Recently in Movies Category
Ever wonder what Whitney Port's favorite movies of all time are? Well, good news! She just posted a comprehensible list of flicks on her blog, and needless to say, it's exactly what one would expect from a fledgling designer in New York City's gritty and hip fashion scene. Teen Witch is practically a prerequisite to gain entry to Bryant Park, right?
For those dying of curiosity, check out the full list -- as well as an astute preamble by Whitney herself -- here.
The lovely ladies of Whatever Hollywood went to the movies last week, and guess what they saw? Horror sensation Paranormal Activity. I've been hearing mixed things about the flick — some say it's terrifying, others say it's a snoozefest. Maybe I'll have to see it myself (but probably not because I'm scared of scary movies). Nevertheless, in the meantime, I'll just content myself with the official Whatever Hollywood review. I wouldn't quite call this a raving endorsement, but then again it should be noted that the girls did miss the first ten minutes of the film — so maybe that's where all the good stuff was...
Adam Lambert fans, listen up! The sequined American Idol runner-up has released his first song, dramatically called "A Time For Miracles" from the soundtrack to the upcoming disaster pic 2012. True to form, there's a neat little run of squealing and histrionics, but don't confuse me for a hater. Truth is I actually like the song. Then again, my musical taste is quite suspect; so really, my endorsement means nothing. Anyway, if you'd like to hear Glambert belt out this cinematic tune, check out the video above.
I took in a viewing of the critically lauded film The Hurt Locker this week, and needless to say, it was VERY intense. I pretty much needed a nap afterwards. But that's a good thing. (My friend IndianJones was in such a state of suspense that he actually sat upright like an alert cat during a good portion of the movie.) Oddly enough, despite the critical raves, there doesn't seem to be much of a marketing campaign for the movie, but the studio has released the first eight minutes to the internet to whet people's appetites. Cinematic purists probably shouldn't watch this (it's much better on the big screen), but if you're curious about the movie or don't know anything about it, this clip will certainly fill you in.
Be warned — lots of cussing.
That's it. I can't take it with this Twilight nonsense. I'm gonna rent the damn movie, get drunk, and watch it. Maybe even live blog it. Before that happens though, here are a bunch of tweens and teens reacting to the New Moon trailer as if they were watching the live assassination of a world leader. Who knew lupine transformations could be so thrilling to the under-age set? Then again, there is a video of me out there reacting in a similar manner to Julie Chen saying "But First" on TV three years ago. So to each his own, I suppose. But seriously, these kids need to get a grip.
(My sister-in-law, my cousin, and my friend Lbucha are of course exempt from any disdain.)
Yesterday, I was leafing through the Hollywood Reporter when I came upon the above ad for some shlocky thriller that will be screening in Cannes this week (surely out of competition). The film's name is Burning Bright, and while the title might suggest some sort of reference to Hanukkah or the Shoah Foundation (or at least a much deserved sequel to the 1992 masterpiece, Shining Through), a closer glimpse of the ad copy reveals that there's much more at work here than just an enigmatic name.
I simply don't know what to make of this trailer for Julie & Julia, a film that can best be described as The Hours meets French Cuisine. On the one hand, I'm curious to see if Meryl Streep can go through a whole movie in a Julia Child accent without it being HILARIOUS every time she opens her mouth. On the other hand... well... maybe there is no other hand. Sign me up!
Via Movieline
Note: I didn't realize that Movieline had made essentially the same joke as me about The Hours. However, I still back the observation; so I'm keeping it up.
And here it is.
This week, trailers were released for two feature film adaptations of cherished childhood books: Where The Wild Things Are and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. The former preview has all sorts of buzz (Spike Jonze is directing, the source material is arguably more famous), but I gotta admit that part of me is slightly more intrigued by Cloudy (if I may be so cavalier to call it just Cloudy). Never mind that it's directed by two Dartmouth grads (Phil Lord and Chris Miller), but Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs has always been one of my favorite children's books, and it's something that just seems to beg for a big screen adaptation (even if it is in animated form). However, will it pander to kids too much? Where The Wild Things Are is also a great classic though, but I have to admit I'm somewhat turned off by the slightly pretentious use of the Arcade Fire to score the trailer. That being said, the artistry of Spike Jonze certainly makes up for quite a bit. Hmmm... I'm a bit torn. What do you think?
Trailers for both films after the jump...
One of the many perks of my new apartment is that I'm just a few blocks away from the Kodak Theatre, the famed venue where the Oscars have been staged for the past five or six years. In honor of my easy access to the festivities, I decided to take a jaunt down to Hollywood Boulevard to snap some oh-so-touristy photos. The results of my adventure after the jump...
When news broke this morning that three minutes of a recent Christian Bale tirade on the set of the new Terminator had been caught on tape, I tinge of excitement in my tummy. Memories of Pat O'Brien danced through my head, and I knew the Internet would soon be presenting a giant audio gift for the world to enjoy all day. Sure enough, the rant was just as shockingly vitriolic and actor-ly as I could have hoped — a total diva moment that only makes one wonder how many equal, if not worse, tantrums have gone unrecorded in the lifetime of Hollywood.
Anyway, my first instinct upon hearing the audio was to start mashing it up with something, but already there are so many creative takes on it, why should I waste the time? My favorite reshuffling of the audio comes from a DJ named RevoLucian, who took the venom-spewing wrath of Bale and transformed it into a surprisingly catchy dance track. If it came on in a club, I'd dance to it. The remix, found via Defamer, is above. The pure, unadulterated tirade is after the jump. Both clips are NSFW, audio-wise (put on some headphones).
Ugh. The Academy Award nominations were revealed this morning, and while I was happy with some of the nods, overall I'd say there were a heck of a lot of snubs — so much so that I can't help but shake my head at the travesty of it all. And then, of course, I shake my head at the fact that I'm shaking my head over a frivolous award show. Nevertheless, a complete list of nominees after the jump — as well as my thoughts on each category.
Last but not least in my "Best of 2008" series is film, and for the first time in a while, I feel pretty well informed on the subject. Being that this has been my first awards season as a member of the WGA, I've benefited from copious numbers of screenings and screeners, thus allowing me to see pretty much all the serious contenders. Of course, I do have some gaps in my viewing experience as no foreign flicks and barely any indies wound up on my doorstep; so I've missed out on some acclaimed fare. Oh well.
Nevertheless, I wouldn't say I was particularly blown away by too many movies this year. Many of the much hyped contenders such as Milk and Revolutionary Road failed to speak to me (particularly the latter flick), but there were still several noteworthy films, and hopefully some of the smaller ones will get big time recognition in the next two months as Hollywood begins its annual run of self-congratulatory ceremonies. My favorites of the year after the jump...
One of the perks of being in the Writers Guild is that I get to go to all sorts of screenings and events free of charge. Tonight, I have the option of seeing Seven Pounds a full day before its release (!!), but is it worth the effort to trek down to Beverly Hills just for a few hours of bragging rights? After reading A. O. Scott's review in The New York Times, I'm not so sure. Check out this ringing endorsement:
"Frankly, though, I don’t see how any review could really spoil what may be among the most transcendently, eye-poppingly, call-your-friend-ranting-in-the-middle-of-the-night-just-to-go-over-it-one-more-time crazily awful motion pictures ever made."
Ouch.
Check out the rest of A. O. Scott's scathing review here.
Okay, everyone, I'm blatantly shilling The Haunting of Molly Hartley. I'm working on a script with the producers of this horror movie (out today!), and they're really cool, nice people; so support their movie! Besides, it's got Chace Crawford — a.k.a. Nate Archibald from Gossip Girl. Just think of the potential: Nate AND ghosts! He can barely deal with The Captain, let alone the Humphrey bathroom schedule. I can't even imagine how he'd fare with some otherworldly spectral visions. Sounds like nothing short of a great time!
The Dark Knight may very well be the best movie of the summer, but right now, my favorite might have to be American Teen, the latest documentary from filmmaker Nanette Burstein. The film follows a handful of seniors from Warsaw, Indiana as they navigate the perils and joys of high school — all while following their dreams for a better life. There's the dork, the outsider, the jock, the popular girl, and, of course, the dreamboat. It's all very Breakfast Club, but without the moodiness. In short, it's awesome.
Like, really awesome.
The film totally captures the essence of high school, from the hours wasted hanging out (and often drinking) in someone's basement to the awkwardness of school dances to the pressure of college applications. And, of course, it's all contained in an Oort cloud of petty drama that threatens to destroy these teens' worlds at any moment. That's not to say there's no real substance here: the specters of suicide, manic-depression, and military service linger over many of the storylines. Still, this isn't a film that weighs the audience down with the plight of America's youth. It instead celebrates the teenage years, either sending us on a nostalgic journey back or making us happy that it's over (or both).
Granted, there's not a whole lot of stunning revelations in the picture, but that's really okay. What American Teen may lack in social commentary, it more than makes up for in colorful, engaging characters. I loved watching these kids. I could have watched them for two more hours. I could have watched them for five more hours. Honestly, I simply didn't want the movie to end. Some critics, however, have faulted the film for engaging in "MTV" tactics, complaining that the teens at time seem self-consciously aware of the cameras. However, this is just veiled snobbery at reality TV. Burstein obviously cops many techniques and styles from the genre, making American Teen a bit more akin to The Paper than Hoop Dreams. Still, just because she adopts a newer (dare I say, more current) approach doesn't mean the documentary is any less legitimate. Besides, all documentaries engage in some sort of subject manipulation, going back to the silent era and Nanook of the North. Why some are suddenly haranguing American Teen for a long accepted practice seems odd to me. Ultimately, while some scenes obviously were affected by the cameras, the emotions and dialogue all feel real, authentic, and compelling. And for a movie that's been accused of being staged, there's a stunning number of hilarious (and heartbreaking) scenes that reflect a complete lack of self-awareness (a vicious prank calling incident comes to mind).
But hey, there's no need to overanalyze this. American Teen is immensely watchable. It's funny, bittersweet, engaging, and like, totally awesome! If it reaches your local multiplex, definitely try to see it.
For more information, check out the official website here.
The Sunset Strip gets a lot of unique billboards, the most recent being this one advertising the upcoming Judd Apatow posse movie, Pineapple Express. As you can tell from my camera phone pic, the pineapple actually emits smoke. Kind of cool. Unfortunately, just as I snapped the photo, a gust of wind blew the smoke over, making it look like a passing cloud, but trust me, it's smoke (or rather, fake smoke).
Of course, it probably won't be too much time before confused drivers think the actual billboard is on fire. My friend, IndianJones, revealed yesterday that he almost crashed his car when he first gazed upon the ad. Then again, an errant leaf could cause IndianJones to crash; so that's not really saying much.
Anyway, the point of the story is that if you see this billboard smoking, don't worry. There is no fire. Just good old fashioned marketing.
Batman is Hey guys i'm premiering today!
As everyone and their mothers knows (except for perhaps mine), The Dark Knight hit theaters at 12:01 AM today, and since then, Facebook has been under siege with Dark Knight status updates. I really thought Sex and the City and Indiana Jones brought a lot of repetitive updates, but they're nothing compared to this blockbuster. Don't get me wrong — I'm suuuper excited to see the movie, but how many times do I really need to hear that people are in line for, at the theater for, just came back from, and want to see again The Dark Knight? It's been getting a bit overwhelming; so I did the only thing I felt I could do: make an anti-status update:
"Ben is no offense to everyone, but the Dark Knight status updates are getting ridiculous."
I felt so smug and satisfied after posting that, but then I got to thinking... am I a douche? Am I just raining on other people's parades? Most likely yes. And am I opening myself up for similar "hater" status updates? Quite possibly. However, I still feel ardently that the status updates ARE getting ridiculous (and knowing my friends, they'll all go out of their way to make Dark Knight status updates now). So what should I do? Respect my fellow Facebook peers and let them relish in Batman enthusiasm without a hint of self-consciousness? Or do I be true to myself and advertise just how I feel about all these shenanigans?
DILEMMA. What do you think?
(Oh, and speaking of Facebook, feel free to become a fan B-Side Blog here)
Little girls across America can rejoice. Here's a glimpse at the new High School Musical movie. That's right, in case you hadn't heard, Troy and Gabriela are coming to the big screen, and for once we'll find the answers to many of our burning questions: will the high school musical be cancelled? Will the basketball team finally win the state championship? And will the long-gestating senior class gay orgy ever happen?
All we do know is that there'll be plenty of over-acting and atonal singing. Sounds like a winner. Now excuse me while I race to Fandango...
Via LA Rag Mag
Click for a classic Lucille Austero moment.
If Arrested Development comes back, Lucille II wants in. That's right. Liza Minnelli, who famously played Bluth family rival/siren Lucille Austero, has told the New York Daily News that she wants to be part of the Arrested Development movie. Who knows if producers will heed her request, but finding a place for her in the movie would certainly be, as Lucille Austero would say, a grand gesture. Let's just hope this project moves forward as planned (stoking the flames of internet buzz...).
• MINNELLI HOPES FOR ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT FILM CAMEO [Contact Music]
What's your favorite Lucille II moment/quote?
I'm not playing a trick — er, illusion — on you. The long-rumored Arrested Development movie has been confirmed by Jason Bateman. Details are still murky (they're witholding. Look at them, getting off...) but according to The Times, it appears as though the Bluth family is coming to the big screen sometime next year. Now, I won't get too excited, as relying on a British paper for a Hollywood scoop can be a bit perilous; however, the mere prospect of this project becoming a reality gives me a case of the Lucille Austero dizzies.
If you haven't jumped onto the Arrested Development bandwagon yet (C'MON!), it's never too late. HDNet airs the reruns every day, and of course, there are the DVDs. Take it from me, a relatively late convert, the more you watch, the better it gets.
• WHAT A 'FUN, SEXY TIME' FOR US: JASON BATEMAN CONFIRMS 'ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT' MOVIE TO SHOOT NEXT YEAR [Defamer]
New York Times film critic A.O. Scott is not a big fan of The Love Guru. Here's an excerpt from his review:
The movie’s takeaway catchphrase is “Mariska Hargitay,†which is used by the title character as a fake-Hindi spiritual greeting. This is almost hilarious the first 11 or so times he does it, but by the time Guru Pitka (Mr. Myers) says “Mariska Hargitay†to Ms. Hargitay herself, it’s somehow less amusing than it should be.
Which might sum up “The Love Guru†in its entirety but only at the risk of grievously understating the movie’s awfulness. A whole new vocabulary seems to be required. To say that the movie is not funny is merely to affirm the obvious. The word “unfunny†surely applies to Mr. Myers’s obnoxious attempts to find mirth in physical and cultural differences but does not quite capture the strenuous unpleasantness of his performance. No, “The Love Guru†is downright antifunny, an experience that makes you wonder if you will ever laugh again.
Ouch. Very ouch.
• Just Say 'Mariska Hargitay' and Snicker [NY Times]
What happens when you take audio from the Woody Allen masterpiece Manhattan and pair it with the video from the Jim Henson masterpiece Muppets Take Manhattan? Nothing less than sheer brilliance.
Via Gawker
If you're a red-blooded Amurican, chances are you devoted a few hours this weekend to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and chances are that you also emerged from it with a strong opinion. About three-quarters of the people I spoke with felt the movie was disappointing, and everyone else was more in my camp: eh, it was fun.
My thoughts after the jump...
It's been a while since I've posted about dead celebrities. This is mostly due to laziness, but a small part of me also didn't like seeing the "death" and "sad" tags having such prominent places in my tag cloud. (IndianJones, meanwhile, is eager to have his name ascend beyond the lower tier, but that's another story). Anyway, the breaking news is that Academy Award winning director Sydney Pollack has died at the age of 73 from cancer.
Pollack directed such classics as Tootsie and Out Of Africa, but beyond that, he was also a gifted actor, clocking in face time in Michael Clayton, Eyes Wide Shut, and Husbands and Wives, among others. The latter movie I just saw for the first time about four days ago; so as you can imagine, there's been a lot of Sydney Pollack on the brain.
For more information, click here.
Is it me, or does Prince Caspian look like his proper title might actually be Countess? And maybe instead of Caspian, his name might be, oh, I don't know, LUANN? I can't help but feel that when this high-cheekboned, cleft-chinned hero isn't slaying dragons and other mythical foes, he's spending his free time playing tennis with Jill and praying he doesn't do anything to upset THE COUNT. At the very least, we know he's certainly not having dinner with his son Noel (as if he would ever DEIGN to participate in Taco Night).
I wish I had a better picture of LuAnn to compare with, but for those who are familiar with her face, don't tell me you don't see her all over Prince Caspian (a.k.a. Ben Barnes). Am I plumb loco?
• Susan Sarandon's skin looks nice.
• Hey, there's the paralyzed guy from Friday Night Lights.
• This is sort of weird.
• I like that random hand-drawn sequence.
• I never watched the original series; so nostalgia is not making this more enjoyable.
• The animé fans are going to be so annoying about this.
• There's something sort of fun about this hyperkinetic, colorful clip. But I don't want to see two hours and fifteen minutes worth of it.
• This sort of looks like Mario Kart.
• I'm gonna buy Mario Kart this weekend.
• I'm sick of fanboy cinema.
What are your thoughts?
Anthony Minghella, Oscar-winning director of the tear-jerker epics The English Patient and Cold Mountain — among others — died today from a massive surgery-related hemorrhage. He was only 54. No word on yet on funeral arrangements, but I'm sure they'll be SWEEPING (and possibly involving Juliet Binoche). For more information on this sad turn of events, click here.
"Bitch, these humans are a hot ghetto mess up in here!"
The Terminator franchise took a bizarre turn when it was reimagined as cute, little cupcakes, and now BWE notes that the brand has stepped into new territory once again. Basically, if you've ever wondered what would happen if Christian from Project Runway and John Connor had a love child, BWE has the answer:
• The Evolution of Terminator's John Connor [Best Week Ever]
The 2007 Oscar nominations were released today, and overall there really weren't too many surprises. Yeah, Sweeney Todd didn't nab Best Picture or Best Director, but that wasn't a total shock. I'm still pulling for No Country for Old Men over There Will Be Blood (which was totally snubbed in the Original Score department). I'm hoping to check out more of the nominated films over the next few weeks, but I have to admit that I'm not totally looking forward to the process. Atonement looks like it might be a chore-and-a-half to sit through, but then again, it might wind up being the best unintentional comedy of the year. I mean, when a movie is full of that much British stuffiness, it can't help but to be a royal romp.
The full list of all the nominees, courtesy of Oscars.org, after the jump...
I was a little bored today; so I decided to make a trailer mash-up of the upcoming Katherine Heigl film, 27 Dresses. I don't want to give away too much more than that, but for those of you who know me, this is the video I've been aching to make ever since I first got into blogging nearly four years ago. Enjoy.
Since it's both raining and the end of the week, I decided to treat myself to an afternoon viewing of the film that many critics are happily plopping on their Top Ten lists like a bucketful of sweet, sweet crude oil. I am, of course, talking about There Will Be Blood, the latest epic feature from acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis in an excellent performance that will surely net him an Oscar nomination (let alone a win), the film focuses on an oil man's rise to power at the turn of the twentieth century and all the dangerous, turbulent drama that comes with it. I won't get into the plot too much, but suffice it to say, at a running time of over two and a half hours, there's plenty of story to go around.
On paper, everything about There Will Be Blood works: the acting is fantastic, the direction is artistic, and the script is full of those academic conceits that get critics going: parallelism, paradoxes, allegories, social commentary, historic reflection, etc. etc. There's no arguing that this is definitely a movie of substance with lots to discuss and debate. The problem, however, is that at the end of the day, it failed to be that most elusive quality in storytelling: engaging. The film's emotional component seemed to be nearly absent, despite several well-drawn and thought-provoking characters. "Thought-provoking," perhaps though, is the central issue. Too often I found myself in a cerebral state: frequently thinking about the director's artistic vision and choices rather than merely being swept away in this fascinating — but ultimately cold and distant — world. I never was bored, per se, by the film, but I didn't always find myself caring too greatly about the outcome either. And no, it's not that I suffer from some sort of anti-intellectualism that mandates movies be ninety minutes long and clearly spelled out for me. Heck, I loved Magnolia, even with its controversial, amphibious climax. The point is that despite all the hype the nations top critics have been stirring up, There Will Be Blood falls just short of its accolades. It's worth seeing, no doubt, and several hours later, I'm still thinking about it, but would I bestow this film with a Best Picture honor? Sadly, no.
Agree? Disagree? What do you think? (And please remember to warn of spoilers if you're going to talk about, well, spoilers).
