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28 giugno Shouldn't He Be Worth At Least A Dollar By Now?Over at ScreenGrab, Brian Whitefield reveals that he really doesn't like 50 Cent so much. For all you old folks, 50 Cent is the rapper turned actor, not the coin George Raft stylishly flips in "Scarface" (though Raft is much, much cooler).
"From the WTF? department comes news that rapper 50 Cent is in negotiations to appear in the upcoming film 'Righteous Kill,' starring Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro as a pair of cops chasing a serial killer. In a role sure to stretch his limits as an actor, Mr. Cent will play 'a drug dealer who helps the detectives with their investigation.'"
Read his entire rant here.
And I have to say I agree with him. I also agree with the weirdnes that is DeNiro and Pacino brought to you by the director of "Fried Green Tomatoes." Will the film contain the inspiring moment in which Pacino slams his car into a couple of arrogant young punks who took his parking space? And will he stand up to his husband and stop eating all those candy bars? And...alright, stopping.
--posted by Kim What's Michael Moore Watching?
What is Michael Moore currently watching? MSN's Sean Axmaker asked the director what's in his DVD player and the answer is kind of perfect:
"It's hard to imagine Michael Moore as a revolutionary filmmaker, but his record is difficult to deny. His 1989 documentary 'Roger & Me,' directed with what is now his trademark mix of satirical comedy and political theatrics, turned documentary filmmaking into an act of cinematic activism. 'Warner Bros. told me that they never had booked a documentary in a multiplex or a shopping mall before 'Roger & Me,'' recalls the director. With 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' the filmmaking rabble-rouser mined both Oscar and box-office gold with the first documentary blockbuster. Now he's taking on the broken health care system in America with 'Sicko' [opening Friday]. In the midst of a barnstorming promotional tour for a film sure to stir up political debate (and inspire a whole new wave of personal attacks upon the director himself), he took time out to talk to us about his films, his DVD plans and the documentaries he's watching."
"MSN Movies: What's in your DVD player?
"Michael Moore: I carry with me on this tour a portable DVD player and my laptop computer, and I'm in the process of watching a number of films for Traverse City Film Festival that I set up where I live up in northern Michigan. And tonight I want to watch this Mike Judge film that never got released, called 'Idiocracy,' because I really love his work."
Well, it did get released (in about seven cities and for about seven hours) but he's about correct. And, I'm thinking he'll like the movie.
Read more of Moore here. And read my review of the highly underrated "Idiocracy" (which made my honorable mention of one of last year's best pictures) here.
--posted by Kim 27 giugno The New Wave Of Horror: PG-13All of those who went on and on about the gore and depravity of "Hostel Part II" can now be happy. According to Cinematical, studios are pausing on making any new gore/horror films:
"First, the 'Hills Have Eyes' studio Fox Atomic is apparently taking a step back from the horror biz. B-D says that the only horror flick that is currently being made by the company is a PG-13 remake of 'The Entity' -- an interesting choice for youth-friendly fare, as it's a supposed-to-be-true story about a woman tormented and sexually molested by an invisible demon. BD speculates that no one should hold their breath to see the next '28 Days Later' installment, which was planned to work up to '28 Years Later.'
"But that's not all: B-D also points to a recent chat between MTV and Brittany Snow, the 'Hairspray' actress who just shot a remake to 'Prom Night' -- or rather, a re-invention: 'It's just taking the same name as 'Prom Night' the original, but it's a different script. It's actually more in the vein of 'Fear,' with Reese Witherspoon and Mark Wahlberg.' Yeah, yeah. But here is the kicker: 'It's more of a thriller. There's no blood, guts or gore.' On the one hand, I could ask why they'd bother to refer to it as a remake of the 80's slasher film, when there's no blood and an entirely different script. On the other -- is this backlash going overboard? And what does this mean? Will the victims fall all old-school cowboy style, with a grimace and an exaggerated collapse?"
I'm sure a lot of this has to do with money but come on. Once a few people deem what may or may not be rightfully vile, judgement runs the risk of spreading like a virus and potentially interesting movies are threatened. Think of what Michael Powell went through when he made the masterful "Peeping Tom"--the outcry ruined his career. And Georges Franju's masterpiece "Eyes Without a Face" shocked cinemagoers so much that the critical establishment shunned the picture and one English critic who admitted to liking it was nearly fired.
I'm not suggesting "Hostel Part II" is anywhere near the brilliance of "Peeping Tom" or "Eyes Without a Face," I'm just always fearful of critical and public outcries, no matter how I feel about the work. If it means rubbishing the chances of a future Franju, it's a bad thing indeed.
--posted by Kim Nicole Does...Nintendo?
Nicole Kidman is one of our most gifted actresses and I'm always happy to see her in just about anything.
Among her many expertly played roles, she's been a sociopathic climber in "To Die For," a song happy courtesan in "Moulin Rouge," a distraught, child loving widow in "Birth," and a very, very depressed Virginia Woolf in "The Hours."
As far as I'm concerned, she can do it all (well, except play Diane Arbus).
So why Nintendo Nicole? I'm not really being critical here, I'm seriously just wondering. Chanel, I get. But Nintendo? Since you seem obsessed with challenges and you work nonstop, perhaps your newest role required the same disclipline and inner searching that you rocked in Lars von Trier's brilliant "Dogville?" Perhaps. It is a brain power system.
Nevertheless, I'm excited for Noah Baumbach's "Margot at the Wedding." Why am I talking directly to you? I need some sleep.
--posted by Kim Ethical To Animals, Rude to HumansThis was incredibly rude. And kind of stupid. Prompted by Michael Moore’s anticipated documentary "Sicko," opening this weekend, PETA (People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals) decided to relay the overweight director a message. It was quite simple: You are fat. And not only did they tell him he was fat but, because "Sicko" is critical of U.S.'s healthcare system, he's also a hypocrite: “'There’s an elephant in the room, and it is you,' says Ingrid Newkirk, President of PETA in a letter to Moore. Newkirk went on to tell Moore he should become a vegetarian because doing so might make him lose weight. She then referred him to her PETA website GoVeg.com for meat-free recipes and ended the letter with, 'As they say at Nike (sorry!): ‘Just do it.'” Gosh PETA, so because he's fat he's not qualified to discuss our problematic system of healthcare? Going by their logic, he would be a hypocrite if he was an alcoholic or had cancer or emphysema. Please. And don't they know that Moore said (and to a prominment member of PETA, Bill Maher) that while making this documentary he was inspired to take better care of himself, eat vegetables and exercise? Also, um...vegetarians can be overweight. Sorry but bread, ramen, french fries and Hydrox cookies will make you fat. Trust me, I knew a lot vegans in college. --posted by Kim 26 giugno Sticking Up For Paris
After discussing this very same topic to mostly deaf ears, I'm happy Lisa Wade has so perfectly explained my frustration concerning venomous public hatred for a person I would probably intensely dislike in real life. Yes, Paris Hilton.
Lisa Wade is so right. And I love that this Ph.D. in sociology boldly admits to liking Paris...just a little.
Here's what she wrote at The Huffington Post:
"But our hatred of Paris is not just about her money and the (underserved) power it accrues to her. These quotes show that our hatred of Paris is conspicuously gendered. Not that we wouldn't hate her if she were a man, but we would hate her differently.
"What brings about this distinctly sexist disgust?
"Paris Hilton both embodies and defies idealized femininity in contemporary America. She embodies idealized femininity with her (racially) white, blonde good looks, a thinness that evokes fragility, and a clear need to be admired by others. She is the perfect female: coy, but ultimately passive, counting on her beauty to inspire our devotion. And Paris draws both men and women in...even those of us that find her appalling find her performance of femininity fascinating, even hypnotically appealing. Many more of us, perhaps, than would admit as much.
"But Paris also defies idealized femininity. She's a dick. And I mean that exactly how it sounds. She is unapologetically rich. She is callous and cruel towards the disadvantaged on 'The Simple Life.' We can only imagine how frivolously she must treat her trendy pocket pets; how unkind she must be towards her entourage of paid help; how fickle with her friends. She even has sex when she wants with who she wants and doesn't apologize for it (something that the commenters above find particularly infuriating). In a world which expects women (especially, studies show, beautiful ones) to be nice and care about other people, she is mean and selfish in ways that we only allow men to be."
Read her entire treatment of Hilton here. To make a lousy joke, you might think that the real bad "lay" isn't Paris but that other rich jerk...Kenneth.
--posted by Kim Bruce Almighty
Once upon a time, Bruce Willis swore he would stop with the action extravaganzas. No more blazing skyscrapers, no more double-fisted shotgun blasts, no more meteors hurtling from space. He had come into his own, after all, moving from the wisecracking, clever TV star of "Moonlighting" to the action icon of "Die Hard" to the Tarantino badass of "Pulp Fiction" to the forlorn, empathetic specter of "The Sixth Sense." And we thought, "Fine, no more action." He was and obviously still is an actor -- an understated, funny, sensitive and sometimes daring actor.
But perhaps the megastar has lightened up -- or knows a good franchise when he sees one. He decided to break his action rule a few years ago, and now he's reprising his famous character of John McClane in this summer's eagerly anticipated "Live Free or Die Hard." He must understand that he's proved himself -- he can play poignant, he can play comedic, he can play edgy -- and that those qualities needn't be obscured in the newest edition of "Die Hard." Isn't that why we liked John McClane so much in the first place?
With that, we're taking a look at the actor's greatest work, an oeuvre of performances that are almost all surprisingly terrific. Like Humphrey Bogart or Robert Mitchum before him (and trust me, those are not names I throw around lightly), Willis, with a few exceptions, is consistent, even in inferior movies; the guy rarely makes a false move. And like those tough guys mentioned above, he's got a lot more depth than we usually credit him with. Here are 10 roles that prove it.
10. "The Last Boy Scout" (1991)
"The Last Boy Scout" was much maligned upon release, specifically for its vicious violence and dark, cynical characters. But that's what makes its neo-noir performances so intriguing. Willis' ex-Secret Service agent is a hero (he jumped in front of bullets for President Jimmy Carter), but he's not living a charmed life. Now, he's a washed-up private eye whose wife is cheating on him because she is, to put it simply, sick of him. Hired to protect a threatened stripper (played by Halle Berry), he forges a relationship with her boyfriend, a disgraced, Demerol-addicted NFL star (Damon Wayans) who was kicked out of the league for gambling. Working with a justice-bound character -- who is nearly a loser (and most critics could not see him as anything but) -- Willis isn't afraid to take his character into shaded, sinister territory. He's also incredibly funny. Directed by Tony Scott and written by Shane Black (who in addition to "Lethal Weapon" also crafted the underrated "The Long Kiss Goodnight" and "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"), the picture is filled with amusing banter between Willis and Wayans, with Willis effortlessly flexing his quick-quipped muscles. Read my entire list of Mr. Willis here.
--posted by Kim Germany Says Nein WayGermany has never been down with Scientology. The country will not recognize the religion as a church, claiming the belief system founded by L. Ron Hubbard is only a "money making cult."
Now a lot of people think this, but Germany isn't messing around, especially when it comes to depictions of their national heroes. So with Bryan Singer's "Valkyrie" currently shooting, they say no way in Germany. The picture stars promiment Scientologist Tom Cruise as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a man who led an unsuccessful plot to kill Adolf Hitler during World War II. Germany's Defense Military finds the casting of Cruise unacceptable.
"Due to Tom Cruise's affiliation with the Church of Scientology, the Teutonic governmental body has prohibited shooting the WWII thriller at German military sites. Decision was based on Germany's longstanding contention that Scientology is not a religion but an exploitative, profit-based business concern.
"It's not the first time Cruise has butted heads with the German government. In 1996, German politicians called for a boycott of 'Mission: Impossible' and other Cruise films (the first in the franchise earned $24.2 million in Germany; volumes two and three brought in $27.7 million and $10.4 million. respectively). In 2004, the star was told that he could not film scenes for 'Mission: Impossible III' in Berlin's historic Reichstag, a site strictly off-limits for any lensing, though Scientology was apparently not part of the equation.
"Cruise met with U.S. Ambassador to Germany Dan Coats in 2002 in an attempt to get German officials to soften their views on the Church of Scientology, which has been officially monitored there since 1997.
"For years Cruise has been outspoken in his enthusiasm for science-fiction author and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's alleged faith, claiming that it cured his dyslexia, among other benefits. During the filming of Steven Spielberg's "War of the Worlds," Cruise had a tent on set offering counseling from Scientology ministers. In 2005 Cruise referred to psychiatry -- which Scientology rejects -- as a 'Nazi science.'"
--posted by Kim 25 giugno On The Road, On The Big Screen
Books to movies. It's always a debate. And it's always something avid readers hope filmmakers won't royally screw up.
With this in mind and thinking of Peter Jackson taking on "The Lovely Bones" LAist looks at five book-to-film projects possibly underway in Hollywood.
"'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay' by Michael Chabon.
"This Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel could be easily botched. Big time. While we loved our comic book artists in print, we can't imagine who might play them properly in film. Or how film might accurately and not-cheesily capture the fantastical comic story they write about the lovely Luna Moth. We were excited when we read that Scott Rudin would produce, Stephen Daldry would direct and both Natalie Portman & Tobey Maguire were on board. Natalie as Luna? Yum. Yet, after some swithcheroos at Paramount, it's all on hold.
"Botch Factor: Medium to high."
Read the rest including "On the Road," "A Confederacy of Dunces," "Choke" and "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" here.
And I, for one, am highly worried about "Dunces." As much as I love him, and the casting is still in rumor stage, I just can't get on board with Will Ferrell in a fat suit. Why not find a fat actor to play Ignatius J. Riley? I realize there are very few left (and so does Fred White) and Horatio Sanz probably doesn't have the chops but maybe Jack Black? With a little more lb's? Think of Black saying:
"A frozen orange juice can came flying out of one of the windows and barely missed me. I stooped over and picked it up in order to inspect the empty tin cylinder for a communication of some sort, but only a viscous residue on concentrated juice trickled out on my hand. Was this some obscene message? While I was pondering the matter and staring up at the window from which the can had been hurled, an old vagrant approached the wagon and pleaded for a frankfurter. Grudgingly I sold him one, ruefully concluding that, as always, work was interfering at a crucial moment."
Hmm...maybe not. Maybe we should leave that great book alone.
--posted by Kim About A Playboy
"Rush Hour" auteur Brett Ratner is set to direct "Playboy" about, not surprisingly, the life of Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner. The ubiquitous Brian Grazer is producing, and John Hoffman is writing the screenplay.
Variety covered the long road the project has taken:
"Grazer optioned Hefner's life rights several years ago. The producer's '8 Mile' scribe Scott Silver tried it as a musical, and Oliver Stone developed several drafts. Making a film of Hefner's long life as icon of the sexual revolution has proven difficult, but Ratner and Hoffman found a way to do it that pleased Grazer and the 81-year-old Hefner, who approved the take late last week in a meeting at the Playboy Mansion."
A musical? And, damn. Oliver Stone? He would have been perfect (remember he wrote "Scarface") though, most likely not in ways Hefner would have approved of.
So who's going to play Hefner? My friend, writer D.K. Holm cited the perfect person, Bruce Campbell. Based on this ad alone, he should be the choice. He's like twenty times hotter than Hef but, still, it's Hollywood. Are you listening Ratner?
--posted by Kim Hogs, Dogs And...?Will this become a trilogy? The balding, paunchy, but we've still got it going on and no we're not homosexuals!, middle aged men trilogy?
After the massive success of "Wild Hogs," director Walt Becker is now crafting the more blatantly titled "Old Dogs" which will star Robin Williams, John Travolta, Kelly Preston and possibly, Matt Dillon (who is in final talks regarding the picture).
"Written by David Diamond and David Weissman, the story revolves around a divorced father of 6-year-old twins and his womanizing best friend/business partner who have their hands full when they're forced to care for the kids for two weeks. Dillon will play Barry, the overzealous leader of the summer camp where they take the kids. He is ultraconservative and thinks the two men (Williams, Travolta) are actually gay lovers who have adopted the twins. He keeps a sharp eye on the two at all times."
And...hilarity will ensue. Jeez. Man movies are becoming the new chick flicks.
--posted by Kim
Mighty Disapointed
The most expensive comedy ever made, "Evan Almighty" (insert, "I thought 'Superman Returns' was the most expensive comedy ever made" joke here) didn't draw the numbers the studio was hoping for.
Maybe because so many Americans were watching five seconds of this for free, laughing longer and creating more positive buzz than the studios could ever dream of. Maybe.
Oh well. Perhaps, fitting with the movie, a miracle will happen and no one will want to see the newest "Die Hard" this coming weekend. Everyone will be watching this action extravaganza.
Here's the top five movies over the weekend:
1. "Evan Almighty"--$32.112 million
2. "1408"--$20.175 million 3. "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer"--$20.150 million
4. "Ocean's Thirteen"--$11.345 million 5. "Knocked Up"--$10.636 million --posted by Kim 24 giugno Singin' Its Praises
There's the classic scene. It's almost boring to talk about, it's such a given--Gene Kelly dancing in the rain and puddles in his soaked suit and hat is one of the most joyful moments in film history.
And truly it is. Because no matter how many times you've watched the gorgeously athletic Kelly happily tap-dancing and stomping through the studio-created rainstorm, it never appears dated, never tiresome, and never less rhapsodic than the first time you saw it. You get goose bumps. And, depending on where you are in life, you may even cry. That kind of almost unattainable joy is so beautiful, you're given to misty thoughts of when you were (or have you ever been?) that absolutely blissful. Is it even possible to express yourself with such exuberance without being, well, certifiably nuts?
Although narrow-minded or simply unknowledgeable curmudgeons frown on movie musicals, complaining of their goofiness, or throwing out the standard, tired line that "no one would do those things in real life" (to which you reply, who wants real life all the time?), the scene never plays phony. Kelly, as exacting as he was, is certainly happy doing what he loved most--dancing and singing, in this case, in the rain. This is reality for Gene Kelly.
And rent it. I heard it's raining in Portland, Oregon. Though this sounds a bit trite, there truly is nothing like watching an old MGM musical on a rainy day. Some of my fondest memories involve a grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, saltines and "Singin' In the Rain."
--posted by Kim 23 giugno Top Trilogies
Are three films better than one? Given the threesome craze raging through this summer's cinema ("Spider-Man," "Shrek," "Pirates of the Caribbean," the "Oceans" films) I’m going to easily answer that question with a declarative N-O.
Though movie fans get excited over their final "Matrix" or or "X-Men" or "Lord of the Rings," trilogies, planned or unplanned, frequently leave the viewer disappointed, stuck in a maddening state of comparison. And I can only think of studio execs drooling over the prospect of not only cashing in on continued big screen success but the marketing coup of endless DVDs—single editions, special editions, box sets, extra special box sets and more. But all cynicism aside, there’s still some worthy, even, masterful trilogies that have graced our screens. Here are ten of my favorites.
10. "The Dead Trilogy"
"Night of the Living Dead," "Dawn of the Dead," "Day of the Dead" Director/horror master George Romero followed up his 1968 black-and-white masterpiece about flesh-eating zombies with a pair of terrific pictures that were both inventive and surprising. Rather than continue with the same old, same old (after all, his original movie had been copied countless times), he made a brilliant parody. 1979's "Dawn of the Dead" is a sardonic take on consumerism. The recently dead stalk a massive shopping mall as our four heroes barricade themselves in the various stores. The third film, "Day of the Dead" (1985), is set in an underground missile silo, where the last humans on Earth study the undead. The film's perfect setting is a place where, even pre-election, American confusion reigns: Florida. A female scientist fights the zombies with gusto, gore and more talk than we're used to in a Romero film. Not as good as the first two, "Day of the Dead" is nevertheless entertaining and absorbing. You could say Romero made his own Godfather here, though many would argue Day of the Dead is better than "The Godfather Part III." Maybe Romero and Francis Ford Coppola should join forces and make a Mafia zombie movie? Considering how many zombie movies are made these days, that doesn’t even sound so far-fetched.
--posted by Kim 22 giugno Ageless Andy
I love Andy Griffith. I love his enduring series, "The Andy Griffith Show," which contained frequently strange, multiple layers of meaning, some that were much darker than given credit for. And I loved him in Elia Kazan's subversive and prescient "A Face in the Crowd" a movie that through Griffith's powerful performance, revealed the underbelly and hypocrisy of "home-spun" celebrity.
With this, I was pleased to read that Griffith (the best thing about "Waitress") is back in demand:
"At age 81, Andy Griffith has been discovered. Sure, he'll always be known as Sheriff Andy Taylor, the gentle father to son Opie and gunless lawman in Mayberry who dispensed a homegrown wisdom on the 'The Andy Griffith Show.' Or as the disheveled yet shrewd Atlanta defense lawyer Ben Matlock.
"But he's now a new type of star in the critically acclaimed film 'Waitress.' A supporting character in a movie starring Keri Russell as Jenna, a top-notch pie maker trying to leave her brutish husband, Griffith steals the show as the cranky owner of the diner where she works."
Oh yes, and, not ashamed to say: Love Griffith in "Matlock" too. For a person of the non-cable suscribing persuasion, that show could often be a godsend.
--posted by Kim Friday Night At The 'Mighty' Movies
Michael Winterbottom's "A Mighty Heart" (opening today) is receiving almost unanimous praise (with a few problems).
Here's two very different takes.
"When Angelina Jolie, who plays Mariane in director Michael Winterbottom's lean and swift account, unleashes her anguish upon learning the news of Danny Pearl's beheading, the impact is torrential, and Winterbottom's documentary-style approach pays off. The film isn't much interested in the usual biopic peaks and valleys, or in hyping the punishing limbo of Mariane's life in the weeks after the kidnapping, and before confirmation of her husband's death. But when Jolie cracks open this key moment, it's really something."
"Asking no questions, giving no insights, and demanding nothing of his audience, Winterbottom dramatizes the last days in the life of Daniel Pearl in his typically cold, hyperventilating fashion: cinematography that looks like the walls of the Lincoln Tunnel, shots that don't last more than five seconds, and lazy cultural specificity. His faux sense of urgency attempts to keep the blood pumping, except all it does is camouflage this historical recreation's almost disturbing lack of resonance. Getting at nothing about Daniel's wife Mariane (Jolie) as a woman or a journalist, or the ethical conundrum of Americans living in foreign lands, Winterbottom settles for a cliché portrait of a wife waiting for her husband to come home. The only reason, then, to watch this dull drama is for Jolie, who smothers her star power with a well-researched accent and impressive sea of tics until the script demands her to let out a string of primal screams (for your award consideration, it's the only scene that runs longer than it should)."
And speaking of mighty, that other "mighty" movie opening today is the God comedy "Evan Almighty" starring Morgan Freeman and Steve Carell. (That's too many mighty's in one sentence).
Anyway, the reviews are, for lack of a better description, not so mighty. Among the negative looks was Salon's Stephanie Zacharek who wrote:
"For a movie that's supposed to be about reconnecting with God and ourselves, and cherishing the Earth we live on, Evan Almighty is a surprisingly dispassionate picture."
But according to The Chicago Reader's Jonathan Rosenbaum, it's breezy enough to give stupidity a pass:
"This is idiotic, but it's so good-natured I didn't mind."
Wow. And that was one of the most positive reviews I could find.
Check out Rotten Tomatoes for more reviews of all pictures opening.
--posted by Kim
La-Di-Daaaaaaah
If you never thought you'd see William Friedkin and Woody Allen involved in the same project, it gets even more surprising--they're both directing operas.
Even odder, Allen will be directing the opera right here in Los Angeles, a place where Allen famously claimed "the only cultural advantage is that you can turn right on a red light."
According to Filmstalker:
"[Allen is] going to be taking part in a special part of the LA opera season as two filmmakers take on the three one-act operas of Puccini's Il Trittico. Woody Allen will be directing Gianni Schicchi, with William Friedkin directing Il Tabarro and Suor Angelica. It would have been even nicer if they could have had three film directors for the three pieces, but this is still a very interesting match.
"Allen's comments through Yahoo News are perhaps the most illuminating.
"'I have no idea what I am doing,' Allen said in a statement Thursday. 'But incompetence has never prevented me from plunging in with enthusiasm.'"
Let's hope his singers don't fall into the same trap as many of Allen's actors by taking on the filmmaker's speaking manner. I'd make a Puccini/"I had a mad impulse to throw you down on the lunar surface and commit interstellar perversion" joke but upon reading this, it sounds so musical.
I want tickets.
--posted by Kim 21 giugno Ghastly, GreatNow here is a damn list.
Major bonus points for including exploitation artist Andy Milligan's double feature "The Ghastly Ones" and "The Seeds of Sin."
For more on Milligan, read Jimmy McDonough's masterful biography "The Ghastly One: The Sex, Gore Netherworld of Andy Milligan."
--posted by Kim Chaos WranglerSteve Zahn on working with his "Rescue Dawn" director Werner Herzog and the chaos Herzog thrives on:
""He loves chaos; that's how he works. He would set things up so that people would get crazy, start a rumor. Werner would send an e-mail and say, 'The film is falling apart tomorrow.' The script supervisor would be going out of her mind. He pays no attention to continuity whatsoever. But it really kept you on your toes.'"
Read the entire look here.
And to better experience working with Herzog, rent the great "Burden of Dreams" by Les Blank. Check out Herzog's infamous speech concerning the "harmony of overwhelming and collective murder." Ahhh, nature!
--posted by Kim AFI New Top 100
I like watching these AFI specials even though their lists are about as surprising as classic rock radio. Hmm...wonder if "Stairway to Heaven" ("Citizen Kane") will again be number one? Maybe they'll throw a Nirvana song ("Do the Right Thing") on there to stir things up? Wonder which Pink Floyd tune ("The Wizard of Oz") will crack the top 10?
It's not that I argue necessarily with their order or choices (though I do, but that's good and inevitable for any list) it's that I've already seen them, some, countless times (I realize others haven't and it's not just about me or any other film nerd out there). And of course, there's all kinds of movies missing. Have these people ever heard of Anthony Mann or Samuel Fuller?
But even with the obviousness, I still enjoy viewing all the clips (and think about which pictures to re-watch) and am happy that a lot of viewers will be turned on to pictures like "Swing Time," "Sunset Blvd." or "Nashville."
"Nashville," as it turns out, was among the films added to this 10 year refresh of the top 100 (with newer films like "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings," "Titanic," "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Sixth Sense" added).
Others new to the list or omitted were (thanks Cinematical):
"New to the 2007 list are the following films: The General, Intolerance, Nashville, Sullivan's Travels, Cabaret, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Shawshank Redemption, In The Heat of the Night, All the President's Men, Spartacus, Sunrise, A Night at the Opera, 12 Angry Men, Swing Time, Sophie's Choice, The Last Picture Show, Blade Runner, Toy Story and -- a special cheers to this one -- Do the Right Thing, though it came in at a pretty weak #96.
"Titles that were removed from the 1998 list are: Doctor Zhivago, Birth of a Nation, From Here to Eternity, Amadeus, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Third Man, Fantasia, Rebel Without a Cause, Stagecoach, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Manchurian Candidate, An American in Paris, Wuthering Heights, Dances With Wolves, Giant, Mutiny on the Bounty, Frankenstein (1931), Patton, The Jazz Singer, My Fair Lady, A Place in the Sun, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner and Fargo."
All I can say is, "Titanic" over...about every single one of the movies omitted? That's an easy one to quibble (and I actually think for what it is the picture works) but, still. Over "The Third Man" (which is British so shouldn't have really been on the list in the first place)? "The Manchurian Candidate?" "A Place in the Sun" and "Giant?" What's their beef with George Stevens?
Read more at Cinematical here.
--posted by Kim
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