Ahhh...more reasons for me to revere the actress. She's risking her life people!

 

Jessica Lange--anti-war, anti-Bush and very, very angry. According to IMBD:

 

"Jessica Lange is determined to carry on her anti-war and anti-President George W. Bush stance - even though it almost cost her her life. The actress has opposed the war since US troops first went into Iraq, and she reveals her views have made her a hate target for pro-war, pro-Bush Americans. The 57-year-old says, 'George W. Bush really has whipped up the most poisonous scenario of neighbor against neighbor over the war in Iraq. It's disgusting. There were times when it was really lovely to be out there and against the war. But then I had anti-war stickers on my car and some big f**king pick-up with an American flag tried to drive me off the road. It was scary and I was scared.' She even accuses the media of picking on her, adding, 'My anti-war work started four years ago when the drums were beating. The few of us who really spoke out at the time took such a beating in the press - even the liberal press - and on CNN; I was on a CNN news program with an arms inspector who had been in Iraq, and we were treated like s**t.'"

 

Looks like Lange won't be dining at the nearest Applebee's or Black Angus anytime soon.  I'm also guessing the O'Reilly Factor is out of the question. Just a hunch. --posted by Kim

As a fan of the first "Harold and Kumar" film, I've got no problem with the White Castle loving duo's sequel called, "Harold and Kumar 2" (surely there has to be a subtitle?).

 

Here, according to The Hollywood Reporter, is the lowdown:

 

"The sequel is set in motion on the same morning that Harold and Kumar finally satisfy their munchies at White Castle and the object of Harold's affection, Maria (Garces), sets off for Amsterdam. The pair decide to pursue her so Harold can proclaim his love. But when an overzealous passenger mistakes Kumar for a terrorist, the plane is diverted and the boys are off on a new escapade of mistaken identity. From Guantanamo Bay through the Deep South, Harold and Kumar encounter myriad wackos, jerks and whores as they are pursued by the Department of Homeland Security all the way into Bush Country."

 

Sounds promising so far. Now get a load of those appearing:

 

"David Krumholtz, Neil Patrick Harris, Rob Corddry, Christopher Meloni, Ed Helms, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Paula Garces, Jack Conley, Roger Bart, Danneel Harris and Eric Winter will join John Cho and Kal Penn."

 

Rob Corddry, Christopher Meloni? Oh...this better be good. --posted by Kim

 

 

Another mother-Focker Focker movie?

 

That's right, actress Teri Polo told The Associated Press (by way of ComingSoon):

 

"Teri Polo...is set to reprise her role as Ben Stiller's wife in 'Meet the Little Focker,' the third installment of the movie franchise. She starred in the first two films, 'Meet the Parents' and 'Meet the Fockers.' No release date is known for the Universal sequel."

 

Well...there are worse things. Let's just hope the little Focker isn't voiced by Bruce Willis or Roseanne Barr or some such nonsense.

 

--posted by Kim

I'm not sure how I feel about this:

 

"Legendary film producer Dino De Laurentiis says he is updating one of his classics, 'Barbarella.' He produced the 1968 original, starring Jane Fonda. De Laurentiis is quick to say the new film is 'not a remake of ''Barbarella'' but 'a completely new 'Barbarella.'' He added that the new film will have 'love, sex, adventure.' De Laurentiis said that the script is being worked on now, but no one has been selected to play the title role yet."

 

So, yes, many fine young actresses could do "Barbarella" gorgeously proud (though I'm partial to Jane and Jane alone). I'm just not keen on the obvious camp factor that will be, more than likely, forced upon the film. Though the original had a wink-wink spirit to it, it wasn't made in the age of "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle." Which brings me to Drew Barrymore. Wasn't she in talks for the lead in this production?

 

 

The Academy Award is supposedly the greatest honor a Hollywood professional receives from his or her peers. It's a supreme achievement that guarantees respect, success and career longevity, right?

 

Um ... no. Decidedly no.

 

But why? Why is it that some actors who win Oscars become heralded, firmly entrenched icons such as Tom Hanks or Meryl Streep or Sir Anthony Hopkins, whereas others become, well, Cuba Gooding Jr.?

You might say those by way of Cuba are simply not as talented as the Clints, the Jacks or the Jodies. But that's not always the case. And because of this, a popular legend persists in Hollywood called "The Oscar Curse." With a little guilt (after all, we like a lot of these people) and some speculative theories, we study those who've suffered under this dreaded curse and who have not, so far, returned entirely from the dark side. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for ...

 

Read my list of those cursed by Oscar. And, please, don't get too mad at me. --posted by Kim

 

Diane Keaton may be one of the coolest and completely real actresses I've ever interviewed. And she's funny. Like, funny, funny. Her timing is spot on even while giving interviews.

 

Here's Diane's response to the question of offering advice to her younger co-stars in her newest picture, "Because I Said So" (make sure to read with Diane Keaton's voice):

 

"No! Why? (Mock horror). Why am I the person who knows what they should be doing? That’s absurd. And, I’m not their mother. And it’s unflattering to tell incredibly talented people: 'Here, listen to me; I know what you should do.' Like I know what they should do…We had fun. We had a lot of fun hanging out doing girly things in the makeup trailer. But what, I’m going to say, 'Gee you, know you shouldn’t date that guy!'? That’s ridiculous! I did nothing but date men that I probably shouldn’t have dated! I’m not going to tell them how they should do it, because I’m certainly no example. And in fact, I think people have to kind of learn on their own. Don’t you? They’re doing great. (Says humorously) Yeah, here’s some advice from me: 'Mandy, let’s talk about that singing…' "

 

Read the rest of my interview with Ms. Keaton here.

 

--posted by Kim
 

 

 

Wow. Combine actresses who I think, are two of the hottest women ever to grace celluloid, throw in the one novelist I have the largest collection of first editions and vintage, mass market pulp paberbacks in my possession and you get the opening to Todd McCarthy's review of "Black Snake Moan:"

 

"Mix Brigitte Bardot in 'And God Created Woman; with Carroll Baker in 'Baby Doll,' sex it up times 10 and you have a notion of the effect of Christina Ricci in 'Black Snake Moan.' Part sleazy Southern exploitation pic about a wild firecat that would have made Erskine Caldwell blush, part blues-infused 'Pygmalion' story about the tramp's reformation at the hands of an older black man, Craig Brewer's follow-up to his 2005 Sundance winner 'Hustle & Flow' probably will find its most eager audience among college-age guys hot to ogle the young star in some very raw action."

 

I swear this is it for "Black Snake Moan." Until I see the movie of course.

 

 

"'Little Miss Sunshine,'" took the Screen Actors Guild's ensemble prize Sunday night, the group's equivalent of a best picture award. Top acting honors, however, went to obvious front-runners Forest Whitaker, Helen Mirren, Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson. 'Sunshine,' the low-budget, road-trip charmer, came out of the Sundance Film Festival and bested bigger studio competition in 'The Departed,' 'The Queen,' 'Babel' (which took the best-drama statue two weeks ago at the Golden Globes) and 'Dreamgirls' (which won the Globe for best musical or comedy). The SAG win for 'Little Miss Sunshine,' coupled with its unexpected victory at the Producers Guild Awards, would seem to improve the film's prospects at the Oscars, where it's in the best-picture category with 'Babel,' 'The Departed,' 'Letters From Iwo Jima' and 'The Queen.'"

 

Look, I really liked "Little Miss Sunshine." It defied my expectations of an overly wacky family road picture. And it's getting the typical backlash movies like this will receive when too many awards are heaped on them.

 

But, that saying, it better not win over "The Departed." One, it's not nearly as good as "The Departed" and two, if it does win, it will be forever known as that stupid little movie that won over a Martin Scorsese picture. It'll be this year's "Crash." So for the sake of both films, members of the Academy, don't vote for "Sunshine." Just don't. --posted by Kim     

This new film to stage concept is just a little too "wacky"/"Tony and Tina's Wedding" for my taste.

 

We get it, Keanu Reeves is like, funny. A bit of an easy target isn't it?

 

"'Point Break LIVE!' follows the story in the Hollywood film that 'revolves around Johnny Utah, former college football star turned FBI Agent who must go undercover to infiltrate a gang of bankrobbing surfers.' What is unique about the stage take is that the role of Utah (played by Reeves in the film) is played by an audience member (selected at random each night) who is thrust upon the stage (guided by a PA — who also serves as stunt double) and given his/her lines on cue-cards. 'Keanu Reeves roles demand a special kind of acting,' explains director [James] Hook, on the show's conceit. 'Essentially, in every scene, you have to look like you've just been dropped into a room and you have no idea what's going on.'"

 

Me-ow! Sounds like some cranky theater director watched "The Devil's Advocate" one too many times. Actually...Reeves is pretty good in that movie. --posted by Kim

 

 

 

Joe Carnahan's action/crime/comedy/drama "Smokin' Aces" is getting some positive but mostly middling to negative reviews from critics. Here's a few not-so-nice observations:

 

--A.O. Scott from The New York Times: "A Viagra suppository for compulsive action fetishists and a movie that may not only be dumb in itself, but also the cause of dumbness in others."

 

--Joe Morgenstern from The Wall Street Journal: "Calling Joe Carnahan's movie heartless implies that this auteur of affectless anarchy might have meant to invest it with detectable human feelings, and failed. Better to call it heart-free."

 

--Keith Phipps from The Onion AV Club: "The plot tangles until it seems irrelevant, the jokes can't push through the somber tone, and the most interesting moment apart from the action scenes involves one character using the corpse of one of the more famous cast members for a grisly ventriloquist act."

 

Hmm... Mr. Phipps take kind of makes me want to see it. Kind of. --posted by Kim

 

At Sundance, Cinematical sat down with Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci and Justin Timberlake, stars of Craig Brewer's "Black Snake Moan" for their Unscripted series. Choice moments resulted. The best? Yep, something to do with Sam Jackson and snakes:

 

"The shoot's funniest moment came when Timberlake hesitated before firing off a question from the teleprompter, looked off-camera and asked, 'Can I really say all that?' Getting approval, he gestured toward Jackson: 'Are there any mutha f***in' snakes in 'Black Snake Moan?' Jackson repeated the question before retorting, 'Only trouser snakes.'"

 

Oh...Sam Jackson, he is one of the coolest. Especially for making tired internet hype funny again.  

 

And by the way, I'm still obsessed with "Black Snake Moan." And, I'll admit it, I'm incredibly jealous of everyone who got to see it. Jealous! Jealous!

 

 

 

 

I've always found Australian director George Miller intriguing. The fact that he can move so skillfully between masterful, post-apocalyptic revenge movies ("Mad Max") to genuinely charming children's pictures ("Babe," which he produced and the superbly dark, "Babe Pig in the City" which he directed) is impressive. Also for the fact that you can really see Miller in all of these films. He leaves a certain stamp. 

 

So the news that he's interested in tackling penguins once again, comes as no suprise to me. In fact, I think he could improve on the first film:

 

"'Happy Feet' co-writer, director and producer George Miller says he is interested in making a sequel to the animated hit, which has earned $350 million worldwide. 'It's certainly now a real possibility,' Miller told the AAP. But he added that it would not be his next project. 'There's about two or three films I want to do before we would ever embark on that, including another 'Mad Max' sooner or later.' The 61-year-old Australian would not say what the other two films were or discuss the genre. Miller has said Mel Gibson probably would not be involved in 'Mad Max 4.'"

 

Aww...I know y'all think Mel is nuts but I'd like to see him in "Mad Max 4." He's certainly mad enough.

 

 

This is absolutely, positively, bar none, no way can anyone top this, the coolest film news I've heard in a long frickin' time:

 

"The veteran French film star Alain Delon is to star in an action movie by award-winning director Johnnie To, with shooting to begin late this year in Hong Kong."

 

 

 

"He's one of my all time favorite actors, so of the DVD's released yesterday, none get me more excited than the Robert Mitchum Signature Collection Box Set. In it you will find Sydney Pollack's 'The Yakuza,' Otto Preminger's terrific noir 'Angel Face' (which has a great car crash scene), Joseph von Sternberg's sultry 'Macao,' Vincent Minelli's 'Home From the Hill,' Fred Zinneman's 'The Sundowners' and Burt Kennedy's 'The Good Guys and the Bad Guys.' 

 

"Sure, there's other stuff being released, but it's all about Mitchum for me." 

 

Read more about my current obsessions here.

 

And buy that box set. And while watching, men, take notes. --posted by Kim

Kate Moss. Ultra stylish black and white cinematography. Dreamy drama. Possible death scenario. Under-garments. Stripping. Mike Figgis as director.

 

Do I need anything else?

 

And, sorry he's talented, but this is one of the greatest films Figgis has made in a long time. Oh and, be warned, this clip may not be safe for work.

 

Unless, of course, you work at Scores. Though Scores is never, ever this weirdly sexy.

 

 

John Waters on the perfect date:

 

"Robbing a 7-Eleven, getting away with it, and having great sex afterward while listening to music."

 

John Waters on the not-so-perfect first date movie:

 

"You wouldn't put on 'Irreversible' as a first-date movie. I have the soundtrack to that, actually. 'Honey, let's build a fire and listen to the 'Irreversible' soundtrack.'"

 

I love John Waters.

 

Read more of Radar's interview here. --posted by Kim

 

 

 

Please. Please. Wasn't "Date Movie" enough?

 

Why do you keep making these films?

 

That is all.

 

Thank you.