Las Vegas Weekly

June 14, 2008 · 8:53 AM

Some sound advice from Dr. Hopper

By John Katsilometes

CineVegas board of advisors chair Dennis Hopper.

Photo: Sarah Feldberg

During a video interview for this Web site (and with expert assistance from Greenspun Media Group multimedia whiz Sean Hellwig), I asked Dennis Hopper about being clean and sober for 25 years, which he is. I think the question went, “Dennis, what about being clean and sober for 25 years? How does one do that?”

He thought for a moment, then said, “Don’t drink alcohol or take narcotics. That’s how you do it.” He also said that, of all the characters he has portrayed, Billy of Easy Rider would have the deepest appreciation of Vegas. “He would have had the most fun here – if he’d lived.” Incidentally, Easy Rider turns 40 next year and Hopper, still the coolest guy in the room, turned 72 last month.

WE NEED VERIFICATION ON THIS

Photo: John Katsilometes

This beauty (the Escalade Hybrid) is said to get 28 mpg.

On display in the CineVegas Lounge – check that, the CineVegas CondeNast Lounge – is a black Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. I know this because there is a subtle, six-inch-tall sticker reading “HYBRID” in the back window. I asked the young woman baby-sitting the rig, whose name I think is Tiffany Hybrid, what kind of gas mileage the new Cadillac gets.

“Twenty-eight,” she said.

“No it doesn’t,” I said.

“Well, on the freeway,” she said. “It hasn’t been tested in the city. But under 30 miles per hour, it runs on the battery.”

This rig does not get 28 mph, on the freeway, on the parkway, anywhere. I’m sorry. Not buying it.

BIG HEART CITY -- 12 DAYS AND IT’S A WRAP

During the post-screening question-and-answer session following the premiere of Big Heart City on Friday night, director Ben Rodkin (who is clearly more comfortable behind the scenes than in front of an audience) noted the film’s short shooting schedule, just 12 days. The film, which centers on a luckless ex-con and horseracing bettor played by Shawn Andrews, trying to reconnect with (and locate) his missing pregnant fiancé, plods along, but it was beautifully shot despite the time restrictions. More notes from that screening: the song “Blueberry Hill” played on an endless loop before the film started, to the point where many audience members were either growing annoyed or were singing along to the tune. Also, the word “performed” was misspelled as “peformed” in the credits.

BALLS OUT IN THE LOUNGE

The events ended at around 3 a.m. with the Beer Pong After Party at the CineVegas Lounge, held to promote the documentary Last Cup: Road to the World Series of Beer Pong, which premiered Friday night and will screen again 1 p.m. Sunday. The best way to describe this event was like any frat party you attended in college, except the guests were better-dressed. Evidently champions were crowned, and the winners were likely largely drunk. I left during the (hic) quarterfinals. At least, it seemed like the quarterfinals.

PRIUS, FREE US

Spotted in the Palms parking lot was a hand-painted Toyota Prius, splashed with purple, pink and yellow paint and the messages, “We Must Reinvent,” and, on the gas tank, “Just Say No.” The artwork also included a bright sun/smiley face, musical notes, and, along the back, “Honk If You Love Panic.” Panic at the Disco fans, in town for the Vegas band’s show at the Pearl.

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