"This is a portrait of my brain" 80's movie

Archivist · February 01, 2012, 03:06:27 AM

I think this one should be pretty simple, as I have the sense that it was a fairly popular or well known 80's or perhaps early 90's movie.

The only scene that I remember is near the beginning, of a father walking into his son's bedroom, and turning on the VCR. The son has recorded a video that shows him saying, "Hi Dad. This is a portrait of my brain this morning," or, "this shows my state of mind this morning," or words to that effect.

What follows are rapidly cut scenes from war movies, atomic bomb explosions, rock concerts with wild musicians, a woman in a bikini with water running down her. Something like that.

Any ideas?

Flick James · February 01, 2012, 05:19:12 PM

That sounds like a scene from Down and Out in Bevery Hills (1986).

Flick James · February 01, 2012, 05:25:20 PM

Yeah, I can't find a clip, but this definitely sounds like Down and Out in Beverly Hills. The father's (Richard Dreyfuss) is a rich Beverly resident whose son he cannot relate to. The son communicates with his dad in indirect ways, like making videos like you're talking about. I'm almost certain this is the movie.

Flick James · February 04, 2012, 09:29:20 AM

Okay, so this is bizarre. I haven't seen Down and Out in Beverly Hills since the 80's. I also have never noticed it on cable when looking through the guide. Lo and behold, I'm looking through the guide yesterday through the pay channels, and there it was, toward the beginning. I remembered this thread and put it on just in time to see the scene Archivist was referring to. I'm talking right as the scene is beginning. One of those freaky synchronicity deals.

Now I'm certain this is the movie. The son is a typical spoiled rich kid, also with gender confusion issues, and makes cynical multi-media videos for his dad to watch vs. actually talking to him directly. A good "rich dysfunctional family" bit that is wasted in an otherwise very mediocre comedy.

Archivist · February 07, 2012, 02:10:25 AM

Absolutely, positively it. Flick James, you are the man. Thank you!

I tend to agree with your opinion about Down and Out, too. I found it a painful movie, one that forever soiled my impression of Nick Nolte as an actor. The notion of the son using video to communicate could have been really good, but it was given only minor importance in the overall scheme of awfulness that was that movie.

Equally cool is the coincidence of it being on TV!

Thanks again! You rock!