The Academy Awards are tomorrow night, and I will be watching . . . if my legs are broken, the TV is on that channel, and I am unable to reach the remote or successfully gauge my eyes out before the broadcast begins. But my disinterest in watching red carpets, solipsistic acceptance speeches, millionaires picking their favorite millionaires, etc. won’t stop me from picking the winners: (more…)
According to this article, Ashton Kutcher (who technically is a movie star) is being sent by the “State Department to Russia as part of a tech delegation.” As long as he’s not there to make movies, I think this is a very, very good thing. I support stimulus money going to getting Mr. Kutcher a permanent residence in Russia. While were at it, I’d like to answer the number one question in the country right now: Why is Ashton Kutcher a movie star? Because nature abhors a vacuum.
Was the guy from Dodgeball snubbed by the Academy for his stellar performance? James Cameron says so . .
And Kubrick’s classic 1980 movie The Shining is his hidden confession? I love conspiracy theories, not because they are true but because they are generally interesting and entertaining. The author has put a great deal of thought into his Kubrick/Moon Landing Haux/Shining Confession, which is what makes it a great read.
A teaser of some of the “proof” of the theory:
May I humbly suggest that the word “All” in this repeated sentence actually stands for “A11″ that is: “A-One-One”, or Apollo 11? “A11 work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
Check it out here.
I came across the flickr feed of a very good designer named Brandon Schaefer who likes to re-imagine movie posters. I added a couple of my favorites below.
Men In Black
The Dark Knight
Finding Forrester
Take a look at the whole set. All of them are very interesting.
I am not usually one to write up the death of an actor or actress. Let’s be honest, with the amount of films that come out every year, not to mention 1000+ channels of nonsense on television statistically we should be losing people every day. Throw in the lifestyle that so many of these people leave it is surprising that they have enough people to keep Hollywood going. Well, I guess that is why Paris Hilton gets work – she has the uncanny ability to keep herself from overdosing, and her ego is just beyond the point where it collapses in upon itself creating a black hole of conceit so large that it consumes all of media.Today however I wanted to pay tribute to Brittany Murphy who died today after suffering full cardiac arrest.
In the early 1990’s, Brittany had recurring roles in in shows like Drexell’s Class and Almost Home, but her big break came when she starred as Tai opposite Alicia Silverstone in 1995’s Clueless. After scoring a role in Drop Dead Gorgeous in 1999, she gave a brilliant performance as Daisy Randone in Girl, Interrupted. Despite much of the hubbub surrounding the movie being about the performances or Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder, Murphy gave her own very good and rather disturbing performance. Roles in many major films followed, such as Summer Catch, Riding in Cars with Boys, 8 Mile, Sin City and a voice role in Happy Feet. She also recorded a pair of songs for the movie. Voice acting was nothing new to Murphy who was the voice of Luanne in King of the Hill.
Sadly, you will be able to see her next year in The Expendables which has already finished filming, although I wouldn’t suggest it. Those who have read about/seen the trailer for this film will understand.
The subject is “s-e-x” (hint: that spells sex!) so be warned. But mainly be warned that this may in fact be the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. I’m starting to love the Chinese newsmedia’s coverage, which is good because they may be all we have in ten years. Whatever you do, make sure you see the innovative shot at the 1:07 mark: Enjoy: (more…)
I really don’t care about Golf or celebrity scandals, but I’m sorry, this video of a Chinese TV station covering the Tiger Woods story just cracks me up: (more…)
Yeah, I know. It’s a movie blog, not about book reviews. However, these books have created quite a sensation, and they have spawned a series of unfortunate movies.
Also, yeah I know, I did actually read a book with the target audience of 13 yr old girls, and short of a few things I’ll discuss further on I put it about on par with reading something like Clive Cussler.
Brian Alterman, one of our Film Is Pwn partners in crime, had bought the book a long long time ago based on the first “it’s the new Harry Potter” news and as he loved the HP series he picked it up. He made it 30 pages and couldn’t finish.
We happened to be talking about it Saturday and I mentioned my curiosity was getting the best of me and I wanted to read it so he gave me his copy of the first book. I read the whole thing in one sitting. About 4-5 hours, including talking to my wife about it as I went. Needless to say, it’s not a hard read at all. (more…)
I regularly watch the syndicated, film review TV show At The Movies (Formerly Siskel & Ebert/Ebert & Roeper) and was very surprised when both the current hosts, Michael Phillips and A.O. Scott gave reserved recommendations to the sparkly vampire vs. glittering werewolf film Twilight: New Moon that is staggeringly setting box-office records this weekend. New York Times’ Scott did give the film perhaps the ultimate backhanded compliment and perhaps revealed a little too much about himself when he stated, and I quote:
“I know that all of America is waiting breathlessly for the opinion of two middle-aged guys on this movie. . . I liked this too, and I say, See It. It’s not just a movie for teenage girls, it’s a movie that turns everyone watching into a teenage girl. And I enjoyed that.”
I believe Mr. Scott said too much, but he did give me and his co-host a hearty laugh and provided yet another reason I do not want to see the film in spite of the recommendations of two respected film critics.
Updated 11-23-09: Here’s the link to see the hilarious segment yourself, check it out.
It’s another day and another unexpected source has weighed in on tomorrow’s *cough* major motion picture, 2012. This was brought to my attention by my brother Joseph that in MSNBC.com’s review of the combination disaster of a film/disaster film 2012, the byline actually reads:
“Doomsday film less interested in plausible truth than it is in big box-office”
image: detail of installation by Bronwyn Lace