Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Cinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: Frights for the Fourthhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/04/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-frights-for-the-fourt/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/04/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-frights-for-the-fourt/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/04/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-frights-for-the-fourt/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



It would be easy to offer you appropriately themed movies for the Fourth of July. There is, of course, Independence Day, plus flicks like Yankee Doodle Dandy, or on a more serious note, Born of the Fourth of July. But what's the fun in that? You could come up with those yourself. I could be snarky and offer only British fare, which is actually very tempting, but I have something else in mind: Independence-themed chills.

The two films for this double feature are not centered specifically on the Fourth of July, but the date is important to both stories -- whether it's the tale of tourists and teeth, or parades and creepiness. Do you see where I'm headed? For this double feature, in honor of the Fourth of July, I give you: Jaws and Cape Fear.

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]]>Cape FearCapeFearCinematicaldouble featureDoubleFeatureFourth of JulyFourthOfJulyIndependence DayIndependenceDayJawsMonika BartyzelFri, 04 Jul 2008 20:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: Alternate Realitieshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/27/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-alternate-realities/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/27/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-alternate-realities/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/27/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-alternate-realities/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



.erutaef elbuod thgin yadirF s'lacitameniC ot emocleW*

Whether it's grown men in bunny suits or the addictive giggle of Melissa McCarthy, this week's double feature is all about alternate realities. While I'm not the biggest fan of many science fiction elements, I'm a sucker for a good story about worlds that are just a little bit off. When an eerie twist is mixed into scenes showcasing the life and environment we're all familiar with, a film changes from something we can guess into an intriguing puzzle to figure out, or endlessly argue about. (And it does so without traveling to unrecognizable, fantastical new turf.)

Tonight, we've got a film that really should get more play, plus one beloved cult classic. I give you: The Nines and Donnie Darko.

*Included at the request of a nerd friend of mine.

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]]>CinematicalDonnie DarkoDonnieDarkodouble featureDoubleFeatureGodThe NinesTheNinesMonika BartyzelFri, 27 Jun 2008 21:03:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: Life, Love, and College Graduationhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/20/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-life-love-and-colle/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/20/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-life-love-and-colle/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/20/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-life-love-and-colle/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



No more teachers! No more books! No more teachers' dirty looks! When the teacher rings the bell, drop your books and run like hell!

It's the anthem of June, as classes wind down and summer begins. When there's two full months free of school, it's easy to forget the looming dark cloud that is September ... unless you're a lucky college grad (or a high school student not heading off to further your education).

There's a definite twist that happens over those four years, as school falls into a memory. High school grad movies are full of exacerbated partying, getting your last hoorahs, and last chances at childhood love. After college, however, the tone changes a little bit. There's work, the towering pressures from the adults around you, and the bad choices you make in the name of lust and love. The two films for this double feature are almost 30 years apart, but both are classics, known for their stars, music, and adult angst. I give you: The Graduate and Reality Bites.

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]]>Cinematicalcollege graduation moviesCollegeGraduationMoviesdouble featureDoubleFeatureReality BitesRealityBitesThe GraduateTheGraduateMonika BartyzelFri, 20 Jun 2008 20:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: Happy Campinghttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/13/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-happy-camping/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/13/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-happy-camping/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/13/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-happy-camping/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



This week, I have had the fortune of working from a cottage, surrounded by trees, birds, and a large and peaceful lake (as well as insidious horse flies, determined mosquitoes, and about 50 million caterpillars). In between the work and the sun, I've mused about cottages and movies. There's not many cottage-based films out there -- at least not ones that are about the actual experience, rather than something about a scary killer, or maybe a campfire ghost story.

But there are a lot of camping movies. You have color wars, swimsuits, canoes, trees, and all of that big nature-on-the-water stuff. I wanted to include Poison Ivy tonight, the awesome TV-movie camp fest that stars Michael J. Fox and Nancy McKeon, a counselor and camp nurse who team up with the kids to face off against Adam Baldwin's evil Ike Dimick. However, I can't find so much as a trailer for that.

So instead, whip up some smores and check out an old classic and newer gem -- Meatballs and Happy Campers.

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]]>camp moviesCampMoviesCinematicaldouble featureDoubleFeatureHappy CampersHappyCampersMeatballsMonika BartyzelFri, 13 Jun 2008 20:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: Getting Sexy Before School Lets Outhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/06/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-getting-sexy-before-s/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/06/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-getting-sexy-before-s/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/06/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-getting-sexy-before-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



It's June, which means the countdown is on until the cute little rugrats and tempestuous teens get released from school to wreak havoc in the home and on the streets. That means that there is not much time left to make use of the long nights of studying, the friendly sleepovers, and the hours at school. In some places, school's already out, and the mayhem has already begun!

So, tonight's double feature is all about getting a night of sweet silence and cinematic sexiness with your partner of choice. There will be no Mulholland Drive, because a few moments of supreme sexiness don't make up for the overall feel. Instead, this is about movies that have more than one saucy scene, and should get you in the mood for post-film shenanigans. Obviously, it's pretty much impossible to pick the best of, because there are so very many good examples -- Bliss, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Nine 1/2 Weeks, The Story of O, Basic Instinct, Dangerous Liaisons, Crash, Like Water for Chocolate...

But I'm going to go with a little bit of bondage, and a little bit of literature. I give you: Secretary and Henry & June.

And this is your obvious warning: What follows has sexual and adult content and language.



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]]>Anais NinAnaisNinCinematicaldouble featureDoubleFeatureHenry JuneHenry MillerHenryJuneHenryMillerSecretarysexy moviesSexyMoviesMonika BartyzelFri, 06 Jun 2008 21:04:00 ESTRussian Trailer for 'The X-Files: I Want to Believe' - with Translation!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/03/russian-trailer-for-the-x-files-i-want-to-believe-with-tran/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/03/russian-trailer-for-the-x-files-i-want-to-believe-with-tran/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/03/russian-trailer-for-the-x-files-i-want-to-believe-with-tran/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Since Fox has refused to reveal virtually any plot details about this summer's The X-Files: I Want to Believe, I've endeavored to translate the still-cryptic but slightly more informative Russian trailer that hit the interwebs yesterday. It would seem that the story will involve a priest named "Father Joe" (that's the Billy Connolly character) who has nightmarish visions of a woman in trouble that he claims come from God. (In other words, this unofficial summary seems to have been on the money.) We also learn that Mulder is roped into the investigation by Amanda Peet's character, Dakota Whitney.

I had fun translating the cheesy dubbing; you hear bits of this dialogue in the American trailer, but a lot of it is new. Check out the translation after the jump.

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]]>Amanda PeetAmandaPeetBilly ConnollyBillyConnollyThe X-Files I Want to BelieveTheX-filesIWantToBelieveEugene NovikovTue, 03 Jun 2008 10:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: In Memory of Harvey Kormanhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/30/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-in-memory-of-harvey-k/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/30/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-in-memory-of-harvey-k/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/30/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-in-memory-of-harvey-k/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



At first, this was going to be a post about music on DVD -- in honor of the eleventh anniversary of Jeff Buckley's death, which horribly coincides with my birthday. But then there was another bout of sadness for the 29th -- the death of Harvey Korman. Coincidentally, I'd had a whole conversation yesterday about Abe Vigoda, and old funny men who are still alive. I wish this was the case for the great Harvey.

I'm not going to write a lot about his career -- Scott did that wonderfully in his obituary. And, I've already given you the double feature that covers my favorite Korman film roles -- the Mel Brooks-inspired March double feature of History of the World, Part 1 and Blazing Saddles. But Harvey Korman was really special, and he's given me, and many others, so very many laughs over the years that he deserves the Double Feature tonight.

But things are going to be a little different this week. So much of Korman's work is worth the time that I'm abandoning the two-film format and, instead, giving you a selection of clips and moments from the spectrum of Korman's career. Use this as a jumping point for your own Korman double or triple feature, or enjoy a full Harvey Korman marathon. Enjoy the clips after the jump, and weigh in on your favorite Korman moments in the comments.

Harvey, you will be deeply missed.

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]]>CinematicalHarvey KormanHarveyKormanMonika BartyzelFri, 30 May 2008 19:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: Damsels Not in Distresshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/23/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-damsels-not-in-distre/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/23/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-damsels-not-in-distre/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/23/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-damsels-not-in-distre/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



I wanted to continue this whole week of Indiana Jones, but we've already given you movies reminiscent of the classic adventure series, and we've already given you retro reviews for each of the three films. So, I started to think about what I like about Jones and my favorite of the three, Raiders of the Lost Ark. One of the best gems of that film is Marion Ravenwood.

So, in celebration of how much Ravenwood rules, I wanted to celebrate women who are more than just damsels in distress. The might find themselves captured. They might get beaten down. But they don't wallow -- they fight back. And even better -- they're both old-school. One comes from the '90s, and the other first kicked butt on the big screen 31 years ago. I give you: Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia in Star Wars.

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]]>Carrie FisherCarrieFisherCinematicaldouble featureDoubleFeatureLinda HamiltonLindaHamiltonMarion RavenwoodMarionRavenwoodPrincess LeiaPrincessLeiaSarah ConnorSarahConnorStar WarsStarWarsT2Terminator 2Terminator 2 Judgment DayTerminator2Terminator2JudgmentDaytough women in moviesToughWomenInMoviesMonika BartyzelFri, 23 May 2008 20:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: The Old Angelina Joliehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/16/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-the-old-angelina-joli/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/16/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-the-old-angelina-joli/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/16/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-the-old-angelina-joli/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



If there's anyone who has pulled off a wickedly impressive image transformation, it's Angelina Jolie. She used to be the wild child who'd wear bloody tees to her wedding (with Jonny Lee), or bloody vials around her neck (as she did with Billy Bob). Then she did a 180, becoming a goodwill ambassador and starting her own multicultural Brady Bunch with Brad Pitt.

I'm happy for her, but I can't help but miss the good ol' days. She might have been wild, and she might have shocked many -- but she had a great spark, one that seems to have disappeared inside the current carefully manufactured icon she is today.

The gleam might be hidden these days, but luckily we're living in a world of DVD entertainment. We can head back to the past whenever we want to. What follows are my two favorite Jolie gigs. They're far from the best movies, but they definitely embody both the old Angelina, and a certain period of '90s rebellion. I give you: Hackers and Foxfire.

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]]>Angelina JolieAngelinaJolieCinematicaldouble featureDoubleFeatureFoxfireHackersMonika BartyzelFri, 16 May 2008 22:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: The Mania of David O. Russellhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/09/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-the-mania-of-david-o/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/09/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-the-mania-of-david-o/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/09/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-the-mania-of-david-o/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Oh, David O. Russell. The man is completely imbalanced: physical confrontations with George Clooney on set, putting Christopher Nolan in a headlock, going on a tirade towards Lily Tomlin, and arguing with James Caan about whether it's possible to choke and cough at the same time. But say what you will about his stability, he puts out some pretty damn good films.

This week's double feature is all about his deliciously talented imbalance. If you're not up for wildly colorful car racing or crappy-looking weddings in Vegas, maybe some Iraq-set comedy and over-the-top existential intervention is more up your alley. Oh yes, I'm talking about the wildly fun Three Kings and one of my favorite giggle-inducing comedies of all time -- I Heart Huckabees.

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]]>David O. RussellDavidO.Russelldouble featureDoubleFeatureI Heart HuckabeesIHeartHuckabeesThree KingsThreeKingsMonika BartyzelFri, 09 May 2008 20:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: Big Screens and Boozehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/02/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-big-screens-and-booze/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/02/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-big-screens-and-booze/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/02/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-big-screens-and-booze/#commentsFiled under: , ,



This weekend I get to cat sit the two cutest bengals on earth, but the perks of this gig are much more than sitting around, indulging in cable television, and playing with the furry little beasts. It also means I have a huge selection of liquor, wine and beer at my disposal to cook with and imbibe. So, while my mind is scheming up what sort of exotic drink I will make tonight, it's also thinking of alcohol-laden movies.

For this double feature, I'm giving you two of my favorite movies that are completely intertwined with the love of alcohol. One is quirky, but fairly straight-laced, while the other is just insanity, but in the immensely fun sort of way. I give you: Alexander Payne's Sideways and Guy Maddin's The Saddest Music in the World. (If you're looking for even more choices, check out Christopher Campbell's Cinematical Seven from last December.)

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]]>Alexander PayneAlexanderPaynebeer filmsBeerFilmsbooze on filmBoozeOnFilmdouble featureDoubleFeatureGuy MaddinGuyMaddinSidewaysThe Saddest Music in the WorldTheSaddestMusicInTheWorldwine filmsWineFilmsMonika BartyzelFri, 02 May 2008 21:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: Dangerous Vacationshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/25/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-dangerous-vacations/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/25/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-dangerous-vacations/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/25/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-dangerous-vacations/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Between Forgetting Sarah Marshall last week, and Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay this week, the comedy world is all aflutter with dangerous vacations, whether that danger is watching your newly ex-girlfriend snuggle up to her raunchy new pop-star boyfriend, or heading to Amsterdam to get some Maria lovin'.

So this time around, I figured I would dip into vacations that go bad. We could break into the smaller-scale travel films, where protagonists only go a town or state over, but Harold and Kumar already did the close traveling. Now they're going a heck of a lot farther. Interesting adventures, strange people, and romantic dysfunction are the players in this game, and for this week's double feature, I give you: Blame it on Rio and Joe Versus the Volcano.

And, just to be clear, me choosing two infamously bad movies says nothing about my thoughts on H&K. I swear!

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]]>Blame it on RioBlameItOnRioCinematicaldouble featureDoubleFeatureJoe BolognaJoe Versus the VolcanoJoeBolognaJoeVersusTheVolcanoMeg RyanMegRyanMichael CaineMichaelCaineMichelle JohnsonMichelleJohnsonTom HanksTomHanksMonika BartyzelFri, 25 Apr 2008 20:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: Brain Pain!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/18/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-brain-pain/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/18/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-brain-pain/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/18/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-brain-pain/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



The pounding beat of a headache, or the sear of a migraine, is something I rarely have to face. That makes me lucky, for the most part, but it also means that when one hits, like today, all I can think of is heads and brains like a zombie in training. Naturally, this has me thinking of movies that focus on the stories of the noggin. Should I go for The Man with Two Brains or other similar brainy fare? Nah.

Instead, I'm going to focus on a man behind the camera, one who brought us two of the best stories of the mind to date: Mr. Charlie Kaufman. It all started with a little Malkovich Malkovich, and then continued with the overwhelming urge to erase love from the mind -- two stories that make a little headache seem like nothing. On this warm Friday, I give you: Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ...

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]]>Being John MalkovichBeingJohnMalkovichCameron DiazCameronDiazCinematicaldouble featureDoubleFeatureEternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindEternalSunshineOfTheSpotlessMindJim CarreyJimCarreyJohn CusackJohn MalkovichJohnCusackJohnMalkovichKate WinsletKateWinsletMonika BartyzelFri, 18 Apr 2008 20:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: Tackling Drama with Humorhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/11/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-tackling-drama-with-h/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/11/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-tackling-drama-with-h/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/11/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-tackling-drama-with-h/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Usually, heavy drama and inspirational fare are mixed into hard-hitting or heart-sagging packages. But sometimes, the tough-to-swallow is mixed with comedy -- not in a way where the funny is the only thing that matters, but in a way that helps move the story and keep you out of that moviegoer depression. When done right, it can be a really enjoyable experience -- one that makes you think, feel, and laugh.

Now, I'm cheating a little bit for this double feature. One of the films just came out on DVD this week, but the other doesn't come out until Tuesday (Double Feature of the Future!). But having received both screeners, and having them sitting here on the desk, looking at me, I couldn't help but use them because they go so well together. Both contain some pretty dramatic moments, but the drama is couched in levity. I present: Music Within and Lars and the Real Girl -- two films that embrace the marriage of comedy and drama, as well as people who get past their own fears and offer help to others.

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]]>double featureDoubleFeatureLars and the Real GirlLarsAndTheRealGirlMichael SheenMichaelSheenMusic WithinMusicWithinRon LivingstonRonLivingstonRyan GoslingRyanGoslingMonika BartyzelFri, 11 Apr 2008 20:04:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: Not All Films are Whitewashedhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/04/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-not-all-films-are-whi/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/04/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-not-all-films-are-whi/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/04/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-not-all-films-are-whi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



In all of the world's modern accomplishments, and as far as we've come over the last 100 years, there's still a long way to go, especially with race and culture, and cinema is a perfect example of that. It's still noteworthy when an African American actor or actress wins an Oscar. Films are still being whitewashed. No matter how many progressive ideas hit the waves, Hollywood relies on their fear-induced blanket of stereotypes and marginalized roles for a large group of talented, charismatic, and diverse actors.

In the case of a movie like 21, it's just downright laughable. Why change the race of these actors so that Jim Sturgess & company could grab the roles. No offense to Jim, who I really enjoyed in Across the Universe, but is he going to pull in bigger numbers than, say, John Cho?

One, Hollywood needs to stop fearing minority stars. Two, they need to recognize the diverse multi-racial talent that has managed to break through narrow casting waters, and how many more are out there, undiscovered. Three, they need to make use of them! Take a look just at this list. It's not only a list of talented people, but I bet you at least a few of the names would surprise you. They're out there, and there's more where they came from.

In honor of a few films that have hit it big in the states, starring talented actors who are not white, I give you Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and Bend It Like Beckham.

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]]>minority actorsMinorityActorswhitewashingMonika BartyzelFri, 04 Apr 2008 20:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: It's Just a Game!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/28/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-its-just-a-game/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/28/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-its-just-a-game/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/28/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-its-just-a-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Everything is coming up parties and games this week. I've been busy making a kickass birthday cake for a friend, planning for the party, and finally picking up a belated gift of Scrabble for another friend. Top that off with news stories about Kevin Kline and chess, and getting sent pictures of really cool Blue Velvet cakes, and, well, I've got games and parties on the brain.

Picking this week's films was a bit of a challenge, but it all depended on the angle. Did I just want movies with games in them? Did they have to be performed at parties? Would I consider the likes of Bobby Fischer or Jumanji? Nah. Instead, we've got two films that boast insanely great ensemble casts, have some pretty fierce competition, and yet are wonderful for completely different reasons: The Anniversary Party and Clue.

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]]>Alan CummingAlanCummingClueJennifer Jason LeighJenniferJasonLeighThe Anniversary PartyTheAnniversaryPartyTim CurryTimCurryMonika BartyzelFri, 28 Mar 2008 21:02:00 ESTFriday Night Double Feature: That Other High School Musical Serieshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/21/friday-night-double-feature-that-other-high-school-musical-seri/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/21/friday-night-double-feature-that-other-high-school-musical-seri/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/21/friday-night-double-feature-that-other-high-school-musical-seri/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Let's start off with a little bit of trivia: Did you know that High School Musical and its sequels have had the working titles Grease 3, Grease 4, and Grease 5? That would make it seem as though Zac Efron and his super-cute co-stars were some new generation possibly bred from the loins of Sandy and Danny. Not quite. It's got the whole differing social group angle, and how friends can get in the way of love, but it's definitely not that dirty, classic family movie we all know.

As a tot, I liked Grease, but I loved Grease 2 -- this is probably because Maxwell Caulfield was much easier on the eyes than John Travolta. But after watching the original a few times and devouring the second much more often, there was a long hiatus until a close cousin of mine got a little older and Grease got re-released in theaters. I took her to see it, and my jaw sagged through the entire film. How dirty! How could I not have realized this? I looked over at her; she was smiling, happy, and oblivious, so obviously the "don't-see-the-raunchiness" spell was working all these years later. It skillfully rides that fine line between raunch and respectability.

So, in the sea of a new musicals, equipped with myriads of fangirls, I give you my generation's High School Musicals: Grease and Grease 2.

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]]>GreaseGrease 2Grease2John TravoltaJohnTravoltaMaxwell CaulfieldMaxwellCaulfieldMichelle PfeifferMichellePfeifferOlivia Newton JohnOliviaNewtonJohnMonika BartyzelFri, 21 Mar 2008 21:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: Old-School Comedy with Mel Brookshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/14/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-old-school-comedy-wit/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/14/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-old-school-comedy-wit/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/14/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-old-school-comedy-wit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

These days, Judd Apatow is the man behind the laughs. He has been comedy gold lately, reinvigorating the struggling world of comedic cinema and offering a selection of laughs you can rely on. It's nice to be able to go to a "funny" flick and be sure that you'll at least laugh a few times, instead of head out for hi-jinx and spend an hour and twenty minutes in awkward silence, desperately yearning for even the slightest chuckle.

Thirty-something years ago, the laugh man was Mel Brooks. He brought the comedy, and he even brought the art. How many comedic filmmakers today would dare to make a silent movie (aside from Guy Maddin), or do the world of Frankenstein comedic justice? I've gushed over the wonder that is Young Frankenstein before, so today, I'm leaving it up to some other blast-to-the-past spoof comedy -- Blazing Saddles and The History of the World: Part I.

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]]>Blazing SaddlesBlazingSaddlesMel BrooksMelBrooksMonika BartyzelFri, 14 Mar 2008 20:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: F**king Snow!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/07/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-f-king-snow/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/07/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-f-king-snow/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/07/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-f-king-snow/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A few months ago, it snowed. In the spirit of manifesting your own reality and the perks of positivity, I stomached any ill feelings. In fact, I welcomed the white landscape with open arms, determined to look on the bright side of life. It was a nice change. I made and threw some snowballs, and I smiled through the first few dumpings of snow. Then the snow kept coming -- in record-breaking amounts. Months went by. Now, tonight and tomorrow, my neighborhood is set to get another foot. Good God, this is enough!

I've learned my lesson: never welcome the snow, because the first year you do, the snow will slam into you over and over again for months -- laughing at your positive idiocy while it torments you with sadistic, stinging snowflakes. Now tonight, as I curl up in the safety of my apartment, I could watch some sort of tropical films, but that would just make me angry. Once you get to a certain point, the weather you dream of is more of a low-blow taunt than a nice escape. So, I'm going to give you two films laden with snow, but with enough bad vibes to make a simple, snow-covered night not so bad. I am, of course, talking about Fargo and The Sweet Hereafter.

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]]>Atom EgoyanAtomEgoyanCoen BrothersCoenBrothersdouble featureDoubleFeatureFargosnowThe Sweet HereafterTheSweetHereafterMonika BartyzelFri, 07 Mar 2008 21:02:00 ESTCinematical's Friday Night Double Feature: For Love of the Chelsea Hotelhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/02/29/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-for-love-of-the-chels/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/02/29/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-for-love-of-the-chels/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/02/29/cinematicals-friday-night-double-feature-for-love-of-the-chels/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Landmarks usually don't get their own films -- not to mention a number of films -- but the Chelsea Hotel is different. It is North America's house of art -- a simple, red-brick building that was built in 1883 and holds the history of many creative achievements of the last 100+ years. It's thick with remembrances of writers from Mark Twain to Gore Vidal, Simone de Beauvoir to Jean-Paul Sartre, the vision of actors and filmmakers Edie Sedgwick to Stanley Kubrick, artists from Frida Kahlo to Robert Crumb, and of course, the music. Leonard Cohen, Janis Joplin, Tom Waits, Patti Smith, The Ramones, Jimi Hendrix, and many more have graced its halls with their notes.

So of course, there have been a number of films that have filmed at, or been based on, the famous artistic hot-spot. In honor of Abel Ferrara's upcoming film Chelsea on the Rocks, I give you two that came before it -- first, the mellow story of Ethan Hawke's Chelsea Walls, and then the energized fury that was Sid & Nancy. Since this double feature is as much about the place as it is the work that came out of it, I'm adding a special intermission of Chelsea fare. Sit back, and enjoy your leap night with a little magical art.

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]]>Chelsea HotelChelsea WallsChelseaHotelChelseaWallsMonika BartyzelFri, 29 Feb 2008 21:02:00 EST