Can you say Oscar? Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman were made for these roles!! Can. Not. Wait!!!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
New Australia Trailer
Phillip Glass to Compose Walt Disney Opera
New York City Opera has commissioned composer Philip Glass ("Koyaanisqatsi," "The Hours") to pen an opera about Walt Disney.
Opera, planned to kick off City Opera's 2012-13 season, will be based on Peter Stephan Jungk's German-language novel "The Perfect American." Story imagines the last months of Disney as seen through the eyes of a fictional Austrian cartoonist who worked for him.
Preem of "American" is timed to celebrate Glass' 75th birthday.
I've always loved Philip Glass' music, and have been thrilled that he's done so many film scores lately. I remember being blown away when I saw Koyaanisqatsi in college. My husband hates his music, but proved he loves me by going with me to see Philip Glass perform once. Here's a clip from Koyaanisqatsi (which means life out of balance.) There's not one line of dialog in the whole film, and hearing Philip Glass' music for the first time knocked my socks off.
New Spirit Trailer
This could be good like Sin City, or be really bad. This is Frank Miller's directorial debut.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Paul Newman is dead of cancer
So sad, but not completely unexpected since he had been looking so frail of late. He died at age 83. Still too soon for such a great one. My kids asked "Who died?" when they heard me gasp at the NY Times picture. "What movies was he in?" How to explain to kids the likes of Absence of Malice, Road to Perdition, Hud, and Butch Cassiday and the Sundance Kid. I finally remembered that he was the voice of Hud in the animated Cars which was probably their only exposure. And then I showed them the salad dressing bottle from the fridge! He gave millions to charity. A class act all around.
Read the obit in the NY Times here.
“I’m not able to work anymore as an actor at the level I would want to,” Mr. Newman said last year on the ABC program “Good Morning America.” “You start to lose your memory, your confidence, your invention. So that’s pretty much a closed book for me.”
But he remained fulfilled by his charitable work, saying it was his greatest legacy, particularly in giving ailing, often dying children a camp at which to play.
“We are such spendthrifts with our lives,” Mr. Newman once told a reporter. “The trick of living is to slip on and off the planet with the least fuss you can muster. I’m not running for sainthood. I just happen to think that in life we need to be a little like the farmer, who puts back into the soil what he takes out.”
Friday, September 26, 2008
British Idol Punjabi Style
And now for something completely different. This is bloody brilliant!
Hat tip: My pal Jamie. Thanks for this one!
The Great Schlep
The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.
NSFW. Sarah Silverman tells us that Barack's brisket is BEYOND!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Head of Skate Mock trailer
Remember when Matt Damon said Sarah Palin was like a bad Disney movie? Somebody made a trailer.
Dreamgirls Producer and Director to Helm Oscars
Signaling a move to energize the Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has tapped two Oscarcast first-timers to oversee the 81st annual event, with Laurence Mark as producer and writer-director Bill Condon as executive producer.
Vowing there will be surprises, Mark told Daily Variety, "We respect the tradition of the Oscars, and we're happy to uphold those traditions. But it might be a kick to pay attention to the format and vary it & to do both. The show should be classy and fun." Mark said they're very aware of the show's running time, saying, "One of the key words here is streamline. The fanny quotient has to be considered."
Aside from honoring excellence in the year's films in the 81st Oscarcast, Mark and Condon plan to celebrate the experience of movies' i.e., to acknowledge some of the audience favorites. That will certainly make the show more viewer-friendly, since last year's lineup included such pics as "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood" and "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," which, despite their merits, were not exactly populist films.
Casting them as overseers of the show is a signal that the Acad did not want to go the "safe" and familiar route.
The Oscars have had the same producer for several years. It will be good to shake things up a bit, and the almost sure thing nomination of Heath Ledger should help ratings. All will depend on the host, and that has yet to be decided.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Campbell Brown says "Free Sarah Palin"
The press are in revolt over Palin's handlers not permitting a single question of Palin by the press.
Hat tip: Politico.com
Wanted Director Takes On Moby Dick
This could be interesting in Timur's hands:
WANTED Helmer Timur Bekmambetov is to tackle a new movie version of the classic tale of MOBY DICK. Universal Pictures has juist paid a large sum to screenwriting duo Adam Cooper and Bill Collage for their script, which sees their graphic novel-style approach change the classic story structure.Hope it's better than Peter Jackson's King Kong. Timur, please don't hire Jack Black. Love him, just not in the action pics, and he's no Ahab!
Variety reports that gone is the first-person narration by the young seaman Ishmael, who observes how Ahab's obsession with killing the great white whale overwhelms his good judgment as captain. The trade adds that this change will allow them to depict the whale's decimation of other ships prior to its encounter with Ahab's Pequod, and Ahab will be depicted more as a charismatic leader than a brooding obsessive.
"Our vision isn't your grandfather's Moby Dick," screenwriter Adam Cooper explained. "This is an opportunity to take a timeless classic and capitalize on the advances in visual effects to tell what at its core is an action-adventure revenge story."
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Chris Rock to Clinton: Hilary Lost!
Truth to Power. Chris Rock points out that Bill Clinton can't even say Barack Obama's name on Letterman. You must watch this video.
Movies Scenes to Put You in an Autumn Mood
Spoutblog gives us 10 Movie Scenes to put us all in an Autumn mood. The leaves have started to turn in my neighborhood, but the weather hasn't turned crisp yet. Here's a few of my favorite scenes from their ten:
Far From Heaven. This film is just gorgeous!
Monster House. I've never seen this whole movie, just bits and pieces. The opening reminds me of Forrest Gump, which was probably intentional as Robert Zemeckis was a producer of this film.
And finally Cary Grant being horny in a cemetery full of falling leaves in Arsenic and Old Lace. Spooky with romance! About at the six minute mark:
See the rest of Spoutblog's ten Autumn scenes here.
Monday, September 22, 2008
True Blood Opening Credits
My obsession with True Blood extends to the bizarre opening credits. The theme song is "Bad Things" by Jace Everett. Extremely brief nudity, so maybe NSFW.
The rattlesnake strike to the guitar wail is maybe my favorite part. Very cool editing.
Revolutionary Road Trailer
Kate Winslett and Leonardo DiCaprio reunite for the first time since Titanic. This one looks good. Here comes Oscar season!
Josh Groban's Emmy Medley
I have to say my opinion of Josh Groban has been raised, first he was part of the F**king Ben Affleck video, and now this awesome medley of TV theme songs to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Emmy's. He even changes his voice for each one, and raps!! Simply awesome.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Cat vs. Printer
Make sure you watch till the end. Having battled my printer yesterday, found this especially funny.
Hat tip: List of the Day
Celebrity Legos
No, they won't be available in stores, but Lego has created some celebrity Lego people to mark the 30th anniversary of the creation of Lego figurines.
Those chosen to be immortalised in building bricks include The Beckhams (complete with Posh’s trademark over-sized sunnies and David’s stubble), a tattoo-covered Amy Winehouse and a hilarious panel of po-faced X Factor judges, Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue.See the rest here!
Hotties Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie also got the treatment – each clutching a newborn twin.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Shia LeBeouf Confesses his Crush on Diane Sawyer
(Shia shows Diane Sawyer his wrist tattoos in an interview in May.)
There's hope for us cougars. LOL! During Shia's appearance on the Tonight Show to promote Eagle Eye, he confessed his crush on Diane Sawyer, who he hit it off with in his GMA appearance back in May:
"She just does it for me."
"I don't want to do dirty stuff, I don't think. Just, like, go to a park... have her read to me, cut up some fruits, talk about the economy."Seems a 40 year age difference doesn't bother him!
Diablo Cody's Hilarious Rant against her Haters
Just read this on Huffington Post, and about bust a gut laughing. I for one, love Diablo, and eagerly await her Entertainment Weekly column. She's literally my home girl, since she went to the Catholic high school five minutes from my house.
I have a response to those who are still boring enough to lob insults in my direction....
I may have won 19 awards that you don't feel I earned, but it's neither original nor relevant to slag on Juno. Really. And you're not some bold, singular voice of dissent, You are exactly like everyone else in your zeitgeisty-demo-lifestyle pod. You are even like me. (I, too, loved Arrested Development! Aren't we a pretty pair of cultural mavericks? Hey, let's go bitch about how Black Kids are overrated!)
I'm sorry that while you were shooting your failed opus at Tisch, I was jamming toxic silicon toys up my ass for money. I get why you're bitter. I took exactly one film class in college and-- with the curious exception of the Douglas Sirk unit--it bored the shit out of me. I also once got busted for loudly crinkling a bag of Jujubes during a classroom screening of Vivre Sa Vie. I don't deserve to be here. We've established that. But I'm here. Five million 12-year-olds think I'm Buck Henry. Accept it.
(Incidentally, if you were me for one day you'd crumble like fucking Stilton. I am better at this than you. You're not strong enough, Film_Fan78. Trust me.)
I'm sorry to all those violent, semi-literate fanboys who hate me for befriending their heroes. I can't help it if your favorite writer, actor, director, or talk show host likes me. Maybe you would too, if we actually met.
I know my name is fake and that it annoys you. What, do you hate Queen Latifah and Rip Torn, too? Writers and entertainers have been using pseudonyms for years. Chances are, you're spewing bile under an assumed screen name yourself. I'm sorry if you think I'm like some inked-up quasi-Suicide Girl derby cunt from 2002, but I like my fake name. It's engraved on an Oscar. Yours isn't.
Listen: I've been telling stories my whole life. Even when I was a phone sex operator, I was the Mark Twain of extemporaneous jerk-off fiction. I took every perspiring creep on a fucking journey. I don't know how to do anything else.
I'm going to make more movies and shows. I doubt they'll all be good, but that's the nature of this life. Even though the public only knows me from one book, one movie, and several aborted blogs, I've spent the last few years hustling like Iceberg Slim out here to prove myself professionally. The people I currently work for, and with, are more than pleased with my post-Juno output. My pilot was so good (thanks, Toni Colette!) that it got picked up for series. That is rare, children. That is blue-rare.
In summation: you try it.
This is the last I have to say on the subject, unless I'm provoked by a journalist in which case I'll gladly reload. With relish, as Betty Rizzo might say. That said, I'm a 30-year-old woman with a dwindling interest in blog culture, and I don't have time to address this bullshit every time one of my projects comes out. I'm in love, I just bought a house, and my boss made E.T. I kind of have to focus on reality.
And drinking. I have to focus on drinking.
True Blood scores 2nd Season already!
Yippee! More hot Vampire Love!
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 17, 2008 - HBO has renewed the new drama series TRUE BLOOD for a second season, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, Programming Group and West Coast Operations. Created by Alan Ball, the series will begin production of new episodes early next year in Los Angeles, with debut set for summer 2009.
"We are absolutely thrilled that the critics and our viewers have embraced TRUE BLOOD," noted Lombardo. "Alan Ball has done it again - made an addictive series that is unlike any other."
The Sept. 7 debut episode is proving to be a hit with HBO audiences, attracting more than four million viewers to date, while the debut of the second episode on Sept. 14 posted an unprecedented 24% gain in viewers over the first week's debut.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Preparing for Global Financial Apocalypse: Seven Lessons from the Movies
Spoutblog has a great article on some pertinent tips for us as we're facing an uncertain world, and events of historic proportions.
Before you violently horde every morsel of food from your local supermarket or begin a hostile take-over of your corner gas station, there are several movies you should watch in order to prepare for life after the downfall of Western civilization. There have been plenty of films in which the world we know is nothing but a burned out shell of its former glory. Nuclear holocaust and virulent plagues are common Earth-clearing disasters, but there’s no reason to think that a global economic collapse would be any less destructive. Let’s not forget that one of history’s most common causes for war is a desperate grab for resources during tough times. So without further ado, seven lessons from the movies, essential for surviving our impending doom:
1. Hoard gasoline!
Plenty of people are already getting a jump on this one, apparently upping demand to the point where falling oil prices are not translating to the pump. If you think waiting 15 minutes in line to buy gas at $4.50 a gallon is bad, watch The Road Warrior again. From the opening sequence where Mel Gibson gingerly harvests every precious ounce of fuel from an abandoned vehicle to the final deadly battle over a tanker truck, it’s clear that in a post-apocalyptic world, gas is gold. Sure, we’re working on becoming less dependent on the stuff, but what good is a Chevy Volt going to do you if the power grid is in shambles?
2. Learn a trade that’s useful regardless of available technology!
Farmers, builders, doctors, these people will always be useful, even if your society’s currency consists only of the teeth of your enemies. If your skill set is of a less practical variety, don’t worry, people will still need entertainment. One good model is Kevin Costner’s character in The Postman. Before he takes on the titular role as a letter carrier, he makes his way from town to town as a traveling minstrel. The Pony Express-style mailman gig he eventually gets is a good job as well, but it tends to be quite dangerous
The rest are
3. Do not take a job at a butcher shop!and my favorite:
4. If you are fertile, be careful with your precious seed!
5. For God’s sake, save the library!
6. If you live in a temperate climate, head South!
7. If given the opportunity to travel back in time to thwart the collapse of civilization, do not fall in love!Read the rest of the article here.
If you are the one chosen to save humanity via time travel, it’s important to avoid the retro sex appeal possessed by the single people of the past. This is no time for love! Two films illustrate this, one is a remake of the other. The 1962 French short film La Jetée uses a montage of stunningly beautiful black and white stills to tell the story of a time traveler distracted from his mission by romance. It’s one part French New Wave, one part killer sci-fi, and an absolute classic. Terry Gilliam expanded the story with his 1995 adaptation, 12 Monkeys. If you’ve seen either film you know that the missions to the past are not exactly successful, although it’s debatable whether or not romance is to blame. Nevertheless, if the future of humanity is in your hands, stay on task!
Stay on task, gang! Chin up, and go watch a comedy.
Mallrats Watchmen Mashup Trailer
This is sheer brilliance, mashing up clips from Mallrats to the Watchmen trailer!!
Hat tip: Movie Geeks, We Are
80's Flashback video of the day
Ambrosia, live on the Merv Griffin show, which is an even bigger flashback. I still like this song, just like List of the Day Blog.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
First Pics of Ben Barnes as Dorian Gray
Yum! First pics of Ben Barnes out from the set of Dorian Gray. I did not know that Colin Firth also has a role in the film. Even more pics at Just Jared.
The 27-year-old actor plays Oscar Wilde’s title character, a corrupt young man who somehow keeps his youthful beauty eternally, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.
Dorian Gray, which also stars Colin Firth, Rebbeca Hall and Emilia Fox, will be released in the fall of 2009 in Britain.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Doubt Trailer
Doubt stars Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams and the play that the film is based on, centering around a molestation accusation in a Catholic boarding school, won the Drama Desk, the Tony Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 2005.
With the play’s original writer, John Patrick Stanley, also adapting the screenplay as well as handling directing duties, this should be fantastic, and a movie people will be talking about.
Set against the backdrop of a Catholic school in 1964, DOUBT is the story of a strong-minded woman faced with a difficult decision. Should she voice concerns about one of her male colleagues...even if she's not entirely certain of the truth?
Ricky Gervais' Real Teeth
How embarrassing!
British comedian Ricky Gervais insists his smile is so unsightly a group of journalists recently asked him if he donned a set of prosthetic teeth in his latest movie.I'm really looking forward to Ghost Town. It looks hilarious.
The Office star was promoting his new film Ghost Town in the U.S., when one reporter asked him about his "horrible-looking" smile.
And Gervais stunned the group by revealing that his teeth are all natural.
He says, "One journalist said to me, 'Now, in this film you have an amazing set of horrible-looking dentist teeth.. I told him that they were my own teeth. And he went, 'No, they are not!'
"He went red and I told him not to worry about it. Unbelievable! I said, 'What, you think I walk round and they put these in? I'm English!'"
True Blood
Sunday night on HBO has once again become must watch TV for me. I am officially totally obsessed with the new series True Blood by Alan Ball (Six Feet Under). The series is based on the books by Charlaine Harris, and in them vampires have "come out of the coffin", as it were, with the Japanese invention of a synthetic blood called Tru Blood. Anna Paquin plays a telepathic waitress in a small Louisiana town, and she is attracted to the vampire (Stephen Moyer) who moves into town, because she can't read his mind.
Now, this is HBO we're talking about so there is hot sex, nudity and violence. Did I mention that it's hot? That Stephen Moyer is hot as Bill Compton, the vampire? HBO has aired two episodes so far, and unfortunately iTunes is not carrying it yet. Watch the trailer below. Yowza!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
More Cowbell!
I just heard about this very awesome site. Add More Cowbell to any mp3 song! Here are a few samples, and of course mine have maximum Christopher Walken added.
From TotalBlammBlamm
|
| Make your own at MoreCowbell.dj |
|
and my own!
| Make your own at MoreCowbell.dj | ||
This one isn't as good, but it's just very funny with cowbell added!
| Make your own at MoreCowbell.dj | ||
Don't understand what is the deal with More Cowbell? Watch the original SNL skit here.
Hat tip: List of the Day blog
Saturday, September 13, 2008
What is the Bush Doctrine? 23/6 has a poll
23/6 does a hilarious office poll after Charlie Gibson's interview with Sarah Palin and her deer in the headlights response to his question about the Bush Doctrine.
Prior to the Palin interview, what did you think The Bush Doctrine was?
Friday, September 12, 2008
Appaloosa Trailer
Viggo Mortensen & Ed Harris in the same Western! Coolio! Plus Jeremy Irons for good measure.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
How I know my husband loves me
He bought me this signed poster for RocknRolla on Ebay as a surprise! It was a limited edition from Comic Con signed by Gerry Butler, Guy Ritchie, Ludacris, Jeremy Piven and Idris Elba.
Michael Douglas as Liberace???
Okaaaay. Variety reports:
Steven Soderbergh is in the early stages of developing a biopic about Liberace for Warner Bros., which he will direct.
The filmmaker said he has drafted his "Traffic" star Michael Douglas to play the flamboyant pianist.
Richard LaGravanese (P.S. I Love You, The Bridges of Madison County) is writing the script, and Jerry Weintraub will produce.
Soderbergh is in discussions with Matt Damon to play Scott Thorson, who sued Liberace in 1982 for $113 million in palimony, claiming he was the entertainer’s companion for five years. Even though Liberace never wavered from career-long denials that he was gay, Thorson reportedly settled for $95,000 in 1986.
Um, not the news I was expecting in my inbox from Variety this morning. I'll reserve judgment, but it's a little difficult to picture at the moment.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Russell Brand on Craig Ferguson
Craig basically let Russell take over the show last night. Mayhem ensued:
And yet even more mayhem with the comedy team of Craig and Russell:
Kevin McKidd on Grey's Anatomy!!
Whoo Hoo!!! I just read in my Entertainment Weekly yesterday that Kevin McKidd (Rome) is going to be Sandra Oh's love interest on Grey's Anatomy this season. I adored him in Rome, but his foray into series TV last season, Journeyman, flopped. I am doing cartwheels over the news that his character will be recurring on Grey's. Looks like I'm not the only one, reports Ausiello of EW.com:
Although McKidd's status is technically still recurring, I'll be shocked if he isn't made a full-time regular by the end of the season. Shonda Rhimes is apparently doing cartwheels over his work thus far. Literally doing cartwheels. My Grey's mole saw her doing one in the parking lot last Thursday.He plays an Army doc which probably means he won't be using his native Scottish accent (so wonderfully in evidence in his turn in Made of Honor), darn it all!
Matt Damon slams Palin
Watch this video of Matt Damon expressing his doubts about Gov. Palin's qualifications. "It's like a bad Disney movie!"
Alan Cumming to become US Citizen
Actor Alan Cumming is trying to attain U.S. citizenship - so that he can vote for presidential candidate Barack Obama.
The Scottish actor, who has been campaigning in a bid to win gay votes for the Democrat, will take a citizenship test in October in order to vote for Obama in the forthcoming election.
He says, "I've got the questions and the answers. Now all I've got to do is memorise them. It's just like learning a lot of lines, so I kind of think that as an actor, I'll be better prepared than most."
I love Alan Cumming, but whenever I think of him, I can't help think about this crazy picture from the Edbinburg Fringe Festival! It was posted all over town in the summer of 2007. He was always "out" there! LOL
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Vicky Cristina Barcelona - mini-review
Vicky Cristina Barcelona is Woody Allen's third movie with the actress, Scarlett Johannson, but I found her Cristina the least interesting character of the whole movie. Scarlett Johansson plays one of two friends who spend a summer in Barcelona. Her friend Vicky, played by Rebecca Hall (Starter for 10), is the practical, down-to-earth one, and is engaged to be married to reliable, but not very exciting Doug. I loved Vicky's character. She is the skeptical one when artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) approaches them in a restaurant and asks them to spend a weekend with him. Cristina is game to go have an adventure, and Vicky goes along to make sure she stays safe.
Juan Antonio means to seduce Cristina, but when she falls ill, Vicky falls under his spell for one night. When Vicky rejects him, Juan Antonio then develops a relationship with Cristina. After she moves in with him, his volatile ex-wife, Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) comes back into his life. Yes, there is that kiss between Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz. Meh. It wasn't the most interesting thing in the story. Javier Bardem is so compelling in this film. In his Oscar winning performance in In the Country of Old Men, you couldn't take your eyes off his completely evil Anton. I couldn't take my eyes off him in Vicky Cristina Barcelona either, but in a good way. He offers sensuality, and spontaneity to both girls, but comes with complicated life, too. Believe me, you can see why three women are fascinated with him.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, and especially the journey of Rebecca Hall's character, Vicky. She's the "normal" one, and you can't help but identify with her. I look forward to seeing more from Rebecca Hall. She is very talented, and has some exciting projects coming up, including Frost/Nixon and Dorian Gray (with the gorgeous Ben Barnes!) I loved Scarlett Johansson in Lost in Translation, but I'm just not that into her any more. And for the record, I still find it bizarre hearing Scarlett Johannson spouting Woody Allen dialog. This film also has the wonderful Patricia Clarkson. I just adore her, and she has a fun supporting role as Vicky's distant relative and host in Barcelona.
Three and a half stars, and an enthusiastic recommendation. If you miss it in the theaters, make sure you rent this one on DVD. Vicky Cristina Barcelona is one of Woody Allen's better recent films. And you will be dying to go to Barcelona after watching it, because the city looks so beautiful!
Ben Barnes - Gorgeous!
Ben Barnes, looking drop dead gorgeous, at Toronto Film Festival promoting Easy Virtue. He also had sat down recently with Interview magazine:
Looking at 15-story high posters of yourself (for Prince Caspian) seems like the perfect grounding for playing a character like Dorian Gray. There have been some very interesting parallels. I don’t really see the point in making a film unless you can think of a good reason to do it. We live in this celebrity-obsessed, youth-obsessed culture, and it just seems to make a lot of sense to make this Dorian Gray film right now. Especially for me, as somebody who’s…I don’t know if “on the brink” is the right term, but sort of at the beginning of getting attention from the media and from other people. Dorian Gray is also somebody who, at the beginning, doesn’t want to be looked at, doesn’t really want to be noticed, but then begins to realize the power of youth and the power of people wanting to be around him. Obviously it goes very dark, which I’m hoping in real life my part won’t. I supposed you have to be aware, on some level, of the attention being focused on yourself even to accept a part like Dorian Gray.Here are a couple of the drool-worthy photos from Interview magazine!
Hat tip: Just Jared
Monday, September 8, 2008
David Gregory's real talent
Wonkette reminds us that David Gregory has been tapped to be the MSNBC anchor for the election, dethroning Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews, not for his political savvy and knowledge, but his mad dance skills!
Even more Gregory dance clips here.
Russell Brand on VMA's
I thoroughly enjoyed Russell Brand's monologue on the VMA's last night. "My persona don't really work without fame. Without fame this haircut could be mistaken for mental illness." LOL! The crowd seemed stunned that he would talk politics, and refer to Bush as that "retarded cowboy fellow." One of his best lines was referring to Bristol Palin's boyfriend:
Again and again, Brand _ a confessed former sex addict _ poked fun at young sex and abstinence. Speaking of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter's boyfriend and would-be father, Levi Johnston, Brand sympathized with him: "That is the safe sex message of all time. Use a condom or become a Republican!
Watch the beginning here:
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Rachel is Getting Married
There's already Oscar talk about Anne Hathaway's performance in Jonathan Demme's Rachel Is Getting Married. Anne plays a girl plucked out of rehab for the weekend of her sister's wedding. She's getting raves at the premiere at the Venice Film Festival:
This is quite a different role for Anne from her fairytale princesses, this time starring, instead of supporting as in Brokeback Mountain. Watch the trailer:
In the family drama directed by Jonathan Demme, Hathaway plays Kym, a recovering drug addict who checks out of a rehabilitation center to attend her sister's wedding.
Her acerbic one-liners and need for attention serve as the catalysts for long-simmering family tensions to come to the boil, forcing her to confront her sense of guilt over the death of her little brother.
"An award-worthy Anne Hathaway gives the story a clear central focus," wrote the Hollywood Reporter, while rival trade publication Variety called her "fragile, angry, superb."
Retarded Policeman
I had not seen the YouTube sensation, the Retarded Policeman, until today. This series gets a million hits an episode! Here's my favorite with Doug Jones as the Mime. That's THE Doug Jones, who played Abe Sapien in Hellboy! Oh, and if you think the actor with Down's Syndrome is being taken advantage of, watch his response video. If we're offended, Ponce thinks we're the retards!
Wolfman Bootleg Trailer
Watch this cool bootleg trailer for Wolfman while you can. It's not likely to stay up for long! I knew Benecio del Toro played Wolfman, but didn't know that Anthony Hopkins plays his father, Emily Blunt is love interest and the film also has Hugo Weaving. Coolio!
Black Cab Sessions.
One artist. One taxi. One take. Unplugged. A great idea and fantastic site. Coolness!! The only one who gets money is the cabbie. They ask for just 10 minutes of a band's time, and film in a black cab. There are over 50 videos on the site, but these are three of my favorite bands that recorded in the Black Cab Sessions.
Hat tip: List of the Day Blog
Death Cab For Cutie
The New Pornographers
The Futureheads
I like how the cabbie compliments him. "I very much enjoyed that!"
In a World Without that familiar voice...
Famous booming deep trailer voiceover artist Don LaFontaine has passed away from complications of a collapsed lung. He came up with the famous line "In a World Where..." to quickly tell us about a film in the trailer. He even parodied himself in a Geico commercial: "In a world where both of our cars were totally under water".
In an interview last year, LaFontaine explained the thinking behind the "in a world..." catchphrase: "We have to very rapidly establish the world we are transporting [the audience] to," he said. "That's very easily done by saying 'In a world ... where violence rules', 'In a world ... where men are slaves and women are the conquerors.' You very rapidly set the scene."
Below listen to his famous deep voice in the Terminator 2 Trailer, and watch the Geico commercial, one of his rare onscreen appearances. His voice talents will be sorely missed by this blogger, who is a trailer addict. Hat tip to The Movie Blog for the clips.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Milk Trailer Out!
This one looks like a good biopic for Sean Penn. 'Tis the Oscar season approaching...
Shopaholic Trailer!
Due out February 2009. Can. Not. Wait! Hugh Dancy is dreamy, and Isla hilarious! "You speak Prada?!" LOL
Zack and Miri Make a Porno -- Red Band Trailer
Not Safe for Work!!! For my friend Janene, who loves red band trailers (the trailer is rated R!). I wasn't that excited about this movie, even though I like Kevin Smith, but this trailer is hilarious! I do like Seth Rogen, too. Something about that Jew-fro!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Where are the American tough guys?
Anne Thompson of Variety has written an interesting article saying that the U.S. is short on tough guy actors. She says that we are far from the days of Steve McQueen, and directors seem to need to turn to other countries to find tough guys. Most American male stars are boy-men. Johnny Depp can be fey, and Brendan Fraser is goofy. Ed Norton? Tobey Maguire? Most definitely boy-men.
Casting the titular tough-guy New York hero of his upcoming adaptation of “The Spirit,” Frank Miller also had trouble finding the right actor.
“Hollywood is great at producing male actors, but sucks at producing men,” says Miller. “I found them all too much like boys.” (He hired New York TV actor Gabriel Macht, 36.)
Two of the top rising action stars right now are both from the U.K.: “300” star Gerard Butler and Jason Statham (“Death Race”).
“We all wish there were five more guys like Jason Statham,” says producer Mark Gill. “There’s no shortage of roles for them. There’s a shortage of guys who can plausibly do them. The more expensive the budget, the narrower the list.”
Having just seen a series of Jason Statham movies on DVD in the past month, I see what Anne is talking about. I cannot think of an American actor who has his charisma of toughness. Not one his age, anyway. Crank was set in the gang culture of L.A., and here was Jason Statham with his English accent. But no one else could do it like him! And of course, I've always admired Gerry, and look forward to his upcoming action roles in RocknRolla and Game. It's not just the accent, there's just something about these real men, who are most definitely NOT boy-men. Read the whole article here.
Harry Hotter!
Got to agree with Perez's headline for this magazine cover. Holy Crap when did Daniel Radcliffe get so grown up ... and hot?!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Brideshead Revisted - Mini-review
So, I went to see Brideshead Revisted, starring Matthew Goode, a couple weeks ago. I have been mulling over my review since then. I liked the film, and I'm convinced that Emma Thompson is likely to get a supporting actress Oscar nod for her excellent portrayal as the matriarch of the ultra-rich Catholic Flyte family. This adaptation was written by Andrew Davies, who has taken so many other classic English literature to the movie and TV screen. Matthew Goode was fine in the film. I can't think of a current actor who would have been better as Charles Ryder, young artist who falls in love with first Sebastian, then Julia Flyte, but in the end, he's no Jeremy Irons.
Jeremy Irons starred as Charles Ryder in the 11 episode mini-series back in 1981. It made him a star, and that mini-series is held up as one of the best mini-series ever, especially in England. The mini-series has everything in the Evelyn Waugh book, and cutting down to a two hour movie, obviously many subplots were lost. The movie still has the essence of the book, and even uses the same gorgeous Castle Howard as the Flyte mansion. It just doesn't pack the same emotional punch for me. It just can't when you've seen the mini-series. It's been at least 25 years since I've seen the mini-series, and yet it stays with me, and this movie just couldn't quite measure up. If you've never seen the mini-series, and don't have hours and hours to watch all the DVD's, this is a very fine adaptation. Three and a half stars. But if you do have the time, trust me, it's worth it to watch Jeremy Irons in the original.
Much has been made of the fact that the homosexual relationship between Charles and Sebastian was more subtle in the mini-series, and the film has a kiss, which I don't believe is in the book either. The kiss didn't bother me, but there was something to that constant tension and undercurrent in the original and the wondering if there was one off screen! I love Matthew Goode, and I think he'll have a long career. He's due up in Watchmen next year which should really make a big splash for him.
Millar Writing Wanted 2
Mark Millar has spilled the beans to Newsarama about his plans for the sequel to his Wanted adaptation.
He reiterated his pledge not to write a comic book sequel to the original miniseries, saying, "That six issues were the end."
Instead Millar said he would write some new original storylines that fit into the film's universe, but that will also use some of the elements from the original comics that didn't find their way into the first movie.
"It will be some of the stuff that we didn't utilize from the first book for the movie - like chapters three and four - there will be some stuff from that," said Millar, "so in the loosest sense it will be based on the book, but only very little."
Director Temur Bekmambetov, scribes Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, producer Marc Platt and star James McAvoy are already signed up for the sequel.
Crank - mini-review
I am beginning to love Jason Statham.
The premise of Crank is that Chev (Jason Statham) is a contract killer in LA, and he wakes up groggy & blurry eyed after being poisoned by another bad dude. He discovers that adrenaline is the only way he can keep his heart pumping and stay alive. So he seeks adrenaline every way he can: doing drugs, picking fights, rock & roll, speeding his car and being chased by cops, and my personal favorite, having sex with his girlfriend in the middle of the street in Chinatown. So, if the description doesn't scare you off, you'll love it. The filmmakers have a wild different kind of style. They use split screens and wild cuts, and it feels like you're in the middle of a violent video game. There are in fact, a lot of video game references in the film. and Chev has told his girlfriend he is video game programmer. I found Jason's relationship with his sweet naive girlfriend just a riot. One minute he'll be cussing out someone on his cellphone, and his girlfriend will call, and his demeanor completely changes as he's gentle and soft with her. He screams as her answering machine answers one of his calls, and then calms down and says quietly, "Honey, please get a cell phone." It's quite violent in parts, too, but it was one 90 minute adrenaline rush! It's mindless trash, but if you're in the mood for this kind of thing, it gives a good ride. Jason Statham just has that perfect mix to play this part, too: determination, sweet love and protection of his girlfriend, and explosive violence at the drop of a hat. Three stars.
This was the first film of the writer director team of Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine. Their film Game, starring Gerard Butler is due out in 2009. I wanted to get a taste of their style, and now I am really pumped for Game! Watch the trailer for Crank here.
Passengers Trailer
I had not heard about this horror film starring Anne Hathaway and Patrick Wilson. Passengers is due out late October. Interesting career direction for Anne, and cool to see our Raoul (Patrick Wilson) get some starring work. Hat tip: Ain't It Cool
BBC RocknRolla interview
BBC Breakfast had an interview with Guy Ritchie and Gerard Butler this morning about RocknRolla, which is out in the UK. They show the robbery of the car scene, more extended than we've seen before. Watch it here!
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