Good Men," shouts, "Maybe we as officers have a responsibility to this country to see that the men and women charged with its security are trained professionals."
The video, which debuted early Saturday on YouTube and other file-sharing services was put together with help from director Rob Reiner, said "Jack and Hill" spokesman Yusuf K. Robb.
It was done without the Clinton campaign's endorsement, Robb said.
"They decided to do this as something on their own to assist her campaign," he said.
A Clinton campaign official did not return a call for comment. Neither did representatives for Nicholson and Reiner.
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Comments
Wow. A millionaire leftwing Hollywood actor endorsing a Democrat.
And the Trib's publicist of all things leftist, Frank James, giving the endorsement free publicity in the Swamp.
Two surprises in one morning.
Posted by: Peter Zenger | March 2, 2008 12:22 PM
Jack Nicholson, you're no Mike Huckabee.
What a long, strange election it's been.
Posted by: Deborah | March 2, 2008 12:30 PM
Peter Zenger,
The Swamp also brought to our attention the endorsment of Chuck Noriss and Mike Huckabee.
Posted by: i | March 2, 2008 1:05 PM
Did Jack get lost and fall into the Cuckoo Nest?...
Posted by: tony | March 2, 2008 1:19 PM
Has anyone checked the rest of the quote from Nicholson after "nothing sexier.. ."? Kind of an odd thing to put out there in support of your candidate. Scroll down to Col. Jessep's quotes on this page:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/A_Few_Good_Men
Posted by: Andrew Markinson | March 2, 2008 1:24 PM
Well, Jack Nicholson's character in The Shining famously sold his soul for a drink. I wonder what he is getting in return this time ?
Posted by: BB | March 2, 2008 1:45 PM
That's right Jack was the second choice behind Robert De Niro for the lead role of Frank Costello in The Departed. Robert De Niro endorsed Barack Obama. Do we sense a pattern here???
Obama 2008
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | March 2, 2008 2:18 PM
Yes, let's get real and not "reel."
Nicholson's character's remark about saluting a superior in the morning was meant to be derisive in the movie and came across as such in this endorsement.
If we're going to elect "sexy," why not just elect Monica and get it over with. Bill, anyway, apparently thought Monica aroused him more than Hillary.
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | March 2, 2008 2:36 PM
While I don't think this will have any impact on the campaign (particularly at this late stage), why would four of the six movie clips depict villains? And a fifth depicts a malcontent in his testiest moment of the film. It's not like Jack hasn't played heroes before.
Either way, you still gotta like Jack. This is as amusing as it bootless.
Posted by: Reed | March 2, 2008 2:36 PM
Why didn't you use the whole quote when talking about saluting a woman in the movie "A Few Good Men"
"There is nothing on this earth sexier, believe me, gentlemen, than a woman you have to salute in the morning. Promote 'em all, I say, because this is true - if you haven't gotten a blow-job from a superior officer, well, you're just letting the best in life pass you by. 'Course, my problem is, I'm a colonel, so I guess I'll just have to keep taking cold showers until one of you gals is elected president"
Posted by: Michael J Hartman | March 2, 2008 2:54 PM
Delighted that Jack Nicholson knows the strongest and most knowledgeable candidate in the Democratic Race. Hopefully between now and Tuesday, many more Americans will become aware of Hillary's tested strengths. Thank you.
Posted by: Lena Feiner | March 2, 2008 3:00 PM
Ha, I for one loved it. Dudes, don't be jealous....Jack doesn't have your back.
Posted by: Betsey | March 2, 2008 3:20 PM
"Fantastic Jack!!" You sure hit all the right notes...now then, am I missing something from a most vocal Democrat who's been especially quiet throughout the campaign..Funny Girl, Barbara Steisand.
It's time for your close-up, Girl!!
Posted by: Ken Cook | March 2, 2008 3:52 PM
It was cute, but kind of dated, like everything else associated with the Clinton campaign...
I like Jack Nicholson as an actor, and respect his wish to help his candidate of choice, but it's too little, too late.
Liked Will.i.am's Obama video much better. I mean if we're judging these things...
Posted by: JJR60616 | March 2, 2008 6:14 PM
quality has no date and is timeless
but I give it to Obama he has the telephone
download generation, Opras cry babys and
of cours 65% white male vote who would
vote for everythink than a women.One other think Obama is against the war
but financed the Guns with his vote.
Dancing on all sites
Posted by: Klaus | March 2, 2008 8:51 PM
Jack, you're my altime favorite actor, but you don't know "jack" about who should (and will) be our next president. Don't quit your day job (movies)!
ABC (Anybody But Clinton[s])
Posted by: Reality | March 2, 2008 11:13 PM
Well, Jack, all I can say is:
"YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!"
GO OBAMA!!
Posted by: Steve34 | March 3, 2008 7:29 AM
I wonder what Jack's getting out of this? Maybe Hillary promised to act out the nude hot tub scene in "About Schmidt"? What an image, Hillary nude in a hot tube with Jack Nickolson! I'm sure Bill wouldn't care. Or maybe he'd join them.
Posted by: Reality | March 3, 2008 10:11 AM
Vintage Jack at his sinister funniest... but isn't Jack's performance a proverbial "kiss of death" for Hillary? When you become aware of the entire script the quotes are from, one thinks...with friends like this, who needs enemies? It's no wonder that the Hillary campaign has no comment.
Posted by: mm | March 3, 2008 10:26 AM
You people and I use the term loosly, are nit picking. It is nothing more than an endorsement, did you read between the clips, ooops that's right you probably can't read. Why do illiterates always have to look for something more than what is intended to be? I throughly enjoyed the clip. By the way have you heard about the new one about Obama and NAFTA?
Posted by: RFB | March 3, 2008 10:52 AM
So maybe Hillary will just let Jack pick up the red phone and say, "Here'ssssssss Johnny."
Scarry thought.
Posted by: Stanley Kubrick | March 3, 2008 10:59 AM
JJR60616, of course you liked Obama's 3:am ad, it was copied off of Hillary's, as usual he can't come up with any on his own. By the way have you heard the latest on his NAFTA comments? You should check with CNN.
Posted by: RFB | March 3, 2008 10:59 AM
Realty, you are what is turning this campaign into something smutty and dirty when it is one of the things that makes this country so great to live in. Your comment says more about what kind of a person you are and I'm not going to bring myself down to your level to tell what that is, but everyone reading this blog knows. I just don't understand why your comment wasn't ommited due to the obsenity rule. But then it seems like this blog doesn't really adhere to that rule. I see a lot of obsenity here.
Posted by: RFB | March 3, 2008 11:07 AM
Ah, the angry right, going down with grace and dignity. Good to see.
Posted by: Joe | March 3, 2008 2:47 PM
Jack for VP!
Posted by: sandyb | March 3, 2008 3:26 PM
Jack is right. He has been around long enough to know the truth--electing Obama as our President is chancy, or should I say Chauncey
Posted by: Gary Gromet | March 3, 2008 3:49 PM
I like Jack, and I think this montage/message was very creative and enjoyable, even if I don't agree with whom he is supporting.
Obama '08!
Posted by: Jim | March 3, 2008 5:27 PM