There are two sides to all celebrities: The squeaky-clean images forced upon the public by PR reps and their actual personalities. To provide you with a glimpse into the real Hollywood characters are Mollygood’s very own readers, telling tales of celebrity encounters big and small. Up this week: Ilnazhad's meeting with Al Pacino, in a way only she can tell it.
Soooo… I met Al Pacino. Keep your pants on, cock sprout, it was a snore.
We don’t get many sweet celebrities in Vancouver because shitty, low-budget films usually film here. Al Pacino is too good for shitty, low-budget films. It’s either one or the other. If you think Ocean’s Thirteen is his worst big-budget flick, think again! 88 Minutes is the right answer!
Now… Parts of THE LIQUIDATION OF CINEMA, 88 Minutes, were filmed in UBC. All the tired, sexually-frustrated masses on campus suddenly turned into a big, enthusiastic goo of delight. Some looked like they were seconds away from yelling: “Al Pacino! Attica! Attica! Attica!” (Saturday Night Fever reference. Does anyone else also hate themselves for once crushing on young Travolta? I digress.)
Most of his avid fans did not actually get to see Al Pacino, despite skipping class after class to wait near the Koerner Library set. He had a bodyguard named Lou who shielded him a lot. He stayed in vehicles for privacy. Some called him a “snitch,” some called him a “man who concentrates on his work.” I called him: “I want a motherfucking slice of pizza.”
One morning, I went to The Beanery. There was this adorable little girl standing in front of me with her grandfather. She dropped a book. I picked it up and was about to give it to her, but she ran the other way looking for it. Her grandfather called out: “Olivia, this kind girl has it.” She cried, “Where is it, Dad?!” or something. I was standing there trying to figure out why she ran 15 feet away looking for a book she JUST DROPPED. There was a loud thump, too. I still don’t know why this humored me so. “Guess she’s not the sharpest crayon in the toolbox,” I thought. I laughed at my own joke. The grandfather interrupted my thoughts and said, “Thank you.” Except “the grandfather” was the father and “the father” was Al Pacino. I said something like: “I’m stating the obvious… but you were… uh.. great in Dog Day Afternoon.” He said: “Thanks! You’re a gorgeous girl. What pretty eyes.” I was as cool as…. the opposite of a cucumber. I said, “You’re too kind,” or something, gave Olivia the book, and took about 15 minutes to ask the cashier for a muffin. Olivia started talking about books and asked me what my favorite book is. I said when I was little it was The Ice Queen. I think Al Pacino got some banana bread with coffee. He invited me to sit with them. I declined the offer and thanked him (he was just being polite). While I walked away, I noticed everyone was staring at him. How did I not know it was Al Pacino in front of me for so long? Because my eyes were on that poppy seed muffin.
I've heard people say Al Pacino doesn't like it when strangers look straight at his face. But I’ve also heard about a lot of encounters where he complimented his fans. And I’ve heard about a lot of encounters where he invited a fan to sit with him. This is no special story. It’s just weird experiencing it yourself.
A few days later, I saw Al in his car. My brother and I approached the car, but the dude rolled up his window.
PS LET ME JUST CLARIFY THAT I WOULD RATHER HAVE MET CORD JEFFERSON THAN AL PACINO.
E-mail your own celebrity encounters to whitney@mollygood.com.
[Source]
Editor
Cord: Be careful if you ever visit Vancouver.
Thank god for Olivia! Meeting a celebrity is sometimes not very interesting, but your story about this kid… I'm still laughing.
ilnaz, i was laughing from beginning to end.
nicely done. you had me at cock sprout.
What? Why did they edit out squirrel-raper? That's weird.
And "assface"! I didn't know my launguage made people so uncomfortable… I guess I'll tone it down…
Wait. No I won't.
(Oh, and I meant The Snow Queen.)
Ilz, there is something I must know. Is he really that shade of orange in person? Or is it just the lighting?
Cheers Iln, good story!
That is a very odd pic of Pacino, creeps me the f*ck out!
Iln you are too funny.
I've been censored!
Whitney thinks I'm too vile and I have anger issues!
NOT TRUE!!
HAGS! I NEED BACK UP!
BACK UP!
BACK UP!!
NO. SERIOUSLY. GET THE COCK OUT OF MY WAY, HAGS.
Thanks, MyOpinion and Payter.
bb&b- God forbid! He actually looked really good! Total GILF!
This is an old picture? Either you're wrong or he got work done. He looks WAY better now.
isn't the "Attica!" chant from Dog Day Afternoon?
Yes… and SNF:
Tony Manero: Al Pacino! Attica! Attica! Attica!
Great story Ilnazhad. I didn't know you lived in Vancity too.
I NEED to know the context in which "squirrel-raper" was used.
Maybe the little girl wasn't stupid. Maybe she's just scared of the strange women who tries too hard to be funny.
Well, it can’t come naturally to all of us. Here… let me practise by giving you feedback on your comment!
1. Olivia would probably not talk to Ilnaz for 10 minutes if she was scared of her.
2. If you want to “get” Ilnaz, you probably not call her unfunny because she does so herself often. You need to hit her with a new truth.
3. Bad grammar like “women who tries” instead of “women who try” always destroys the delivery. It completely obliterates the gag, even if the concept is clever. Which it wasn't.
PS
If you turn down the bitch a few notches, I’ll stop being “strange.” (Wait… MOM?!)
I think Lucy just got served.
Ilnazhad sounds like an a-hole and a weird chick. Al Pacino was too kind to this odd bird.
Pomygrannie, you better look out.
Watch both ways before you cross the street.
Still, that won't settle your nerves. You'll feel jumpy and you don't know why.
A crow may fly *smack* HARD into your living room window and die from the impact.
I just know that I am glad that I am not YOU.
Ilnaz, I enjoyed this whole recounting of your encounter with AL PACINO!!!
He had me at "Justice For All".
Nicely done.
Oh and by the way, the "ominous crow hitting the window as a harbinger for things to come" bit
is from "Donnie Brasco".
No good can come to Pomygranny now.
Don't sit by her/him, or get in a car with her/him.
"Odd bird"???!!! If we were living in the classical civilation of Antiquity, THAT MIGHT HAVE HURT MY FEELINGS! *TEAR*
PS
You're the asshole. Spelling it "a-hole" doesn't make you nice, it makes you a coward. Maybe next time you can show me how I was "rude" during my encounter, so I can laugh at how fucking stupid you are. For now, I'll just giggle at the "weird chick" comment, you sad, sad person.
Don't you worry Ilz. The cauldren is brewing.
:-)
Ilnazhad, I have been a fan of Al Pacino's for I can't even count the years.
Thank you for your reporting of the encounter.
It was so fun to read.
I had NO IDEA!!! :-)
Thanks, QC! You're making me feel embarassed by thanking me… it was no problem… wait.. are you getting all motherly on me again? Because I fucking love that.
I think Pacino is a terrible actor. He's like….Nicholson, he plays himself in every role. All he does is yell. The best movie I think I saw him in was the one with….was it Ellen Barkin. He had been on a haitus for about 9 years and this was his "comeback" movie, and you could tell that he was humbled with concern for being re-accepted by the movie audience and he worked the role with … humility and he was very good. Usually, he's just a Full-of-himself typical Italian American Macho Male. That movie he made a few years back with DeNiro? he was pretty good because he was playing opposite a major league competitor, but DeNiro nailed that movie. It was his. Anyway, that's just my opinion.
I agree with Lucy and pomygrannie. Ilnazhad is a douchebag in the most feminine sense.
More like douchebags create MG accounts just to call someone names because they shared a celebrity encounter. You're a dick in the most feminine sense. (That's still a dick.)
Oh, Ilnaz, I'm suddenly so in love with you! It doesn't even matter that I'm straight. You rock out wit'cha cock out.