Jessica Barnes
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Discuss: Your Oscar Party Preparations
Filed under: Awards, Fandom, Oscar Watch
Call me a dork if you want to, but I love to throw an Oscar party. Every year I bust out my snack trays and print up some ballots for a traditional Oscar shindig, and this year will be no different. The rules for an Oscar party aren't all that different than any other party - you need some food, some booze, and hey, why not a little gambling -- ya know, for "entertainment purposes"? Now some of you out there like to bet money, and sure, that can be fun, but I like to put together prize packages to give away, and besides, the addition of a booby prize guarantees that I can ditch some of the lesser selections in my DVD collection (I'm looking at you, The Goods).
The best part about hosting your own Academy Awards party is that you can get as elaborate as you want: throw down some red carpet, get the champagne flowing, and you can even have mock paparazzi working the room. But I tend to keep things a little more low-key and you're more likely to see popcorn and theater candy (milk duds, Twizzlers, you name it) on my snack table than bottles of Moet. But hey, don't let me stop you; let your imagination (and budget) run wild.
With the big night just a little under a month away, I thought I would get you in the mood with a few suggestions for your Oscar night menu...
Scenes (Songs) We Love: "Lunatic Fringe" from 'Vision Quest'
Filed under: Music & Musicals, Sports, Fandom, Trailers and Clips, Scenes We Love
We've had some time to get used to the truly terrible idea of a 3D Stretch Armstrong flick with Taylor (Team Jacob) Lautner as the flexible hero in question. But on the upside, at least now I can hold out hope that maybe if Lautner's busy getting all bendy, he won't have time to ruin the memory of Louden Swain in a remake of the sports/teen drama Vision Quest -- which brings me to today's Scenes (Songs) We Love, and while most people focus on Madonna's Crazy for You as the musical highlight of the flick, I thought I would offer up a pretty viable alternative: Lunatic Fringe from Red Rider.
Vision Quest was based on the novel by Terry Davis and centered on a high-school wrestler (played by Matthew Modine) who decides to take on the top dog in a fight to do something meaningful with his life -- which I guess means rolling around on the floor with other guys. But, in the pursuit of his dream, he sacrifices his health and his love life with an older woman (played by Linda Fiorentino).
The song was written by the Tom Cochrane (and I'm sure my fellow Canadians know that name), and was originally released in 1981 before making its way onto the soundtrack, and even though the song is actually about the rise of anti-Semitism in the 1970's, when I hear this tune I just think of Matthew Modine in a spot-lit gym.
After the jump: a slice of Canadiana...
Scenes (Songs) We Love: "Know the Ledge" from 'Juice'
Filed under: Drama, Music & Musicals, Fandom, Trailers and Clips, Scenes We Love
In 1992, we were in the tail end of the golden age of hip-hop. Dr. Dre had just released The Chronic, and G Funk was on the rise, but for fans of the east coast sound, there was still Eric B & Rakim. So as a nod to the good old days, today's Scenes (Songs) We Love is all about Eric B & Rakim's Know the Ledge from the 92 crime flick, Juice. The 90's timepiece was directed by cinematographer Ernest R. Dickerson (The Wire and long-time cinematographer for Spike Lee) and centered on four friends in Harlem: Bishop (Tupac Shakur), Q (Omar Epps), Raheem (Khalil Kain) and Steel (Jermaine "Huggy" Hopkins) as they wrestled with the usual urban tropes about making it out of the 'ghetto'.
Music was a big part of the film, and if you are of a certain age, the songs in this movie will seem like the best house party you never got to attend. The soundtrack was a relatively big success, landing in the top 20 of the Billboard 200 with songs from Naughty by Nature, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD and the ambassadors of New Jack swing: Teddy Riley and Aaron Hall.
Probably one of the things that stood out in this film was that it tried to highlight the shift to a new kind of star in the world of hip hop: the gangster. In Dickerson and Gerard Brown's script, an idea emerges about the price of street cred' and the moral of the story falls on Epps' decision to put the guns down. But here we are almost 20 years later and when you take a quick look at the current state of hip hop, it looks like we haven't quite learned that lesson yet.
After the jump; "In a puddle of blood, I lay close to the edge..I guess I didn't know the ledge...."
Quick List: Paul Newman's Hottest Roles
Filed under: Drama, Fandom, Lists
Yesterday the great Paul Newman would have been 85 years old, and I feel pretty confident saying that when it comes to an actor with the perfect balance of talent, humility and jaw-dropping good looks, there isn't an actor working today who can touch him. Newman's career spanned decades and he could play erotically-charged Alpha-males like Ben Quick or broken men like Frank Galvin with ease. He was a man's man who had a heart and a conscience and he brought that into every role he played, and when we lost him in 2008, I think we all knew that we'd never see anyone quite like him again.
Newman struggled against his good looks for most of his career and like the man of pure class that he was, he could even joke about it, famously saying: "I picture my epitaph: `Here lies Paul Newman, who died a failure because his eyes turned brown." Luckily, Newman was a talented actor and you can watch his films and witness one of Hollywood's greatest talents, or you can also watch those movies and let your mind wander to some less high-minded pursuits.
The one thing you can count on in this world is the power of a pretty face (whether it's a man or a woman), and Newman spent his career walking the tight-rope between being the handsome leading man and the serious actor. So, in honor of that tightrope, I've made a list of five films that are not only great performances, but are also your chance to develop a brand new movie crush. Because if you weren't already a little bit in love with Paul Newman, after watching these movies, you will be.
After the jump; five Paul Newman performances to make you swoon...
Discuss: Your First Movie Crush
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fandom
I'll always remember the first time I watched Aliens for two reasons: the first was that James Cameron's sci-fi action scared the living daylights out of me (at the tender age of 12, those chest-bursters were pretty horrifying) but the second reason, and the subject of today's discussion, is that it was the first time I started to think that maybe boys weren't so icky after all. That's right, in the midst of watching one of the greatest action films ever made, I fell a little bit in love with Corporal Dwayne Hicks (played by Michael Biehn). Now as I've grown up, my practical adult brain knows that Hicks is just a variation of the strong and silent type that pops up in most movies (especially James Cameron movies), but that doesn't change the fact that when it comes down to it, Hicks was my very first movie crush.
So what was it about Hicks that made him so darn appealing? Well, other than the fact that the man could fill out some futuristic body armor like nobodies business, what made Hicks so crushable was that he liked Ripley, and he liked her butch. Think about it, they bond over weapons and strategizing and a suicide pact -- hardly your traditional romance. Growing up with a neverending stream of damsels in distress in my movies, the thought that a capable, strong woman being sexy to someone as fine as one Corporal Hicks was pretty reassuring to a non-girly girl like myself -- and the romantic in me still melts when he gives Ripley that tracking device ... well, it's romantic to me.
Now that I've embarrassed myself it's your turn, leave your first movie crush in the comments below...
Scenes (Songs) We Love: "Country Place" From 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'
Filed under: Music & Musicals, Fandom, Trailers and Clips, Scenes We Love
If you look back at the movies of the 80's, the lives of sex workers weren't the cautionary tales that have become the norm these days. But if you were making a list of 'happy hooker' movies, the 1982 musical comedy, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas would definitely be in the top five. So today, I decided to give a little love to the movie that gave me my first lesson on 'working girls' and a musical number that I had no right to sing along to as an impressionable little girl: Lil' Bitty Pissant Country Place.
Whorehouse was the story of a plucky madam (Dolly Parton) and her fight to save her brothel, all the while dealing with a complicated romance with the town sheriff (played by Burt Reynolds). The original Broadway show premiered in 1978, but the film was forced to undergo a few changes, and some states even demanded a title change before displaying the poster for the film. But it wasn't just the title that raised eyebrows, and minor changes were also made to the music, and in Country Place, a verse surrounding the challenges of hiring 'married girls' was taken out in the theatrical cut. But there are still plenty of surreal moments in the song to enjoy -- with my personal favorite being Miss Mona sharing her theory on pimps.
The song was our introduction to the lovable hoes that work with Miss Mona, and reminds us that 'there's nothing dirty going on', so if you like what you see, head on over to SlashControl where you can watch the movie for free in all its glory. Besides, what's not to love about a movie starring Burt Reynolds, Dolly Parton, Dom Deluise, and a chorus line of singing and dancing hookers?
After the jump; 'She pays the food and the rent and the utilities..."
Is The 'Planet of The Apes' Reboot Back On?
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, RumorMonger, Scripts, 20th Century Fox, Remakes and Sequels
That's right, the dreaded R-word is back, and this time it's aimed at a certain simian planet. A little over a year ago, there were rumblings that Fox was looking to reboot the Planet of The Apes franchise after the disastrous 2001 film by Tim Burton. But, before you could say 'damn you all to Hell,' the project was seemingly dead in the water. Well, it looks like we may have spoken too soon, because according to an exclusive in NY Magazine, the flick is alive and well at Fox. According to them, not only if Fox still keen on getting the film into production, they have handed the reigns to Peter Chernin (a former Fox News Corp head, who has made the leap to producer) in hopes of getting the flick into high gear.Most of us had assumed that the project was headed for the scrap heap when Scott Frank (Minority Report) walked away from the production, but Vulture's sources are claiming that Fox has, "hired writer Jamie Moss (Street Kings) to rework Frank's version, and the original writers, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (The Relic, The Hand that Rocks the Cradle), were recently brought back to polish the dialog." According to Vulture, Frank walked away from the film when his original vision for a prequel on just how those apes got so crafty in the first place, was rejected by the studio. Frank's script centered on the genetic experiments that create a 'super-ape' by the name of Cesar who led his hairy brethren to rise up against their human captors, but now that some new writers are on the scene, I expect we'll see a few changes in Frank's original vision.
Remember, nothing is official yet, so stay tuned for any updates that come our way. But, what do you think, do those damn, dirty apes deserve one more shot at the big screen? Sound off in the comments...
Cinematical Seven: The Good and The Bad of Gaming
Filed under: Cinematical Seven, Games and Game Movies
I think we are all pretty sick of video game movies these days, and whether this is because most of them suck, I couldn't tell you. But like it or not, there is a never ending supply of lazy executives who look no further than their home console for inspiration. But that is a rant best left for another time, because today's Cinematical Seven is all about the movies that aren't based on video games, nope, these are movies all about the cult of gaming.
If you watch enough movies centered on the world of video games you start to notice that a theme emerges: the desire and the peril of getting trapped in your favorite game. Granted it's a theme that isn't much of a leap considering that since the dawn of the gamer, there have been worried parents, teachers, and clergy convinced that those pixels are the work of the devil, and what better place for a cautionary tale than the movies? But, it's not all doom and gloom and there are also stories of how a gamer can save the world -- there really is something for everyone at the movies.
After the jump are seven movies that delve into the pros and cons of gaming...
What Are Your Favorite Movie Speeches?
Filed under: Fandom, Lists, Trailers and Clips
If you spend any time with me, then you will quickly learn that I love movie dialogue. I memorize it, I quote it, and I'm sure I'm more than a little annoying as a result. But I don't care, because while some of us might go to the movies to see mind-blowing special effects, and others to see their favorite stars, for me it's all about the words -- which I guess shouldn't come as a surprise considering my line of work. Unfortunately in our fancy-schmancy Event Movie world, filmmakers sometimes forget how important the dialogue can be, and when it comes to letting your actor shine, there is nothing that can showcase their skill and talent like a well written monologue or speech.
So you might be wondering how I got on this tangent in the first place. Well, I recently stumbled across the website American Rhetoric, and before you knew it I had spent an hour reading some of my absolute favorite monologues and speeches from the movies. Usually when people talk about classic movie speeches, it tends to be the kind of speech that will accompany an epic like Patton, Malcolm X, or even Braveheart. But, 'prestige' films aren't the only source of great movie speeches. So I started to think about my most loved movie speeches, and like any movie fan with a need for hierarchies, I decided to put together a list.
After the jump: my top five (in no particular order), and your nominations for favorite movie speeches...
Rumor Patrol: 'Twilight' Star in The Running For Conan?
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, RumorMonger, Remakes and Sequels
It hasn't been easy getting Conan The Barbarian back on the big screen. The property has had plenty of hurdles, and over at Deadline Hollywood, Nikki Finke has reported on some of the latest problems currently facing Nu Millennium (Conan's studio) in the midst of the hi-profile reboot -- which you can read about in entirety over at DH. But tucked away in all that bad news is possibly some even worse news for fans of the Barbarian, because according to Finke, Twilight star, Kellan Lutz is currently one of the top contenders for the role of the Destroyer himself.Well, Lutz certainly has the body to pull of the role, and to be fair, it's not like our first feature film Conan was a master thespian either. But other than a small role in the HBO Iraq mini-series Generation Kill and a smattering of TV and video game credits, most of us still probably think of Lutz as that guy from Twilight. So if you are not conversant in all things Cullen, to make it easy on you: Lutz played Emmet Cullen, and you might remember him as the one that hardly spoke and had a penchant for riding around on the top of cars. One thing is for sure, if Lutz gets the role, I think Conan is going to have a whole new legion of female fans.
But if the thought of a Cullen ruining your beloved franchise has you feeling low, there is hope, because Lutz isn't the only name on the list. Gossips have also thrown Jason Momoa (Ronon Dex in the TV series Stargate: Atlantis) and a yet to be named actor into the mix. But director Marcus Nispel is going to have to act fast if he is going to stick to his original March 15th start date.
So what do you think of Lutz taking up the Atlantean Sword? Sound off in the comments below...
Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams Reunite for 'Mission Impossible 4'
'Big Top Pee-Wee': The Original Benicio Del Toro Wolfman
Spin-ematical: New on DVD and Blu-ray for 2/9
Watch This: Brilliant Oscar-Nominated Short 'Logorama'
Chris Nolan to Lead 'Superman' Reboot!?
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