| Profilo di movies filter b...movies filterFotoBlogElenchi |  Strumenti  Guida |
|
31 ottobre Happy Halloween! Creepy Kids
With Halloween here, I got to thinking (yet again) about one of my favorite sub-genres of cinema -- creepy kids. Here are ten of my favorite creepy kids in cinema. Some are quite young, some are teens and some are just plain sad. But all are crazy, evil and, in my world, cute as hell. "Battle Royale" (2000) What if we encouraged the kids to not be alright? That's the situation in Kinji Fukasaku's masterpiece Battle Royale -- a terrifying, bloody and morbidly satiric film in which kids are instructed to kill other kids (starring one of my favorites, Takeshi "Beat" Kitano). Here is the deal: In the not-so-distant future, an economically depressed Japan is having serious problems with lawless teenagers. The government passes a violent law -- the Millennial Reform School Act -- they believe will safeguard against further mayhem. The law is essentially a sick, twisted, Darwin-inspired game, in which a class of young teens are put on an island, given various weapons and forced to take each other out within three days. The last kid standing wins. Yay! Or... no, wait, this isn't really any fun at all. Watching the kid's diverse personalities (some get back at others, some want to topple the system, some still really want that certain boy to like them) is frightening, perversely funny and extraordinarily poignant within this violent milieu. It's a potent parable. And, come to think about it, these kids aren't so creepy. I just love them too much.
Are these freaky things even kids? Well, yes... sorta. After watching Samantha Eggar birth them (licking the newborns and all, a scene every libidinous teen should watch to prevent pregnancy) in David Cronenberg's classic (and one of his greatest movies), they definitely come from her womb. But what are they exactly? That's what Eggar's husband (Art Hindle) wants to find out after mysterious, deformed blonde kids in ski jackets show up unannounced to kill people. Worse, they take away his daughter. And things become even more complicated when he realizes his wife's psychiatrist (a fantastic Oliver Reed) has something to do with it. So let me re-phrase this: they aren't really children but, when referring to the shrink's eccentric methods they are "shapes of rage." Shapes of rage that do your bidding. Damn. I want some. This might make me re-think my desire to never bear children.
Now, adorable Danny Torrance (Danny Lloyd) wasn't a bad kid; he just had, as hotel cook Scatman Crothers so eloquently put it, "The Shine." He could read thoughts and see into the past and future. But then, he also had that imaginary friend on his index finger, Tony. Tony spoke in that little kid creepy voice ("Redrum! Redrum!"), which freaked out his mother (Shelly Duvall) and clearly made his psychotic father (Jack Nicholson) a little on the far side of grumpy. I felt terrible for that kid--he endure far too much stress in that hotel. For example, whilst in the middle of simply trying to enjoy his Big Wheel, two of the scariest kids I've ever seen in cinema, those Diane Arbus-inspired ghosts of the Grady Sisters have to come out to taunt him ("Play with us, Danny..."). Or worse, his homicidal father chases him with an ax. Still, sympathy aside, the urchin is scary, charmingly so. Director Stanley Kubrick chose Lloyd out of a talent search based on his ability to concentrate -- which is vaguely disturbing in itself. How did he find those twins I wonder? "The Village of the Damned" (1960)
The picture hasn't worn as scary throughout the years, but there is something iconic about these blonde, mod-looking children with their blank, penetrating glow-eyes. And disturbing, too, since they can make people do things they didn't intend to do (like, oh, drive their car into a wall). Taking a cue from the blonde psycho from "The Bad Seed," this cult classic decided to flood an entire English village with flaxen freaks, unleashing a horror that's tough to fight -- who wants to attack the kids? After women become pregnant under bizarre conditions (let's just say their husbands have nothing to do with it), out pop scores of Vidal Sassoon-haired babies who grow up freakishly fast and claim superior brains, but are seriously lacking in the social skills department. They also appear to be in on some secret, which is truly the film's scariest conceit. If you just think about it and transfer it to real life, the idea of a bunch of grimly serious little blonde kids, dressed in matching clothes, glaring at you, would be terrifying. Or it could be the Olsen Twins but again, they are creepy cute. Read the rest of my favorite terrifying tots here. --posted by Kim Demented Deadly Dummies
From my love of demented dummy movies: I love dolls, I dislike dolls, dolls can sometimes scare me. I cradled them while playing mommy and daddy, I dressed up their plastic bodies in ridiculous get-ups, I shoved their little parts into Campers, Dream ‘Vettes and Action Jeeps, I read about their loneliness in Dare Wright's books (which are brilliant), but when staring at their stiff faces from across a dark room in the middle of the night, the thought would occur to me: Barbie might be an agent of evil. And dear god, what if the thing starts talking to me? This fear made me throw a talking Bingo bear into the shed and then continue to obsess that the bandanna wearing teddy would emerge one night with an ax, viciously imploring: “Do you love me?” I still have dolls and puppets and one old deer head and "A.I." Teddy and too many stuffed animals (that damn claw machine) so the paranoia has been replaced with intrigue (I wish the dolls would talk), but the one item I don’t own is a ventriloquist dummy. I want one -- I want a wisecracking wood piece of wonder, delight, humor and…horror but, they still scare me. Could it really all stem from that one "Twilight Zone" episode? Perhaps. That famed, shocking 1962 episode, entitled “The Dummy”, featured Cliff Robertson as an alcoholic ventriloquist who believes that his dummy named Willy, the more gifted and crafty of the team, is tormenting him. He packs Willy away and takes up with a new dummy named Goofy Handles (why are even the names terrifying?) but can’t get over Willy’s real or imagined abuse, something that provides the episode’s unforgettable and horrifying ending. “The Dummy” terrified many of us as children, but this wasn’t the first picture to wring terror out of dummies. Luckily (or unluckily) we can work out some of this paranoia through cinema, leading me to five movies that show dummies (not dolls, like the first "The Devil Doll," "Child’s Play," "Trilogy of Terror" and more -- that’s another list) as something decidedly not delightful but rather, dreaded and in some cases, deadly. Now take a second look at all that stuffed sawdust before heading to bed. "The Unholy Three" (1925, 1930)
So creepy that the great lover of freaks, Tod Browning decided to make it twice -- and with the same cast. Though these movies (one silent, the other most famously Lon Chaney’s first and only talking picture) aren’t technically dummy stories, ventriloquism plays such a key role in the picture’s dirty deeds the wooden one can’t be ignored. The ventriloquist here is named Echo (Lon Chaney) who forms the triad of unholy thieves with Hercules (Ivan Linow) the strong man, and Tweedledee (Harry Earles) the midget, after their carnival is closed down. Disguising themselves to scam people, Tweedledee dresses up as a baby (so creepy), with a pretty pickpocket named Rosie (Lila Lee) playing his mother and, in the picture’s most impressive twist, Echo disguises himself as a little old lady named Mrs. O'Grady. Working a pet shop, Echo, among other misdeeds, throws his voice to sell "talking" parrots -- talent. Though the silent version is long considered the superior film, the talkie is nearly as good, graced by the presence of that innovative genius Chaney. Still, it’s the silent version that boasts the picture’s scary/sad ending in which Echo’s dummy bids an incredibly intriguing farewell. "The Great Gabbo" (1929) A notable entry into the demented dummy sub-genre, The Great Gabbo (directed by James Cruze) isn’t exactly a horror film; it’s simply a movie about a seriously flawed, egotistical man. But since that man is a ventriloquist, the story is made all the more creepy, and since the wood talker is played by the infamous director and actor Erich von Stroheim, the character is made all the more unforgettable. The story finds arrogant, dummy manipulator Gabbo (Stroheim) in love with his beautiful assistant, Mary (Betty Compson), a sweet woman who thinks the poor dummy (named Otto) is the nicest, most humane thing about the man. She leaves Gabbo and eventually Gabbo and Otto become wildly successful. But success can’t change Gabbo , not even for the better, and he remains cruel and demanding till the bitter end, dragging nice little Otto behind him (interesting that some people will actually relate to sad dysfunctional Otto). Spiked with musical numbers, some of which are downright bizarre (especially when Otto sings) the movie is almost accidentally frightening, giving it an odd kind of despondency. If your dummy is a better person than you’ll ever be then, you’re definitely beyond repair. Read my entire list here.
--posted by Kim 29 ottobre Dreyfuss Slams Stone Richard Dreyfuss chatted up the ladies on "The View" and took the time to slam his "W." director Oliver Stone:
"Richard Dreyfuss appeared on 'The View' to publicize "W.," in which he plays Dick Cheney, but ended up criticizing the film and director Oliver Stone instead.
When asked why he made the film, he said he did it for 'money.' Dreyfuss also said, 'I think it's 6/8ths of a great film.'
"Asked how it was to work with Oliver Stone, he said 'imagine working for Sean Hannity... you can be a fascist, even when you're on the left.'
"He also said he isn't sure the film 'will have any historical legs.'"
Read and watch the entire clip here.
--posted by Kim Joaquin Phoenix To Quit Acting It's over, according to Joaquin Phoenix. Of course, we shall see if this actually sticks:
"Joaquin Phoenix, who was nominated for a best actor Oscar for his starring role as Johnny Cash in the biopic 'Walk the Line,' has announced that he is putting his life as an actor behind him.
"Interviewed by the syndicated Extra at a benefit for the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps founded by Paul Newman, Phoenix, who has just completed filming the drama 'Two Lovers,; said, 'I want to take this opportunity ... to give you the exclusive ... that this will be my last performance as an actor. ... I'm not doing films anymore.'
"Phoenix said that he intends to focus on building his career as a singer. 'I'm done" with making movies, he said, 'I've been through that.'"
--posted by Kim CZJ As 3D Cleo I think this idea is kind of awesome. (But I also loved "Kafka") Others, however, do not agree.
From Hollywood Hitlist:
To steal a line that a friend e-mailed me this week: "Is Steven Soderbergh doing everything he can to destroy his career?" The "Ocean's Eleven" franchise aside (a ship whose run has sailed, by the way), Soderbergh's last two films include the critical and box office disappointment "The Good German" and the soon to be released "Che." The latter is a $58 million production that was relegated to small-tier distributor IFC Films after the filmmaker refused to either edit or release his four-hour-plus epic as two separate features. Needless to say, it will take a miracle or significant international grosses to recoup its financing. Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter in a story that sounds like an April Fool's joke, Soderbergh is planning on producing "Cleo," a 3-D, rock 'n' roll musical remake of "Cleopatra" set in the 1920s.
Did you catch the part about 3-D? Historical note: In 1963, 20th Century Fox released its own "Cleopatra" epic starring Elizabeth Taylor as the Egyptian queen, and, despite winning four Academy Awards, it became one of the biggest financial disasters in Hollywood history, almost putting the studio out of business. Soderbergh is planning on telling his tale on a less grand scale and is currently looking for $30 million in financing to produce the film. He has also recruited a member of his "Traffic" ensemble, Catherine Zeta-Jones, to play the iconic figure (and, to be frank, she's not getting hit with a lot of offers these days). Hugh Jackman is also in talks to play her lover, Mark Antony, but the Tony Award-winning showman may want to think twice about making this is big-screen musical debut. The filmmaker's previous accomplishments aside, you have to question a project that is starting out with a skeptical media and no guarantee of distribution without studio backing. Read the rest here. --posted by Kim 28 ottobre Initials S.G. The Serge Gainsbourg biopic? But of course mon cherie. And of course, huge Serge fan that I am, I'm worried about the results.
"The casting pieces for the long-gestating biopic of notorious French louche and debonair poet of scuzzy panache, Serge Gainsbourg are nicely falling into place. Earlier this Spring, details on the biopic, titled 'Serge Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life; ('Vie Héroïque') came out, but not a lot of North American outlets (including, shamelessly, us) seemed to notice (perhaps cause there wasn't a ton to report). Directing the film is Joann Sfar, a well-known French comic-book artist, and playing the lead is not, terribly well-known actor Eric Elmosnino. Test shots of Elmosnino posed as Gainsbourg in a familiar smoky noir came out earlier, in May of this year. But that's basically all the info that was available at the time.
"According to an article in France's Allocine (many thanks to the writer Julien Dokhan), much of the cast and famous side-players, collaborators and loves in Gainsbourg's life have been set.
"Buxom French supermodel Laetitia Casta, has been cast to play the role of Brigitte Bardot, a former lover of Gainsbourg, whom the famous French pop song, "Je t'aime... moi non plus" was originally recorded for and with (Bardot and Gainsbourg recorded several albums together; but after their break-up, Bardot banned the song's release, so he re-recorded the track with his then-new-girlfriend Jane Birkin who he eventually went on to marry)."
Read the rest of the details here.
--posted by Kim Silly Sequels The Times Online is right -- these are all some silly sequel ideas. But I'm willing to bet that among these ten rumors more than half of them are in some part, true.
Here is a taste of the ridiculous -- the top ten silly sequel rumors of the year:
"The last couple of months have seen a rash of implausible, nay impossible film sequel news stories. Most have them have already been debunked, some remain in that mysterious Schrödinger’s Cat movie rumour state, and one has even been confirmed. Click on the titles to read the original implausible rumours, and marvel at the majesty that is Hollywood. "10: 'Blade Runner 2'
'Blade Runner,' despite needless criticism from nitpickers like me pointing out that it doesn’t quite make sense, is one of the most revered science fiction movies of all time. The lush, beautifully detailed realisation of a future Earth set the standard for futuristic cinema with everything from Total Recall to Minority Report picking up on its vision of a monetized dystopia. "Bearing in mind that all of the principals either die or disappear by the end of the first film, and that Philip K Dick made no further reference to the characters in any of his numerous novels and stories , to come up with a sequel script would be a temerarious adventure indeed. That hasn’t stopped comparatively little-known scriptwriter Travis Wright from having a go.
"9: 'Watchmen 2'
'Watchmen' is another beloved sci-fi vision from the Eighties, this time in graphic novel format, which is set to become one of the biggest movies of 2009. The story is a standalone classic, which leaves one major character dead, two more in hiding, and two more retired from the superhero business. That’s not even counting The Comedian’s unscheduled base-jump on page one of the comic, the unfortunate end of Nite Owl 1, or the grim fates of the various other supporting characters. Only the worst kind of fool would even think about sequelizing Alan Moore’s perfectly constructed superhero story arc. Which is why an un-named Hollywood suit has done just that. In an unguarded interview moment Patrick Wilson, who plays the relatively sane Nite Owl 2 in the film was quoted as saying:
"'It’s all been talked about, financially, they like to do that'
"Of all the ill-advised moneymaking ventures on this list, this is the only one that you can be certain will never, ever happen. If the idea ever got as far as script stage you can be sure Alan Moore would set fire to his beard and run amok on the Warner Brothers backlot with a cutlass.
See a new cut of the Watchmen trailer here
"8: '300 2'
Yet another movie based on a comprehensively closed narrative arc. Yet another movie where absolutely everybody dies. The sole difference between 300 and Watchmen though is that in the case of 300 creator Frank Miller is completely happy with the Hollywood method and knows which side his brioche is buttered. He’s said to be already working on a treatment in the same style as his Thermopylae epic that focuses on the Greek armies who fought at less the well-known, but equally bloody Battle of Plataea." Read the entire list here.
--posted by Kim 27 ottobre Housing Crisis
Associated Content came up with a list of the five most memorable movie houses in screen history and like all lists, it's open for argument.
Sure they covered Tara and the Bates Motel and the Amberson's mansion, but...what about The Overlook from "The Shining"? Or the supernatural scares of "The Old Dark House"? Or, the scary A-frame of "The Amityville Horror?" Or Kane's Xanadu? Yes, I know -- lists never truly satisfy. That's why we love reading them so much.
On the same tip, but outside of houses, there's plenty of famous movie apartments: Elliot Gould's L.A. pad in "The Long Goodbye," Jack Lemmon's sad swinger hole of "The Apartment," both murderous Hitchcock flats of "Rear Window" and "Rope," or the triple apartment Polanski nightmare of "Repulsion" to the demonic Dakota in "Rosemary's Baby" to the hilarious horrors of "The Tenant." These are just a few. Hmm...I sense a new list forming.
Read the rest of Associated Content's list here.
--posted by Kim Porn Goes Hollywood
With "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" set to open, David Walker looks at how porn is, uh, portrayed in the movies -- Hollywood movies, that is: But although pornography can quickly degenerate into a repulsive tedium of thrusting pelvises, the porn industry itself is endlessly fascinating. That's to say the people who make it their work to perform sex and the industry that peddles that sex are far more interesting than the sex itself. Maybe that's why it's more fun to read "Adult Video News" than it is to watch adult videos. By its very nature, the world of pornography is something that gets a rise out of people. Some people are thoroughly repulsed by all things porn, whereas others are admitted junkies who can't get enough of "water sports" and "rusty trombones." Either way, most people have strong opinions about porn. And for every person who has an opinion about porn, at one point it's surely been wondered how anyone could do "that" for a living. It's just that some people wonder it with disgust, whereas others with incredulous awe. In his latest comedy, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno," filmmaker Kevin Smith ventures into the world of amateur porn. Smith, who's shown his appreciation for smut films since his debut film "Clerks," is not the first director to delve into the world of sex films. Pornography and the characters who make up its rank and file have been the subject and backdrop for many mainstream films, ranging from sleazy guided tours of porn's underbelly (Paul Schrader's "Hardcore") to feel-good biopics about First Amendment champions (Milos Forman's "The People vs. Larry Flynt"). Perhaps the biggest problem with any film about porn is how it handles the subject matter. Some films want to condemn the industry, whereas others want to glorify it -- but all want to be careful to not become what is being portrayed. The results tend to be films that use pornography as a means to make a bigger point. But what exactly are these films about porn teaching us that porn isn't? The following 10 films set within the world of pornography -- some good, some terrible -- provide valuable lessons. "The Auteur" (2008) Still making the rounds at film festivals, James Westby's quirky comedy profiles Arturo Domingo (Melik Malkasian), the once-celebrated porn director responsible for classics such as "Gangbangs of New York" and "Dyke Club" who has fallen on difficult times. A temperamental film-school failure, Domingo found success in the world of skin flicks when he partnered up with actor Frank E. Normo (John Breen). But a creative split between the two, the devastating break up with the love of his life and a series of cinematic failures has left Domingo drifting aimlessly through a world of depression in this perverted fairy tale about the rise and fall of a pornographer. Valuable Lesson: Even pornographers have artistic vision that they must remain true to, or risk compromising that which makes them a genius. "Boogie Nights" (1997) Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson's attempts to do for porn what "Goodfellas" did for the mafia is a mixed bag of tricks. Inspired to a large extent by the life and times of legendary porn performer John Holmes, "Boogie Nights" stars Mark Wahlberg as Dirk Diggler, a monstrously well-endowed stud who surrounds himself with the dysfunctional surrogate family of director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds). Spanning a decade, the film is as epic in its scope as Diggler's trouser snake. Critically acclaimed and loved by many, the film is an overrated mess that is diminished by, among other things, overwrought melodramatic moments with hammy acting that would be better suited for an afters-chool special -- or perhaps an actual porno. But because it was one of the first films to seriously examine life in the world of pornography, it gets more love than it deserves. Valuable Lesson: Everyone needs a family, even if it's a dysfunctional group of sex addicts. Read the entire piece here. --posted by Kim 23 ottobre Seth (Expletive) Rogen Rogen on Kevin Smith's upcoming "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" (from MSN's Hollywood Hitlist):
Seth Rogen: Ghostbuster? Those who have read rumors about Rogen being involved in the new "Ghostbusters 3" project should promptly dismiss them.
"It's hard to imagine that would be good, isn't it? I mean, just as a movie fan I am the first guy to be skeptical of that. It sounds like a terrible idea when you first hear it," Rogen says. "I mean, that would have to be one mother [expletive] good script." Considering how busy Rogen is these days, it's hard to imagine how he'd fit it into his schedule anyway. His latest comedy, and one of his best, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno," hits theaters on Halloween. Written and directed by Kevin Smith, one of Rogen's direct influences, this R-rated spin on a romantic comedy finds two longtime friends deciding to make an adult film in order to pay off their debts. Things get complicated when Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) realize they may have more than fraternal feelings for one another. Considering the title, the film is surprisingly tame in what it shows, but Rogen still ended up almost baring it all. Although he didn't have to go full frontal like his buddy Jason Segel in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." "Luckily or not, we didn't have to go too far. I didn't know what Kevin expected of us," Rogen says. "I didn't really care. I was ready for anything. I have no shame about it. It's fine." Currently shooting the dramedy "Funny People" alongside Adam Sandler for mentor Judd Apatow ("Knocked Up"), Rogen says working with Smith was a strikingly different experience. He reveals that Apatow goes into a movie not always knowing what he wants in a scene. He may have specific plot points, but is unclear of how it should be said and lives for the improvisational skills of his actors. Smith, on the other hand, sticks to the script more and has a clear plan of attack. --posted by Kim 22 ottobre Alternative Horror Classics Just in time for Halloween, Kathleen Murphy offers a list of ten alternative horror movies sure to scare the pants off anyone:
PSYCHOS AND SLASHERS "Raw Meat" / "Death Line" (Gary Sherman, 1972) I first saw this supercreepy British flick at a drive-in, in a car full of weed-smokin' folk looking to get off on another silly monster mash. By the time the camera snaked its way deep into the bowels of the London subway system to slither through a stomach-turning abattoir where some thing encouraged its pregnant mate to drink from a corpse, we'd fallen dead silent. Seems that, back in 1892, an unfinished tunnel collapsed, cutting off a clutch of men and women laborers. Too expensive to dig them out, so the survivors were left to die -- but somehow they didn't. And now one of the last descendants of the tribe has come up for food. Trust me, you will never be able to scrape his mush-mouthed moan, "Mind the doors," out of your nightmares. "Black Christmas" (Bob Clark, 1974) The Canadian blandness of the characters and location in "Christmas" -- sorority girls (young Margot Kidder and Andrea Martin among them) bouncing around a fusty old mansion -- ups the horror generated by this little classic. Sure, the sisters may have some problems (unwanted pregnancy, possessive boyfriend, unloving parents), but these are human-sized in light of persistent phone calls from someone (or something) emitting bestial grunts, howls and slobbers. At the beginning, the camera sneaks into the sorority house like an unclean stalker or voyeur. By the shocker ending, as the film withdraws from what's become a slaughterhouse, the POV has devolved into something dead-eyed, inhuman -- making your flesh crawl even as you exit this very bad place. Read her entire list here. --posted by Kim 17 ottobre Go See 'W.' Like every good red-blooded curious American citizen, I implore you to see Oliver Stone's controversial "W." -- if not for Josh Brolin only (and everyone should want to see him in everything), and conversation.
The reviews are incredibly mixed, most likely since, though flawed, the movie is an at times, surreal work of satire and sympathy (I loved the picture's weird tone -- and one inspired scene featuring an alien-looking current cabinet trudging through the Texas heat).
"W." is also unresolved, leading some critics to wonder if it's either too early or too late to make a biopic about our current president.
Not certain. But damn if the movie doesn't make you want to eat a sandwich.
I'll have a more extensive review later. As for now, go see the the movie. You'll have something to discuss and/or argue about over the weekend.
And as always, remember to vote.
--posted by Kim 14 ottobre Make-up Mishaps
The act of transforming, it can't always be accomplished from the inside; sometimes we need a little cosmetic assistance, especially in Hollywood. And we're not talking plastic surgery, Pilates or salicylic acid peels; we're talking makeup, prosthetics and fat suits, an art form that has existed since the beginning of cinema. From Lon Chaney's ingenious and innovative creations, like his remarkable Quasimodo from "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," to Rick Baker's brilliant American werewolves in London to Lee Grimes' team de-glamming Charlize Theron's mug in "Monster," makeup is enough to make or break a movie. And it even helps wins Oscars (see Nicole Kidman's nose in "The Hours" and Theron's teeth and skin in "Monster"). With that in mind, we can't wait to see the cavalcade of made-up actors in Oliver Stone's already controversial "W.," a movie that casts the younger and more handsome Josh Brolin as President George W. Bush through various stages of his life. Will it work? Or will we crack up every time hottie Elizabeth Banks walks on as Laura Bush? All of this "W" (Dubya) anticipation has us thinking about other movies that have used and, in this case, abused the makeup brush. Here are 10 examples that could really use another makeover. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961) The offense: Insane Asian Persuasion The cosmetically challenged: Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi The lipstick on the collar: Cinema boasts (or hangs its head in shame over, rather) a long list of Asian characters played not so convincingly by Anglo-Saxon actors. From the misguided but not necessarily offensive performances (Marlon Brando in "The Teahouse of the August Moon," Katharine Hepburn in "Dragon Seed," John Wayne in "The Conqueror") to the downright appalling (Rob Schneider in "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry"), Asians have and continue to receive the "no ticky, no laundry" treatment, even during our supposedly more enlightened era. But perhaps the worst and most iconic politically incorrect offender is Mickey Rooney's perpetually perturbed photographer Mr. Yunioshi in Blake Edwards' otherwise charming classic "Breakfast at Tiffany's." As neighbor to Audrey Hepburn's flighty Holly Golightly, Mr. Yunioshi is a man whose life consists of eating bowls of noodles, sleeping on his futon and screaming at the doorbell: "Miss Golightly! I proteeeest!" With false buck teeth, darkened skin and slicked, black hair, the look and act was so insulting that a young Bruce Lee reportedly stared at the screen in disgusted disbelief, vowing to change the face of Asians in cinema forever. (With that in mind, perhaps Mr. Yunioshi wasn't so bad, after all.) Nevertheless, even director Edwards has admitted to a serious error in judgment by allowing such a performance, and more than likely cringes every time the movie switches from little black dresses to little white kimonos. "Miss Golightly! You-a disturbing me!" Really? You disturb us, Mr. Rooney. "Trog" (1970) The offense: Monkey Dearest The cosmetically challenged: Joe Cornelius as Trog The lipstick on the collar: Regarding bad prosthetics, wretched makeup and general missing link unlikeness, it almost feels like shooting fish in a barrel going after such classic camp fare as "Trog." But the fact remains: This is one of the worst renderings of a troglodyte in cinema history. OK, so there aren't many troglodytes to choose from, but star Joan Crawford (who in her final role plays a sensitive anthropologist studying the behavior of a trapped cave creature she names Trog) is one game gal acting her talented heart out to a hairy man in a busted up Halloween monkey mask. Forget "Mildred Pierce," this is what Joan should have won her Oscar for. Even Bette Davis (who must have enjoyed a good cackle over this one) would agree. And, equally as important, Joan's makeup is far superior. Read eight other offenders here. --posted by Kim 13 ottobre William Claxton:1927-2008 Goodbye to the great William Claxton:
"William Claxton, the master photographer whose images of Chet Baker helped fuel the jazz trumpeter's stardom in the 1950s and whose fashion photographs of his wife modeling a topless swim suit were groundbreaking years later, has died. He was 80.
"Claxton died from complications of congestive heart failure Saturday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his wife, actress and model Peggy Moffitt Claxton, told The Times.
"In a career spanning more than a half century, Claxton also became well known for his work with celebrities including Frank Sinatra and Steve McQueen, who became a close personal friend; but he gained his foremost public recognition for his photographs of jazz performers including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Torme, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk and Stan Getz. But it was his photographs of Baker that helped teach him the true meaning of the word photogenic. "'I was up all night developing when the face appeared in the developing tray,' Claxton told the Irish Times in 2005. 'A tough demeanor and a good physique but an angelic face with pale white skin and, the craziest thing, one tooth missing -- he'd been in a fight. I thought, my God, that's Chet Baker.'"
--posted by Kim Odds And Ends--Eva Longoria-Parker sets the record straight about gaining a full seven pounds. Yeah, can you believe that? Seven pounds. She should just quit showbiz and open up her own franchise 31 Flavors like, right now.
--"Twilight" trailer making all 12-year-old Goth Girls a twitter.
--What all the gossip bloggers didn't know they were wating for: Dakota Fanning is a Diva. Damn right she is! My favorite little actress should be. Stupid haters.
--They can't make this movie without Mel Gibson. Sorry. My plea is for Shane Black to hunt him down and smack some sense into him, Moe Howard style. And I think Mel likes being smacked so it couldn't be too hard.
--posted by Kim
10 ottobre Put Your Lips Together And Diss... If I ever go through a major breakup while making a Lars von Trier movie (because, you know it could happen), I hope to God Lauren Bacall is there for me.
Here's the legendary actress dissing Tom Cruise (for one of her best friends, Nicole Kidman) in the latest edition of Elle Magazine (via Huffington Post):
"Seeing Cruise move on was tough, however: Her pal Lauren Bacall says that Kidman was 'unhappy' on the set of 2003's 'Dogville.' 'Tom had taken off for Penelope Cruz or some goddamn thing -- one of his more ridiculous moves,' Bacall says. Taking a slight jab at the actor, she tells Elle, 'Tom Cruise is a maniac. I can't understand the way he conducts his life.'"
I love that I can hear her smokey voice through it all.
--posted by Kim
Friday Night At The Movies Ridley Scott's "Body of Lies" (starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russsell Crowe) gets a dismissive review from Variety:
"Neither the location-based verisimilitude of Ridley Scott's shooting style nor the estimable Middle East expertise of source-material author David Ignatius can disguise 'Body of Lies' as anything other than the contrived phony-baloney it is. Coming on like an inside account of CIA operations against jihad-minded terrorists, the pic shows its true colors by featuring a shootout, chase or big explosion every 10 minutes or so."
The New Yorker's David Denby did like the picture, however:
"The movie is smart and tightly drawn; it has a throat-gripping urgency and some serious insights, and Scott has a greater command of space and a more explicit way with violence than most thriller directors."
Bill Murray's latest, "City of Ember" is either getting a messy, but still lovable look or a simply messy critique. The good and bad takes seemed to be wrapped up in Cammila Albertson's positive review at TV Guide:
"A fun and moving family film with a subtly dark feel rarely seen in kids' movies since the '80s, 'City of Ember' succeeds despite its shortcomings, not only because of its fun and inspiring story, but because most of its flaws are things kids won't notice anyway."
Read more all-over-the-map reviews of movies opening today at MetaCritic.
--posted by Kim 08 ottobre Deconstructing Murray
With Bill Murray's latest movie, "City of Ember" set to open, MSN's Jim Emerson looks back at some of the comic (and also dramatic) actor's best: "No matter how manic the character, there's always been a calm at the core of Bill Murray's being, and you can see it in his eyes.
"What other actor can so successfully do over-the-top nutty and deadpan at the same time? And as he's gotten older, he's pulled himself in, closer and closer to that quiet center.
"At heart, Murray's an anarchist like Groucho Marx: Even when he's playing the unctuous cheerleader in, say, 'Meatballs' or 'Stripes,' you don't feel he particularly cares about the outcome of the story (i.e., whether he and his charges actually succeed at their plot-assigned task); it's all about putting on a show. His show. And, like Groucho, he's also a quick-change artist, slipping from ersatz earnestness into ironic commentary into whatever pose will allow him to continue riffing on the scene.
"From the beginning, Murray possessed an uncanny ability to make an entire movie play his straight man. He's both in the movie and apart from it, conducting a satirical running commentary on the artifice of it all -- the plot, the characters, the whole construct that is a movie -- and pulling the audience into a private, conspiratorial relationship with him.
In other words, we love the knucklehead. In honor of his latest, 'City of Ember,' here ya go: 'Deconstructing Murray.'"
"Meatballs" (1979)
The character: Tripper Harrison
What about him: A camp counselor who knows that camp is a good place to score with young female camp counselors.
Murray moment: The convention-demolishing pep talk: "And even if we win, if we win, HAH! Even if we play so Analysis: The early Murray's philosophical attitude toward life is summed up in that speech.
Read the entire list here.
--posted by Kim David Cronenberg To Adapt Robert Ludlum? Wow. David Cronenberg, Denzel Washington and Robert Ludlum...who would have thought? Did Tony Scott pull out of this one? (Not that I don't love Mr. Scott -- and without shame).
Here's the details via ComingSoon:
"David Cronenberg is in negotiations to direct political thriller 'The Matarese Circle' for MGM, reports Variety.
"Denzel Washington is attached to star in the film, which is based on a Robert Ludlum novel.
"Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the book revolves around two men — one American, one Soviet — who must cooperate in order to foil a sinister plot to topple the world's governments.
"Writing partners Michael Brandt and Derek Haas ('3:10 to Yuma') wrote the adaptation. Lorenzo di Bonaventura is producing alongside Nick Wechsler and Jeffrey Weiner. MGM is eyeing a spring start date."
If all goes through, I'll be excited to see what Cronenberg adds to this material. I'm hoping quite a lot.
--posted by Kim Extra Digit Diva Ladies and Gentlemen, meet my new favorite Bond Girl, Gemma Arterton, a woman who proudly carried extra digits -- and I'm not talking an alternative phone number:
"Bond girls have long been exceptional women. From Ursula Andress to Halle Berry, they have each embodied the feminine ideal of their particular time. Gemma Arterton, the statuesque stunner who plays Agent Fields in next month's 'Quantum of Solace,' has proven herself to be exceptional not only for her English Rose beauty, but also because she was born with six fingers on each hand.
"'It's my little oddity that I'm really proud of,' she said to Esquire magazine. 'It makes me different.' Different indeed. The condition, called Polydactyly, occurs in 1 of every 500 births."
In a land of fake white teeth, breast enhancement balloons and Botox abuse, I wish Miss Arterton had never removed them. But Bravo to her for talking about it. Again though, just think of her potential piano playing skills.
--posted by Kim |
|
|
