Cinematical

Indie Roundup: 'New Orleans Mon Amour,' Box Office YTD

Peter Martin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:02:00 EST

Filed under: Action, Classics, Documentary, Drama, Foreign Language, Independent, Music & Musicals, Thrillers, New Releases, Box Office, Cinematical Indie

Indie Roundup reviews the past week of news from the independent film community and provides a peek at what's coming soon.

Opening. Three indie flicks open on Friday: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte's terrific music doc Soul Power, Chris Nahon's live-action adaptation of anime horror thriller Blood: The Last Vampire, and a reissue of Francois Truffaut's 1969 crime romance Mississippi Mermaid, with Jean-Paul Belmondo and Catherine Deneuve. After a good start in New York and Los Angeles (see below), action thriller The Hurt Locker expands into 50 selected markets.

Deals / Articles of Interest. Our friends at indieWIRE reported on three recent acquisitions with upcoming theatrical releases planned: Chris Fuller's critically-acclaimed teen drama Loren Cass (Kino; July 24); Rebecca Miller's The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, with Robin Wright Penn and Alan Arkin (Screen Media, October); and Dror Zahavi's thriller For My Father (Film Movement, Winter 2010). Eugene Hernandez considers Chris Anderson's new book Free: The Future of a Radical Price and suggests that Anderson's "ideas and examples" are applicable to the "evolving marketplace for movies."

On-Demand Viewing. Anne Thompson posted a clip at Variety for Michael Almereyda's post-Karina drama New Orleans Mon Amour, with Elisabeth Moss and Christopher Eccleston. I saw it at SXSW last year and couldn't get into its very deliberate pacing; its virtues might be better appreciated on a smaller screen. It debuts on cable VOD on July 15. Blogging at The Huffington Post, filmmaker Adam Hootnick compares recent events in Iran with the situation in Gaza after Israel's withdrawal from its settlements in 2005. That's the subject of his film Unsettled, which is now available on iTunes and Amazon VOD.

After the jump: Indie box office results -- and a year-to-date report.

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Monday Night Poll: Michael Jackson's Final Footage?

Peter Martin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:02:00 EST

Filed under: Music & Musicals, Celebrities and Controversy, Polls

Now that the initial shock over the untimely death of Michael Jackson has passed, his concert promoter is making it known that he has "more than 100 hours of footage that could be turned into live albums, a movie and a pay-per-view special." Randy Phillips, president and CEO of AEG Live, told The Associated Press (via The Hollywood Reporter): "He was our partner in life and now he's our partner in death."

Jackson was filmed in rehearsal for a planned series of 50 concerts in London, performing songs such as "Thriller" and "Beat It." The high-definition footage includes production meetings and auditions. Phillips claimed the production budget for the shows reached $25 million, which also covered 3-D "mini-movies" of "Thriller" and "Earth Song." Phillips said the Jackson estate would get the "lion's share" of any profits from the rehearsal footage, though obviously his company would benefit as well. As Jackson's "partner in death" (a rather ghoulish turn of phrase on his part), Phillips raised several possibilities for using the footage, though a final decision will have to wait until the estate is settled, which could take months or even years.

Do you have any desire to see the final footage? What form should it take? A film? TV special? DVD? Online for free? Take our poll and let us know. And feel free to express yourself in the comments section. Will it be celebratory to watch the final footage of the "King of Pop"? Or poignant and sad to see MJ just days before his death?

View Poll

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Snag This: Jazz on a Summer's Day

Peter Martin — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Documentary, Music & Musicals, Home Entertainment, Trailers and Clips

What are your plans for the weekend? Here in the U.S., most folks are enjoying a long holiday weekend, filled with food, friends, and fireworks -- and maybe a free concert and a movie or two. On a personal note, with local temperatures soaring above 100 degrees for the past week or so, I'm staying inside and out of the weather as much as I can. And so I was pleased to find Jazz on a Summer's Day is available for free online viewing, courtesy of our friends at SnagFilms.

Directed by Aram Avakian and Bert Stern, the film documents the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival and the America's Cup sailing tournament, two events which go together like a cool drink on a hot day. Performers at the festival include Thelonius Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Anita O'Day (pictured), Dinah Washington, Chuck Berry, Louis Armstrong, and Mahalia Jackson. My knowledge of jazz is extremely limited, so all I can add to that list is that I very much enjoyed listening to all the musicians. As much as anything, I got a kick out of the spectator footage -- nicely dressed folks, a number in business suits (!), stylish sunglasses, bright colors, the whole nine yards -- and the dulcet-toned, super low-key announcer.

Frankly, this is a good doc for watching, and listening to, in the background. We've embedded it after the jump. More information is available at SnagFilms.

After the jump: Watch Jazz on a Summer's Day!

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Is Alia Shawkat Joining 'The Runaways'?

Jessica Barnes — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: Drama, Music & Musicals, Casting, RumorMonger

It looks like things are getting more interesting each day when it comes to the music biopic The Runaways -- and I'm not talking about Joan Jett making Kristen Stewart cry. No, instead, there is news that Alia Shawkat (who will forever be known as Maeby Fünke) is joining the cast as famed bassist and 'Bangle' Micki Steele ... or at the very least an approximation of Steele. Latino Review is reporting that Shawkat has joined the cast as an 18-year-old bass player named Robin (aka Steele), and judging by the photo above, you have to admit that Shawkat would be a great choice to play the sexy bassist. I mean, just look at those lips.

Rather than get into a long and convoluted explanation about the awesomeness that is Steele, here is a little primer: Steele was one of the first members of The Runaways when they were touring the club circuit in L.A. and was considered the 'feminine' one in a group of bad girls. By 1976 she had left the band after the addition of Lita Ford (played in the film by Scout Taylor-Compton) and Cherie Currie (played by Dakota Fanning). Steele would go on to join another famous girl band, The Bangles, and create music history by teaching the world about 'Manic Mondays'.

There has been no word on why Steele isn't going to be named in the film; possibly because the film makers didn't secure the rights to use her image, or maybe her split from The Runaways wasn't an amicable one. My guess is that the character of Robin will be based on Steele, but also be an amalgam of some of the other band members that won't be featured prominently in the film.

The Runaways is still filming on location in L.A., but will arrive in theaters in 2010.

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Discuss: When Actors Fake Musical Prowess

Monika Bartyzel — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Music & Musicals, Casting, Fandom

With a few new musical biopics headed our way, there's a question to consider: Just how musically inclined should an actor be when they take on the role of a musician?

We expect a lot from the pros -- good chemistry, believable delivery of lines, sincere emotion -- but what about musical aptitude? We'll discuss whether the actor looks the part, but less often challenge whether they can hit the right notes. Sometimes it surely doesn't matter. If the band's music is simple enough, the skills can be learned before shooting. Thanks to the wonder of dubbing, if it's just singing, only the showmanship and performance matter. (Although there are times that actors can surprise with both, like Val Kilmer's stunning embodiment of Jim Morrison in The Doors.)

But when it comes to more talented musicians, it's not so easy to fake. If one is iconic enough to be immortalized once again on film, shouldn't the performance show that artistry? Some itch for James Franco to become Jeff Buckley in that upcoming biopic, but he's the one hopeful without any musical talent -- and no matter what he could learn on the fly, it wouldn't come close to Buckley's, well, Grace. Why bother with the project if we can't watch the notes flow through the fingers as they grasp the strings or pound the keys?

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Michael Jackson's Bond with Sci-Fi and Comics

Cinematical staff — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Music & Musicals, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fandom, Obits

One of the things us genre fans remember most about Michael was his love of sci-fi and fantasy. It oozed out of almost everything he touched, and as visionary filmmakers like James Cameron and George Lucas began making advancements in special effects during the 1980s, Jackson was right there, incorporating his talents into the most memorable music videos of our generation.

Here, SciFi Squad's Mike Moody remembers Jackson's love of sci-fi and comics, and points to some really great content from around the web as all of us come together today to mourn the loss of a pop-culture legend.

Michael Jackson, the king of pop, whose music left an indelible mark on the popular music landscape, died yesterday at the age of 50. It seemed there was little about Jackson's life that didn't make the news or tabloids throughout his long career, with the possible exception of his love of science fiction and comic books.

Jackson was a huge comic book fan, and even considered buying Marvel Comics in the 1990s. MTV Splashpage looks at Jackson's history with comics, and notes that the pop star owned a giant collection of superhero books, costumes and statues that recently went up for auction. Comics Alliance has a rundown on Jackson's 5 greatest moments in comics, including his last public trip to a comic shop and the fate of his Moonwalker comic.

Read more at SciFi Squad

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Wait ... Scout Taylor-Compton is Playing Lita Ford??

Monika Bartyzel — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Music & Musicals, Casting

There seems to be a bit of confusion when it comes to the upcoming rock-fest otherwise known as The Runaways.

Earlier in the month, word hit that newcomer Alessandra Torresani was going to play Lita Ford. But now, out of nowhere, Variety reports that Scout Taylor-Compton is going to play Lita -- with no mention of Torresani. The news is backed up by Scout's MySpace page, which says: "I have been recently filming my *ss off on my newest project, The Runaways!! So far, the process has been amazing. I am so lucky and honored to be able to portray the guitar icon Lita Ford!"

Is Torresani playing one of the bassists? (Micki Steele, Peggy Foster, or Jackie Fox?) Or, did MTV get it all wrong when they revealed their Ford casting announcement? On IMDb, Taylor-Compton is listed as a rumored Jackie Fox, so maybe there was as switcheroo. Whatever the case, I think it's safe to say that this news is the accurate casting, since it was backed up by the actress herself.

Most recently, Taylor-Compton has been busy as the new Laurie Strode in the Halloween reboot, but she does have a bit of rebelliousness in her past that should work nicely. In 2005, she ran away for two weeks due to family issues, dyed her hair black and lived in a park before ultimately being found by police and heading home.

Do you think she'll make a good Ford?

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List This: The Worst Movie Songs of All Time

Jessica Barnes — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Music & Musicals, Fandom, Lists, Trailers and Clips

Movie music has certainly changed over the years. What was once the domain of an orchestra and studio musicians is long gone, and now the top-40 soundtrack reigns supreme. Sometimes it works, like in the case of Martin Scorsese's use of pop music, and sometimes it really doesn't -- and that's where today's list comes in. SPIN has compiled what they say are the worst movie songs of all time, so make sure your earplugs are handy because we're about to look back at the Top 10 Worst Movie Songs, Ever!

So let's get right to the list, shall we? Grabbing the top spot for the worst of all time was P. Diddy and Jimmy Page's Kashmir update for Godzilla, Come With Me. But if you thought that song was bad, wait till you get a load of the other nominees, including Vanilla Ice's Ninja Rap, Limp Bizkit's Take a Look Around from Mission Impossible II, and Nickelback's Spider-Man song, Hero. Judging by SPIN's list it seems like 'geek' movies took most of the hits -- although how Evanescence's theme for Daredevil escaped I'll never know. But rather than complain about what wasn't included in SPIN's list, I've decided to make my very own list of great and not-so-great movie songs.

After the jump: My Top 10 Favorite (and most hated) songs from the movies...

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Quick List: Worst Musical Moments

Jessica Barnes — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Music & Musicals, Fandom, Trailers and Clips

One of my favorite things in the world is a musical gone wrong. I don't know, there's just something particularly funny about watching a musical number go down in flames -- and the more awkward the better. Well, at least I know I'm not the only one who feels this way, because Over at Den of Geek they have compiled a list of the Top 10 Worst Musical Moments in Movies. Now, they didn't just limit themselves to straight musicals, but the results are a trip down memory lane for me and a nightmare for most people. Taking the number one spot was a pretty obscure moment starring Hollywood Legend Mae West and Timothy Dalton (the much-maligned Bond) in the 1978 musical, Sextette. There are plenty of cringe-worthy moments in this film, but the highlight is Geek's selection: Dalton and West singing (and I use the term loosely) Love Will Keep Us Together. There's really nothing more to say, mainly because I seem to have lost the power of comprehension after watching that clip.

So who else managed to make the list? Well, we've got Vanilla Ice in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, Pierce Brosnan ruining ABBA songs in Mamma Mia, Neil Diamond in black face for The Jazz Singer, and my personal favorite -- a clip from Rhinestone starring Sylvester Stallone as a NYC cabbie turned country singer. But, after looking at Geek's list, I noticed a few omissions (at least in my opinion) so I decided to do a little listing of my own.

After the jump: my top 5 worst moments in Musical history...

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'Fame' Gets a Spunky Trailer

Monika Bartyzel — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Drama, Music & Musicals, Trailers and Clips

In 100 days, on September 25, the big-screen version of Fame will hit. To mark the event, MGM has finally released a full-length trailer over at Yahoo. No more of this one-song blip. Now we've got a collection of scenes ranging from entry auditions to final, epic, grand performances. Unsurprisingly, most of the focus is on the most popular arts -- dance and song. This may be Fame, but the popular arts still reign supreme.

Best of all, this trailer finally lets us get a look the teachers. Charles Dutton and Kelsey Grammar get the most play, but there's also brief glimpses of Megan Mullally, Bebe Neuwirth, and of course, Debbie Allen. However, the fact that Ms. Allen, who was one of the main parts of the original show, only gets the briefest glimpse whilst hugging is a bit disappointing. Luckily, there's Dutton's voice over to keep things on track.

But what I can't get over is how darned catchy that theme song still is. Most of my memories of Fame are fleeting at best, but that song has reeled me in hook, line, and sinker. I don't know why -- is it nostalgia, or the fact that the modern twist still leaves the song in tact? And how about you? Are you a sucker for "Fame"?

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Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 6/16

Peter Martin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:03:00 EST

Filed under: Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Foreign Language, Horror, Music & Musicals, New on DVD, Home Entertainment

Friday the 13th
Marcus Nispel directs a rebooted version of the venerable series, which borrows elements from the first four films and adds precious few of its own. I'm tempted to say "skip it," based on my own review, but those first 20-25 minutes are pretty ferocious, and the "Extended Killer Cut" promises more of everything. Also on Blu-ray. Rent it.

Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon

Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail
Tyler Perry has grown his beloved character Madea "into a larger-than-life force of nature that is genuinely funny," wrote Eric D. Snider. He noted the writer/director's "tendency toward oversimplification," however, and commented: "Maybe if someone would do a better job of making films targeted at a black, female Christian audience, Perry's half-baked didacticism would suffer in comparison. In the meantime, this is the best there is, so it's nice that Perry is improving, albeit in small increments." Rent it.

Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon

Ghostbusters
The comedy classic with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver stands ready to imprint itself upon your memory once again, in a new Blu-ray edition. One word to keep in mind before buying, however: grain. "Surprisingly heavy," says DVD Beaver; "heavy wash of grain that never quite dissipates," per IGN; "features plenty of the swirly stuff in most every scene," according to Blu-ray.com. Other than that important factor, which is claimed to reflect the original source print, reviews have been positive. Rent it.

Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon

Also out: What Goes Up, Morning Light, Sword of the Stranger, and a boatload of TV series (a list of the latter at TV Squad).

After the jump: Indies on DVD, more Blu-ray, and Collector's Corner.

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The Jeff Buckley Showdown: Pattinson v. Franco v. Marsden v. Leto

Monika Bartyzel — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Drama, Music & Musicals, Casting, RumorMonger, Scripts

Last Wednesday, I threw on Jeff Buckley - Live in Chicago and got to work. One of the times I glanced at the TV screen, a thought occurred to me: Robert Pattinson could pull off a decent Jeff Buckley. He's only a few years younger than the musician was during the creation of Grace; he's a got a slew of musical talents; and has a similar look. Heck, I even tweeted about it. Only a few days later, in a turn that taps into my collective conscience/coincidence question, there's a mass of buzz about a Buckley biopic.

ABC News reports that Pattinson and James Franco are in a showdown to play the musician in the upcoming biopic. There's not much beef to this account, and they get it wrong that "Hallelujah" was released posthumously (it was on Grace), so it doesn't seem definitive. However, an older news release down under explains things in detail. The Sunday Mail reports that Buckley's mother Mary Guibert is overseeing the project, with producers Michelle Sy (Finding Neverland) and Orion Williams (Control !!) and screenwriter Ryan Jaffe (the less-promising The Rocker). (With the inclusion of Sy and Guibert, this must be the project that began cooking three years ago, although writer/director Brian Jun is not mentioned.)

Continue reading The Jeff Buckley Showdown: Pattinson v. Franco v. Marsden v. Leto

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News Bites: Kristin Stewart Goes Jett and Brittany Murphy Gets 'Wicked'

Monika Bartyzel — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Music & Musicals, Thrillers, Casting, Images

It was only a matter of time. The Runaways are in place, production on the film is gearing up, and try as she might, Kristin Stewart wasn't able to keep her Joan Jett 'do under wraps; E Online caught a full glimpse of the new look. Why am I writing about a hairdo? Well, if there was one initial clue to discern how this Runaways pic would turn out, it's how each of the cast members look -- especially Stewart's Jett. And it's not bad. I can't go with good or great, because by this image (right), it looks more like a modern hack-job than a '70s mullet. But it's decent. At the very least, I doubt anyone will be thinking of Bella when Stewart grabs her guitar and hits the stage.

In a much less rockin' vein of news, The Hollywood Reporter posts that Brittany Murphy has signed onto a psychological thriller called Something Wicked -- no relation to that Wicked musical. We can't quite tell you what the premise is, because there are two competing summaries. THR says the flick is about a teen and his girlfriend (who is out of his league) whose lives become chaotic when her parents are killed. IMDb, on the other hand, says it's about a young couple prepping for marriage when gruesome secrets resurface. Either way, it looks like Murphy has but a supporting gig.

I guess the mediocre films have finally caught up with her, leading her away from the romcoms (at least that's a plus) and into B thrillers. But maybe The Expendables will help -- unless she gets outshone by Charisma Carpenter. Hmm... Is this the end of Murphy?

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Snag This: Stagedoor

Peter Martin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Documentary, Music & Musicals, Home Entertainment, Cinematical Indie, Trailers and Clips

Did the kids who just won Tony Awards for Billy Elliott on Broadway ever have to endure this kind of criticism from a director? "Stop, stop, stop! It's 'toward.' Who is singing 'towards'? ... If you put an 's' on it, it makes it cheap, it makes it sound like you're from Long Island. Nothing against Long Islands ..." Thus begins Stagedoor, a documentary about a summer camp with superstar alumni such as Robert Downey, Jr., Natalie Portman, Mandy Moore, Bryce Howard, Zach Braff, Amy Ryan, Jon Cryer, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Felicity Huffman, and director Shawn Levy. Our friends at SnagFilms have made the film available for free online viewing.

"What will life be like when theater geeks and show-tune queens rule the world?," asked Jorge Morales in his review at The Village Voice. "Documentarian Alexandra Shiva's cameras miss the moment some of the alpha divas cross the line, but the overwrought counselors make it sound like a showbiz Lord of the Flies." Ed Gonzalez of Slant notes that Stagedoor Manor was "the inspiration for former student and teacher Todd Graff's Camp, a film which never arrived at the truth of what this performing arts camp means for the Future Gay Men, Fag Hags, Three Straight Boys, and Broadway Stars of Tomorrow who go there every summer." The doc "remains goodhearted and agreeable throughout -- low on pathos and surprisingly critical of the drama-queen roles students and counselors adopt throughout their three weeks" at the camp.

After the jump, we've embedded the film for your viewing convenience. More information is available at SnagFilms.

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'The Runaways' Finds Lita Ford

Monika Bartyzel — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Drama, Music & Musicals, Casting

The last fox we've been waiting for is finally here!

MTV reports that the last Cherry Bomb to fill out The Runaways is 22-year-old Alessandra Torresani. An actress who's popped up in a bunch of television shows (most notably: Caprica, the BSG spin-off), Torresani will play the tow-headed vixen Lita Ford. And with that, all the mainstays are accounted for. Rhythm guitarist Joan Jett is Kristen Stewart, drummer Sandy West is Stella Maeve, lead singer Cherie Currie is Dakota Fanning, and Torresani is lead guitarist Ford. There is, of course, the bassist to consider, but since a number of girls filled in (Micki Steele, Peggy Foster, Jackie Fox), it looks like they're keeping her off the main casting roster.

She doesn't have the musical chops yet (she starts learning how to play guitar on Monday), but I can definitely see that face belting out power ballads with Ozzy in a few years; she's got a decent Lita look. Speaking of the heavy-metal icon, Torresani will meet up with Ford soon to get the low-down and hear the stories.

Stewart is the easiest to imagine in this project, since she's already got an edge to her, but I think director Floria Sigismondi will be able to do something with this cast. As Jenni already pointed out, there's a killer group attached behind the scenes, so this can't become an ignorable fluff piece. It's got to be something worthy of the path paved by Girls Rock! ... right?

If not, there will be hell to pay.

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Cheesy Movie Music: An Appreciation

Elisabeth Rappe — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Music & Musicals, Fandom

I have appalling taste in music. It's so appalling that my sister once promised she'd play Duran Duran's Rio at my funeral, and I don't really let anyone look at my CD collection or at my iPod playlists. It's also a terribly small collection -- apparently, the price for owning so many movies and comics is that I never get around to finding new music.

But there's one category I absolutely revel in, and that's cheesy film music. More specifically, I love almost all of those power ballads that once graced the closing credits, montages, or love scenes, or every other scene of Rocky IV. Such rocking, aching, big-haired music is pretty much extinct in movie soundtracks these days, having taken its last gasps with Celine Dion, Evanescence, and Bryan Adams. I don't think that's a bad thing. The enjoyment I take in them is largely retro anyway -- I like remembering the preteen who was convinced she was the only one who would ever have Everything I Do (I Do It For You) at her wedding. (Hey, I was 12, and I grew out of it!)

So, seeing as it's Monday and we're smack in the middle of blockbuster season (and it was always the big budget movies that could recruit Cheap Trick and Jon Bon Jovi), let's confess our favorites to one another. No judging, no mocking, just total appreciation for the stuff that's still playing on an endless, easy-listening radio loop. Who knows -- maybe it'll inspire you to make a cheesy iPod playlist of your own.

To get you started, I've embedded one that was mentioned quite a bit in the comments last week, inspiring me to write this one, and that's Clannad's I Will Find You. It was a sad day for Celtic / Irish themed movies when Clannad stopped writing echo-filled Gaelic tunes for them. Check it out after the jump ...

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Are 'Repo!' and 'The Room' Really 'Rocky Horror' 2.0?

William Goss — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Comedy, Horror, Independent, Music & Musicals, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fandom, Fantastic Fest

Since last September, at Fantastic Fest, it became immediately apparent that Repo! The Genetic Opera was due for a cult following, and a successful roadshow run last November and December seemed to confirm as much. I wasn't the biggest fan of Darren Lynn Bousman's goth-rock horror musical at the time, and don't exactly see myself giving it another look any time soon, but when its DVD release hasn't prevented fans from organizing summer screenings with shadow casts far and wide, it's futile to deny that it has at least an audience beyond home video and into the realm of true theatrical cultdom.

Meanwhile, the sheer sloppiness of Tommy Wiseau's infamous The Room has it similarly garnering underground popularity. I settled for seeing it on Cartoon Network when Adult Swim aired it as their idea of an April Fool's joke, and it became much more of a chore to sit through than I could've possibly imagined (and it's not like the constant commercial breaks weren't helping).

Would it have been much better with a crowd? I couldn't say, as the appeal hasn't quite reached Central Florida yet, but I ask: just because a film has reached the ranks of something like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, does that mean it truly deserves to? What are your personal criteria for a proper cult classic? What's your fondest memory of audience partici... pation, and what other films do you feel stand to join the ranks of the modern midnight movie that maybe haven't quite crept up on the ol' cultural radar just yet?

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Is Guy Ritchie Remaking 'Guys and Dolls'?

Elisabeth Rappe — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:45:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Comedy, Music & Musicals, RumorMonger, Newsstand, Remakes and Sequels

It's only a matter of time before Guy Ritchie went back to the gangster filled underworld ... but he might do it to snappy showtunes. According to UK paper The Sun, Ritchie is reportedly itching to take on a remake of Guys and Dolls.

Supposedly, Ritchie and Jason Statham have been joking about writing a musical for sometime, one that would be "a cross between Worzel Gummidge and Bullitt." Now, Worzel Gummidge is a walking, talking scarecrow familiar to British children. He talks kind of like a Ritchie character, but I'm at a loss as to what a hybrid between Worzel and Steve McQueen would look like. Thankfully, we may never find out as he's willing to give up his Worzel Gummidge laced dreams for Guys and Dolls.

Rumors of a remake have been rampant for years (usually with Hugh Jackman's name attached), and with Damn Yankees being green-lit, it wouldn't surprise me if it's picking up some serious steam. Nor would it surprise me if Ritchie became attached, as he seems to be earning Sherlock Holmes goodwill. So, despite story's dubious origins and Madonna jabs, there's just enough here to make it worth talking about. If nothing else, we can use this space to bang the drum and remind whoever does land Guys and Dolls to cast Ewan McGregor as Sky Masterson. I'm still kicking myself that I missed him on the West End, and a movie would soothe those regrets nicely. Now, who to play Nathan Detroit ...

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Watch This: Shia LaBeouf, Music Video Director

Jessica Barnes — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:02:00 EST

Filed under: Music & Musicals, Celebrities and Controversy, Trailers and Clips

I think we all know there have been a few 'mishaps' on the path to stardom for Shia LaBeouf, but I'm convinced the man still has a pretty bright future ahead of him. It takes a fair amount of natural charm (and skill) to pull off some of the so-so films that pepper his resume (ahem, Eagle Eye), but somehow the guy manages to walk away from every crappy film with his dignity intact, and more importantly, with another project coming down the pipe. But, like every other actor who came before him, what LaBeouf really wants to do is direct ... a music video ... and now he's made his directorial debut in the form of a music video for Hip-Hop artist Cage, titled I Never Knew You.

The actor has been a long-time supporter of Cage, and back in 2007 he told Vanity Fair that he was going to be directing a feature film based on the rapper's life. According to Cage's bio, he was "Born to a heroin-addicted father and a distant mother, he battled drug addiction and was institutionalized for 18 months, where he became a test subject for Prozac and tried several times to end his life before discovering hip-hop as a vehicle to express his inner-torment." So while tough luck stories are all fine and dandy, you're probably wondering: but is the video any good? Well, the bad news is that it isn't mind-blowing - pretty standard MTV fare. But the good news is that it's definitely a start in proving LaBeouf can handle himself behind the camera -- not to mention that a celebrity director guarantees Cage a few more headlines.

Watch the video below and tell us what you think about LaBeouf as a director...

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Chace Crawford is the 'Footloose' New Ren McCormack

Monika Bartyzel — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Music & Musicals, Casting, Remakes and Sequels

When you can't get Zac Efron to bring Footloose's Ren McCormack into the singing and dancing twenty-first century, who do you get? Do you twist the race? Grab a girl? Get creative and go in an entirely different direction? Naw. You go for the guy who looks the most like the High School Musical star!

Two months after Efron exited from the musical Footloose remake, fearing the woes of a type-casted life, Cinematical has received a press release that reports that the rumors are true -- Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford has nabbed the gig. Along with this casting announcement, Paramount said that no female lead has been picked yet. However, EW sources are throwing around names like Hayden Panettiere and Julianne Hough. Production will begin in March, 2010.

Beyond smooching Blair on GG, Crawford has got a slew of thrillers and horror under his belt, from The Haunting of Molly Hartley to the upcoming Twelve. And now he's moving to the smile-heavy world of musicals, taking on a role that Zac Efron backed out of, and doing so as a look-alike. Am I missing something? I'm going to assume this gig has a huge paycheck, because I can see no other reason Crawford would want to make himself an Efron replacement -- especially when he's already got some solid gigs.

Is the lure of cutting loose really that powerful?

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