Susan, Singles is one of my favorite movies of all time. Great cast, great script, it captures a moment in pop culture history, it has real rockers in it, it’s just a lot of fun. How can you call it a stinker?
I think what’s her name is horrible in it. Plot is stupid. It does capture a moment in pop history. My favorite bit out of the whole thing is probably when there’s a carload of people going somewhere and one of the guys mentions working at Boeing. (Everyone worked at Boeing in Seattle when I grew up there.)
I didn’t particularly like Singles, but I barely remember it. I have vivid memories of HATING Reality Bites. Of course, I was in my 30′s by the time I got around to watching them, so it probably wasn’t a fair test.
Both are bad, but I remember (and it’s been a loooong time since I’ve seen either) Singles as bland and inoffensive while Reality Bites actually made me want to shoot the screen Elvis-style.
I guess what I’m saying is that I’d choose intestinal flu over the bubonic plague, but I really wouldn’t want either.
Please, Ben Stiller, Wynona Ryder and Ethan Hawke vs. Matt Dillon, Kyra Sedgewick, Bridget Fonda and Campbell Scott? Singles by a landslide. And it’s a pretty good movie. Really gets some of the singles scene and the Seattle music scene. Funny and poignant. Some really memorable lines. Come on, if that isn’t a pretty good movie, I don’t know what is.
I live about two blocks from the apartment building in Singles. I was going to art school in Seattle, and lived on Capitol Hill- we would walk over, all cool and nonchallant (we thought), to see what they were filming that day. It was fun to see when it came out, and really, the soundtrack is great.
My first apartment in Seattle was on Capitol Hill, on Bellevue Ave just north of Denny. That was 1991 – not long before Singles would have come out, I think. I recall thinking that the movie did a pretty good job of capturing Seattle at that time.
But … it’s all gone now, baby.
Only the cheese is as it was!
Right across the freeway from us was the Offramp. I think it is called Graceland now – or was a couple years ago. It’s gone through several permutations. Anyway, seven nights a week there would be three, four bands playing at the Offramp. Just a couple bucks to get in. Everyone and their pet was in a band. Some of them not so good, some very very good. It was dark and confined and loud. Every morning just before last call, they served all you could eat hash browns. I lived on those hash browns, plus egg noodles and spinach much of that year.
No telling how much I loved Seattle in those days.
Didn’t care for Reality Bites – Ben Stiller is only good when he’s not trying so hard. Only liked “Singles” because that was the first time I ever heard my favorite Alice in Chains song – “Would?” Best. Grunge. Song. Ever.
The Off Ramp/Graceland is now called El Corazon. I’ve never liked that venue. The stage has poles right where band members should be standing, the ceiling is low, sound is crap. And the bathrooms soooo horrific! Maybe it’s better now.
It was always horrible. Wonderfully horrible. ;> No, mostly just horrible. I haven’t been in there in many years. There were always better places to see a show – but that place was cheap, close and, in those days, full of peeps. We weren’t really going because we felt compelled to see the kinds of bands that played there. Also spent a lot of time in the Comet Tavern around then.
A couple years on from that I started going to the Vogue more regularly than anywhere else – it was still in Belltown. I got more into the Industrial – anything loud and angry you could dance to. A little more freakish.
It’s strange talking to Mormons and have them know what I’m talking about. The interent is very edumacational.
Chuck Klosterman (to Bill Simmons) on Singles vs. Reality Bites:
Bilbo,
I think the fact that you prefer “Singles” over “Reality Bites” destroys your credibility, both as a “sports guy” and as a “guy.” Here is what I mean: The Matt Dillon character in “Singles” and the Ethan Hawke character in “Reality Bites” are — as one-dimensional caricatures — the same person. It’s just that in “Singles,” that persona is painted as pathetic and stupid; in “Reality Bites,” it’s expressed as brilliant but troubled.
This is why “Singles” is not — in any context — a youth movie. It’s about old people (one of whom is a city planner!) who just happen to listen to Soundgarden. It’s a film for people who bought Heart records when they were first released. Meanwhile, “Reality Bites” is about what happens when the counter culture becomes the mainstream culture, which defines it as socially progressive. Which is why I support Ricky Williams in totality.
First of all, I don’t think Ricky Williams is an unambitious stoner. I think he just hates football, and I don’t think there was ever a time when that wasn’t true. But — like so many people — he was socialized to assume that he had to play football simply because he was good at it. He had this natural gift for running off tackle, so he tried to convince himself that this was his identity.
And this is how people who live within the “Singles” paradigm think about life. Individuals living inside the “Singles” paradigm argue that Ricky is making a mistake; these are the same kind of people who think Winona Ryder should have ended up marrying the Ben Stiller’s character because he had a better job. Ricky Williams represents intellectual freedom. Prior to this season, I never really cared about Ricky Williams, and I generally assumed he was going to have a Herschel Walker-like pro career (i.e., he would evolve into a one-dimensional north-south runner who’d have a few big statistical years without achieving anything close to greatness). As it turns out, he’s now my favorite NFL athlete since Nolan Cromwell.
(Also . . . I think part of the reason so many aging sportswriters attacked Williams is because they couldn’t deconstruct his logic. Athletes usually express retarded platitudes whenever they try to explain their behavior, such as, “I’m just doing what’s best for my family.” A sentence like that could mean anything, so it ultimately means nothing. However, how does one respond to a guy who overtly admits he wants to go to Asia in order to be high all the time? It’s like trying to deconstruct the lyrics to the song “Peaches.”)
Bill Simmons (to Chuck Klosterman) on Singles vs. Reality Bites:
Dear I-Have-No-Idea-Why-I’m-Named-Chuck,
All right, I feel an obligation to defend “Singles,” the defining movie of my Gen X-career. What exactly made you decide that it wasn’t as good as “Reality Bites”? Was it the superior soundtrack? The superior filmmaking? What about the fact that it came two years earlier, making it ceaselessly more original?
You’re too caught up in the age thing. “Singles” was about people in their mid-20s trying to fall in love; “Reality Bites” was about people in their early-20s trying to figure out life after college. You just appreciate the second premise more than the first one; and if that’s the case, you should be championing “Kicking and Screaming” instead — better movie, better acting, infinitely more realistic, although no Winona.
Remember, “Singles” director Cameron Crowe went on to make “Jerry Maguire,” “Almost Famous” and “Vanilla Sky” (the latter which you defended in “Cocoa Puffs,” neglecting to mention that it was practically a scene-for-scene cover of a foreign movie called “Open Your Eyes”) … while Ben Stiller went on to direct “Zoolander” and “The Cable Guy.” So there. And yes, I liked “Reality Bites.” I just can’t stomach the Ethan Hawke character — it was bad enough dealing with pompous, condescending know-it-alls after college without having to watch them bag Winona Ryder in her “I’m not quite crazy yet and there’s no way these breasts should go with this waif-like body” stage.
(And by the way, I never thought Winona should marry the Ben Stiller character. He said things like “What’s your glitch?” ‘Nuff said. Every time I watch that movie, I root for a lesbian ending with Winona and Janeane Garofolo. In fact, there’s still time.)
Thomas: I was too young to go to the Vogue when I remember it being around. I did go to DV8 a few times (snuck in somehow—wasn’t old enough for that either don’t think). DV8 used to be called Skoochie’s.
Too bad all the teen dance clubs got shut down. I guess if it wasn’t for all the drugs and sex in them they’d still be going strong.
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Neither?
Are we talking about the movie or the soundtrack? Singles is probably my favorite lyrical soundtrack of all time.
The movie.
Singles because of the cameos by all the Seattle rockers. (My favorite being Tad.) But both movies are stinkers.
Singles all the way.
Eddie Vedder FTW.
Never heard of these
The soundtrack is a whole other ball of fish. There have been some royally crappy films with fantastic soundtracks. (From Dusk to Dawn anyone?)
singles of course. and not just because i live in seattle.
Susan, Singles is one of my favorite movies of all time. Great cast, great script, it captures a moment in pop culture history, it has real rockers in it, it’s just a lot of fun. How can you call it a stinker?
Well, just watch it.
I think what’s her name is horrible in it. Plot is stupid. It does capture a moment in pop history. My favorite bit out of the whole thing is probably when there’s a carload of people going somewhere and one of the guys mentions working at Boeing. (Everyone worked at Boeing in Seattle when I grew up there.)
This might turn out to be the most lopsided poll since we forced SG to watch From Justin to Kelly.
What happened to those by the way?
I didn’t particularly like Singles, but I barely remember it. I have vivid memories of HATING Reality Bites. Of course, I was in my 30′s by the time I got around to watching them, so it probably wasn’t a fair test.
I love Reality Bites. You guys are all just haters.
Singles was a poor follow-up to one of he greatest movies ever made, Say Anything. That being said, it’s still better than Reality bites.
Singles because of the superior soundtrack–it was my favorite CD my sophomore year of colledge. Although Reality Bites does have My Sharona.
Uh, college.
ironic spelling error alert!!
Ugh or blah?
Both are bad, but I remember (and it’s been a loooong time since I’ve seen either) Singles as bland and inoffensive while Reality Bites actually made me want to shoot the screen Elvis-style.
I guess what I’m saying is that I’d choose intestinal flu over the bubonic plague, but I really wouldn’t want either.
Related poll:
Glitter or Swept Away?
Bunch a snobs. Old, insecure, Lisa Loeb-hating, wish-you-were-indie-but-are-actually-yuppie snobs.
Can you be a yuppie if you have no money? If so, that’s me!
Ben Stiller is more indie than Cameron Crowe?
Crowe fan that I am, Reality Bites on this one. I feasibly might not have majored in philosophy were it not for Ethan Hawke.
Maybe, but The Knack is definitely more indie than Soundgarden.
(in response to #23)
Please, Ben Stiller, Wynona Ryder and Ethan Hawke vs. Matt Dillon, Kyra Sedgewick, Bridget Fonda and Campbell Scott? Singles by a landslide. And it’s a pretty good movie. Really gets some of the singles scene and the Seattle music scene. Funny and poignant. Some really memorable lines. Come on, if that isn’t a pretty good movie, I don’t know what is.
I don’t think I’ve seen either movie.
Brian (#22), can you be a yuppie if you’re not young, either?
I’ve never seen either one either. But I voted anyway!
Neither.
#21, I actually like to think of it as “upwardly mobile”.
As for the movies, I’m with Darin H. – Neither.
Reality Bites. Singles is a little too…without Ethan Hawk.
I live about two blocks from the apartment building in Singles. I was going to art school in Seattle, and lived on Capitol Hill- we would walk over, all cool and nonchallant (we thought), to see what they were filming that day. It was fun to see when it came out, and really, the soundtrack is great.
Lived. That should say LIVED. I no longer live on Capitol Hill!
Singles. Reality Bites had promise (especially since I used to basically eat at gas stations), but it got cheesy by the end.
Tracy,
Did you go to Cornith?
My first apartment in Seattle was on Capitol Hill, on Bellevue Ave just north of Denny. That was 1991 – not long before Singles would have come out, I think. I recall thinking that the movie did a pretty good job of capturing Seattle at that time.
But … it’s all gone now, baby.
Only the cheese is as it was!
~
Right across the freeway from us was the Offramp. I think it is called Graceland now – or was a couple years ago. It’s gone through several permutations. Anyway, seven nights a week there would be three, four bands playing at the Offramp. Just a couple bucks to get in. Everyone and their pet was in a band. Some of them not so good, some very very good. It was dark and confined and loud. Every morning just before last call, they served all you could eat hash browns. I lived on those hash browns, plus egg noodles and spinach much of that year.
No telling how much I loved Seattle in those days.
~
Only the cheese is as it was!
The Paul Westerberg songs represent the cheese.
Didn’t care for Reality Bites – Ben Stiller is only good when he’s not trying so hard. Only liked “Singles” because that was the first time I ever heard my favorite Alice in Chains song – “Would?” Best. Grunge. Song. Ever.
The Off Ramp/Graceland is now called El Corazon. I’ve never liked that venue. The stage has poles right where band members should be standing, the ceiling is low, sound is crap. And the bathrooms soooo horrific! Maybe it’s better now.
Susan,
It was always horrible. Wonderfully horrible. ;> No, mostly just horrible. I haven’t been in there in many years. There were always better places to see a show – but that place was cheap, close and, in those days, full of peeps. We weren’t really going because we felt compelled to see the kinds of bands that played there. Also spent a lot of time in the Comet Tavern around then.
A couple years on from that I started going to the Vogue more regularly than anywhere else – it was still in Belltown. I got more into the Industrial – anything loud and angry you could dance to. A little more freakish.
It’s strange talking to Mormons and have them know what I’m talking about. The interent is very edumacational.
~
Reality Bites.
Singles is good, but I don’t think the script is as strong. And the Bridget Fonda and Matt Dillon subplots just aren’t that interesting.
And Reality Bites has Winona Ryder, still my “ideal” for beauty these many years later.
Both soundtracks are good, but Singles probably edges Reality Bites.
Chuck Klosterman (to Bill Simmons) on Singles vs. Reality Bites:
Bilbo,
I think the fact that you prefer “Singles” over “Reality Bites” destroys your credibility, both as a “sports guy” and as a “guy.” Here is what I mean: The Matt Dillon character in “Singles” and the Ethan Hawke character in “Reality Bites” are — as one-dimensional caricatures — the same person. It’s just that in “Singles,” that persona is painted as pathetic and stupid; in “Reality Bites,” it’s expressed as brilliant but troubled.
This is why “Singles” is not — in any context — a youth movie. It’s about old people (one of whom is a city planner!) who just happen to listen to Soundgarden. It’s a film for people who bought Heart records when they were first released. Meanwhile, “Reality Bites” is about what happens when the counter culture becomes the mainstream culture, which defines it as socially progressive. Which is why I support Ricky Williams in totality.
First of all, I don’t think Ricky Williams is an unambitious stoner. I think he just hates football, and I don’t think there was ever a time when that wasn’t true. But — like so many people — he was socialized to assume that he had to play football simply because he was good at it. He had this natural gift for running off tackle, so he tried to convince himself that this was his identity.
And this is how people who live within the “Singles” paradigm think about life. Individuals living inside the “Singles” paradigm argue that Ricky is making a mistake; these are the same kind of people who think Winona Ryder should have ended up marrying the Ben Stiller’s character because he had a better job. Ricky Williams represents intellectual freedom. Prior to this season, I never really cared about Ricky Williams, and I generally assumed he was going to have a Herschel Walker-like pro career (i.e., he would evolve into a one-dimensional north-south runner who’d have a few big statistical years without achieving anything close to greatness). As it turns out, he’s now my favorite NFL athlete since Nolan Cromwell.
(Also . . . I think part of the reason so many aging sportswriters attacked Williams is because they couldn’t deconstruct his logic. Athletes usually express retarded platitudes whenever they try to explain their behavior, such as, “I’m just doing what’s best for my family.” A sentence like that could mean anything, so it ultimately means nothing. However, how does one respond to a guy who overtly admits he wants to go to Asia in order to be high all the time? It’s like trying to deconstruct the lyrics to the song “Peaches.”)
Bill Simmons (to Chuck Klosterman) on Singles vs. Reality Bites:
Dear I-Have-No-Idea-Why-I’m-Named-Chuck,
All right, I feel an obligation to defend “Singles,” the defining movie of my Gen X-career. What exactly made you decide that it wasn’t as good as “Reality Bites”? Was it the superior soundtrack? The superior filmmaking? What about the fact that it came two years earlier, making it ceaselessly more original?
You’re too caught up in the age thing. “Singles” was about people in their mid-20s trying to fall in love; “Reality Bites” was about people in their early-20s trying to figure out life after college. You just appreciate the second premise more than the first one; and if that’s the case, you should be championing “Kicking and Screaming” instead — better movie, better acting, infinitely more realistic, although no Winona.
Remember, “Singles” director Cameron Crowe went on to make “Jerry Maguire,” “Almost Famous” and “Vanilla Sky” (the latter which you defended in “Cocoa Puffs,” neglecting to mention that it was practically a scene-for-scene cover of a foreign movie called “Open Your Eyes”) … while Ben Stiller went on to direct “Zoolander” and “The Cable Guy.” So there. And yes, I liked “Reality Bites.” I just can’t stomach the Ethan Hawke character — it was bad enough dealing with pompous, condescending know-it-alls after college without having to watch them bag Winona Ryder in her “I’m not quite crazy yet and there’s no way these breasts should go with this waif-like body” stage.
(And by the way, I never thought Winona should marry the Ben Stiller character. He said things like “What’s your glitch?” ‘Nuff said. Every time I watch that movie, I root for a lesbian ending with Winona and Janeane Garofolo. In fact, there’s still time.)
Thomas, I think we lived right next to each other. My apartment was ON Denny- big brick building three blocks west of Broadway at the Y. It was 1991.
I remember the Off Ramp.
Bill Simmons’ analysis is spot-on.
Matt,
I love that you pulled those quotes. Awesome.
Tracy,
That’s just awesome.
~
Simmons nailed it! Thanks Matt.
Oh, man. I’m sorry I missed most of this discussion! I love them both, but Reality Bites wins. Hands down. Without fail. Seriously.
Thomas: I was too young to go to the Vogue when I remember it being around. I did go to DV8 a few times (snuck in somehow—wasn’t old enough for that either don’t think). DV8 used to be called Skoochie’s.
Too bad all the teen dance clubs got shut down. I guess if it wasn’t for all the drugs and sex in them they’d still be going strong.
DV8 in South Lake Union??? I think I saw Fugazi there. Won’t it be fun to talk about this stuff in 40 years?? heh.
~
Singles, greatest modern day love story.