Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Warner Bros Has Until 2011 To Pull Superman Out of Limbohttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/09/warner-bros-has-until-2011-to-pull-superman-out-of-limbo/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/09/warner-bros-has-until-2011-to-pull-superman-out-of-limbo/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/09/warner-bros-has-until-2011-to-pull-superman-out-of-limbo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

When Warner Bros announced it was rebooting the Superman franchise, we all held our breath a little bit waiting to see what Gigantic News would come next. Of course, nothing happened. Last week, Omelete talked to Brandon Routh on the Scott Pilgrim set, who revealed that his Superman contract had expired, and that he had no idea when or if he would return to the character. (Pause for a moment and realize how much it has to suck to get the part of Superman, and have it go utterly sour.) That news suggested one of two things: that Warner Bros would let the franchise expire too, or that they were planning on picking out a new Man of Steel.

Now, Warner Bros and DC Comics have won a favorable ruling in the suit filed by Joanne Siegel and Laura Siegel Larson, the heirs of Superman co-creator Jerome Siegel. If you're curious about the lawsuit in its entirety, ThinkMcFlyThink has a pdf of it, but the part that concerns Superman fans is this: Warner Bros president Alan Horn testified that he'd like to make another movie, but that the project wasn't currently in development at the studio. There isn't even a script being written. The earliest another Superman film could hit theaters would be 2012.

More at SciFiSquad!

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]]>Brandon RouthBrandonRouthDC ComicsDcComicsJerome SiegelJeromeSiegelJoanne SiegelJoanneSiegelLaura Siegel LarsonLauraSiegelLarsonSiegel lawsuitSiegelLawsuitSupermansuperman returnsSupermanReturnsWarner BrosWarnerBrosElisabeth RappeThu, 09 Jul 2009 09:45:00 ESTIranian Protestors Inspired By 'Lord of the Rings' http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/26/iranian-protestors-inspired-by-lord-of-the-rings/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/26/iranian-protestors-inspired-by-lord-of-the-rings/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/26/iranian-protestors-inspired-by-lord-of-the-rings/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Ever since it was first published in 1954-1955, J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings has been embroiled in politics, much to the dismay of its author. Proponents of the political left and the right have taken turns deriding or laying claim to the fantasy epic. Peter Jackson's film adapation didn't escape political scrutiny either. Time magazine's Richard Corliss did a rather famous review of The Two Towers claiming that the film now evoked the War On Terror, and that Saruman looked "eerily" like Osama bin Laden, and USA Today's Michael Medved insisted Viggo Mortensen had tainted the role of Aragorn because he openly declared his anti-war sentiments.

The latest political controversy that the series finds itself embroiled in is the Iranian electoral protests. Time has a piece from an anonymous Iranian resident reporting that the government is using film to try and quell public unrest. "In normal times, Iranian television usually treats its viewers to one or two Hollywood or European movie nights a week. But these are not normal times, so it's been two or three such movies a day. It's part of the push to keep people at home and off the streets, to keep us busy, to get us out of the regime's hair. The message is 'Don't worry, be happy.'"

All television channels in Iran are owned by the state, so the government is choosing its films very carefully. One of their offerings has been a Lord of the Rings marathon, ostensibly picked because its length and epic content will keep people glued to their television. "We're glued to the trilogy. We are riveted. A child in the room loudly predicts that Lord of the Rings will put an end to the nightly shouts, that people will not take to the rooftops and windows because this film will keep them occupied."

Continue reading Iranian Protestors Inspired By 'Lord of the Rings'

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]]>featurediranian electionsIranian elections 2009IranianElectionsIranianElections2009j.r.r. tolkienJ.r.r.TolkienMir-Hossein MousaviMir-hosseinMousaviPeter JacksonPeterJacksonPresident Mahmoud AhmadinejadPresidentMahmoudAhmadinejadThe Lord of the RingsTheLordOfTheRingstolkienViggo MortensenViggoMortensenElisabeth RappeFri, 26 Jun 2009 11:02:00 ESTThe "Red" and "Blue" of Horror Filmshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/22/the-red-and-blue-of-horror-films/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/22/the-red-and-blue-of-horror-films/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/22/the-red-and-blue-of-horror-films/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Can a horror movie have a political agenda? Well, that was the question I asked myself after reading '15 Horror Movies Socialists Could Love''. So as I started to think back to all the hacking and slashing I'd seen over the years, I looked for some some pattern or connection between what I choose at the box-office and what I do at the polling station -- and what did I come up with? Well, I'll get to that, but first I wanted to take a moment to look back at some of the films that have gained a reputation with critics and fans alike as movies with a so-called conservative or liberal state of mind:

'Red State Horror':

Friday the 13th (1980)
Conservatives supposedly love this movie because it's all about no-good kids getting what they deserve. Sexy teens don't stand a chance in this franchise from the moment they take a drink, get high, or get naked. Plus, it's one of the few horror films with a moral about the importance of a good work ethic.

Frankenstein
It's science vs. religion in the story of a man who presumes to know more than God...and I think we all remember how that turns out.

Lost Boys
Family values are all over this one, and when a divorced mom pays more attention to a her love life than her two sons, look what happens. So even with a pot-smoking grandpa, plenty of critics agree that this film is all about Regan's America and the triumph of family over no-good, rock n' roll loving, motorcycle-driving youth gangs.

Tremors
2nd Amendment fans praise this tale of a band of locals fending off giant worms and the gun-toting survivalists that help save the day -- Take that Brady Bill!

Check out the rest at HorrorSquad!

Continue reading The "Red" and "Blue" of Horror Films

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]]>conservativesdrag me to hellDragMeToHellfriday the 13thFridayThe13thlast house on the leftLastHouseOnTheLeftliberalslistpoliticsthe lost boysTheLostBoysvampirewes cravenWesCravenzombiesJessica BarnesMon, 22 Jun 2009 17:02:00 ESTNPR Will Review 'Outrage,' but Won't Discuss Its Actual Contenthttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/05/12/npr-will-review-outrage-but-wont-discuss-its-actual-content/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/05/12/npr-will-review-outrage-but-wont-discuss-its-actual-content/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/05/12/npr-will-review-outrage-but-wont-discuss-its-actual-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Kirby Dick's new documentary Outrage, which premiered at Tribeca last month and opened theatrically last week, is an exposé of U.S. politicians, like Larry Craig, who spew anti-gay rhetoric and vote against gay rights while secretly living gay lives themselves. As you'd imagine, the film has sparked some controversy -- but who would have guessed it would cause problems at liberal NPR?

As first reported by IndieWIRE on Monday, NPR ran a positive review of the film by Nathan Lee, who, in the course of discussing the film, named some of the specific politicians whose hypocritical double lives the film investigates, including former New York City mayor Ed Koch and current Florida governor Charlie Crist. When the review was published, though, Lee was surprised to find that the NPR editors had removed those names from it. Incensed, Lee had his byline removed from the review, too.

Continue reading NPR Will Review 'Outrage,' but Won't Discuss Its Actual Content

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]]>kirby dickKirbyDickoutrageEric D. SniderTue, 12 May 2009 20:02:00 EST'Buffy' Alum to Pen Butler-Led White House Filmhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/30/buffy-alum-to-pen-butler-led-white-house-film/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/30/buffy-alum-to-pen-butler-led-white-house-film/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/30/buffy-alum-to-pen-butler-led-white-house-film/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Several years ago, when Buffy the Vampire Slayer was going strong, there was a little episode called Superstar. In it, Danny Strong's Jonathan cooked up a pretty powerful mojo that allowed him to be a superstar at everything. In this alternate universe, he did everything from act in The Matrix to fighting vampires better than the slayer. Everyone loved him -- there were billboards, saucy calendar shoots, well, you get the idea. Now it looks like Strong is getting a taste of that, at least as far as political projects are concerned (not so much playing Robin in Losing Lois Lane).

Having tackled Recount for HBO, Empire reports that Strong is now penning a new film called The Butler, based on the Washington Post story: A Butler Well Served by This Election. The story outlined the life of Eugene Allen, an African-American butler who worked at the White House for over three decades, serving eight presidents, and then got to see times change as President Obama was sworn into office. The story has it all -- changing times and attitudes, insight into the world behind the public political face, and even tear-jerking love -- his wife Helene died the day before the election.

Empire mentioned the O-word, and they could just be on to something. Can you imagine: Jonathan, Academy Award-winning writer? It's certainly better than "Gurkin" in Sydney White.

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]]>A Butler Well Served By This ElectionAButlerWellServedByThisElectionCinematicalDanny StrongDannyStrongEugene AllenEugeneAllenThe ButlerTheButlerMonika BartyzelThu, 30 Apr 2009 17:03:00 ESTTribeca Review: Outragehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/27/tribeca-review-outrage/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/27/tribeca-review-outrage/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/27/tribeca-review-outrage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



Hypocrites beware: Kirby Dick will have none of your shenanigans. His Oscar-nominated Twist of Faith dealt with sex-abuse cover-ups within the Catholic Church, and This Film Is Not Yet Rated let the irrational and inconsistent MPAA ratings board have it with both barrels. Now, in the engrossing, revelatory new Outrage, the message is clear. If you're a politician who publicly oppresses the gay community while secretly belonging to it, Kirby Dick will kick your closet door down and tell the world what a hypocrite you are.

The incendiary but thoughtful filmmaker presumably has no beef with politicians who put up a straight facade while secretly gayin' it up when their voting record doesn't suggest anti-gay sentiments. It's only when they spend their days voting against gay marriage and domestic-partnership benefits and filling their speeches with anti-gay rhetoric that Dick believes their private deeds ought to be made public. Outrage is based on the premise -- which Dick assumes we agree with before he begins -- that such votes are tantamount to homophobia, and that voters therefore deserve to know what their elected homophobes are up to after hours.

And that is Outrage: a series of U.S. politicians with anti-gay voting records are dragged out of the closet. Dick avoids sensationalism, even though the material is inherently steamy, and even though his last name is Dick, for crying out loud. If my last name were Dick and I were making this movie, there's no way I'd be able to keep it classy.

Continue reading Tribeca Review: Outrage

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]]>kirby dickKirbyDickoutragetribeca2009Eric D. SniderMon, 27 Apr 2009 13:02:00 ESTMcG Goes Musical With 'Spring Awakening'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/14/mcg-goes-musical-with-spring-awakening/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/14/mcg-goes-musical-with-spring-awakening/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/14/mcg-goes-musical-with-spring-awakening/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The short-but-sweet McG wants to return to his music man days, and get in on Hugh Jackman's Musical Renaissance ... and he's going to take the edgier route to get there. According to The Hollywood Reporter, McG is bringing Broadway's Spring Awakening to the big screen with help from its original creators Steven Sater and Duncan Shiek.

Based on Frank Wedekind's controversial 1891 play, the rock musical follows a group of 19th century German teenagers as they discover their sexuality, and deal with the hot button topics of masturbation, abortion, rape, sexual abuse, and suicide. The play was banned Wedekind's native land, and played once in New York in 1917, though it narrowly escaped being shut down for being poronographic.

Despite the risky content, the 2006 musical adaptation fared a lot better. It was a critical and box office success, and took home a ton of Tony awards, including best musical, best book, best original score and best actor.

The project isn't set up at a studio yet, but it might find a home at Warner Bros where McG has a first-look deal. But a musical with masturbating characters might prove too edgy for any studio, forcing the director to take the indie route. It's an interesting project for him to take on given his fondness for splashy blockbusters ... is he going to grow up and go all serious on us?

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]]>Duncan ShiekDuncanShiekfeaturedFrank WedekindFrankWedekindMcGSpring AwakeningSpringAwakeningSteven SaterStevenSaterWarner BrosWarnerBrosElisabeth RappeTue, 14 Apr 2009 08:52:00 ESTWill 'Outrage' Become Tribeca Fest's Most Controversial Film? http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/09/will-outrage-become-tribeca-fests-most-controversial-film/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/09/will-outrage-become-tribeca-fests-most-controversial-film/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/09/will-outrage-become-tribeca-fests-most-controversial-film/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Documentary filmmaker Kirby Dick is no stranger to controversy, and it sounds like his latest project, set to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival later this month, might be the most eyebrow-raising yet. After addressing pedophile priests in Twist of Faith (which earned an Oscar nomination) and the corrupt MPAA ratings system in This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dick is now going after a different breed of hypocrite: politicians who promote anti-gay legislation while secretly living gay lives themselves.

The film is called Outrage, and our colleagues at IndieWIRE have seen an early cut of it. (Dick says they'll be editing right up to the last minute, to ensure timeliness.) The film has interviews with openly gay politicians like Barney Frank, but the real meat seems to be reporting on the closeted politicians -- mostly Republican men -- who rail against homosexuality publicly while engaging in it privately. IndieWIRE, while refraining from spoiling any surprises, says there are stories here that have not been publicized before. So it's not just Larry Craig and Mark Foley, but others, too.

If that's the case, then the weather forecast calls for major s***storms once the film debuts at Tribeca on April 24. Magnolia is releasing it theatrically shortly thereafter, on May 8, to capitalize on whatever brouhaha erupts; I hope that this doesn't cause the film to come across as vindictive or sensationalistic. I've admired all of Dick's previous documentaries, not least because they've stayed on the side of truth and justice and didn't engage too much in pettiness. Dick tells IndieWIRE that the purpose of the film is not just to out closeted politicians -- and that's good. If a politician (or anyone else) wants to stay closeted, that's fine. It's only when they're simultaneously endorsing public policies that hurt the gay community that it becomes an issue.

Continue reading Will 'Outrage' Become Tribeca Fest's Most Controversial Film?

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]]>kirby dickKirbyDickoutragethis film is not yet ratedThisFilmIsNotYetRatedtwist of faithTwistOfFaithEric D. SniderThu, 09 Apr 2009 20:02:00 ESTKal Penn, White House Liaisonhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/08/kal-penn-white-house-liaison/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/08/kal-penn-white-house-liaison/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/08/kal-penn-white-house-liaison/#commentsFiled under: ,

While watching Harold and Kumar make their way to White Castle, or more aptly, break out of Guantanamo Bay, did you ever think: "Gee, that Kumar should become a White House aide?" Entertainment Weekly (read below before hitting the link) just talked with the star about a twist in his role on House, and in doing so, learned that President Barack Obama wants a little Kal Penn in his crew.

Penn had helped with Obama's campaign, and expressed an interest to work in the White House. This desire got him hired as an Associate Director in the Office of Public Liaison. As Penn says: "They do outreach with the American public and with different organizations. They're basically the front door of the White House. They take out all of the red tape that falls between the general public and the White House. It's similar to what I was doing on the campaign."

Now this isn't some side gig to appease his political interests while he brings in the cash as an actor -- for now he's out of the acting biz to take this on full-time, and is taking a drastic pay cut as a result -- similar aides earned between $41,000 and $91,000 last year.

Do you think this will lead to Mayor, Governor, Senator, and even President Penn? Or are you too busy mourning his departure from showbiz?

*Do not go to that link if you're a House fan, but haven't seen the most recent episode. However, at least EW put up a spoiler warning. Sites across the net and throwing the twist everywhere, even in headlines, so if you're itching to read more, you've been warned!

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]]>CinematicalKal Pennkal penn white houseKalPennKalPennWhiteHouseObamaMonika BartyzelWed, 08 Apr 2009 16:03:00 ESTWatch This: Keira Knightley in Domestic Abuse PSAhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/02/watch-this-keira-knightley-in-domestic-abuse-psa/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/02/watch-this-keira-knightley-in-domestic-abuse-psa/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/02/watch-this-keira-knightley-in-domestic-abuse-psa/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We're used to seeing women in peril on the big screen every day; Mary Sues, damsels in distress, call it what you want -- but the sad truth is that for most women, being victimized isn't just limited to the box office. The recent events surrounding Rhianna and Chris Brown have brought the issue of domestic abuse into the spotlight once again, and the disturbing fact remains that most young girls still have some very strange ideas about what constitutes abuse. So while most celebrities don't like to be role models (because they need role models themselves), it's nice to see someone in 'Young Hollywoood' take a stand. Keira Knightley is now starring in a PSA that will be shown on TV and in theaters in the UK about domestic violence for the charity Women's Aid.

The ad has Knightley leaving the set to come home to a jealous and abusive boyfriend, as the abuse continues you see the camera pull away with the tag line, "Isn't it time someone called cut?" as you hear Knightley screaming in the background. The shocking (but highly effective) spot was directed by Joe Wright, who directed Atonement and Pride and Prejudice with Knightley and everyone involved devoted their time for free for the PSA. The ad will begin airing in the UK on April 6th, with an extended version shown in theaters in front of over 15 films.

Do Wright and Knightley take things too far here in depicting domestic violence, or do you feel it's necessary to take things to a very nasty place in order to get the message across?

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]]>abuseatonementjoe wrightJoeWrightkeira knightleyKeiraKnightleypride and prejudicePrideAndPrejudicepsaJessica BarnesThu, 02 Apr 2009 17:15:00 ESTJon Hamm Puts On Legal Briefs For 'Howl'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/25/jon-hamm-puts-on-legal-briefs-for-howl/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/25/jon-hamm-puts-on-legal-briefs-for-howl/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/25/jon-hamm-puts-on-legal-briefs-for-howl/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Let's just get the important part out first -- Variety reports that Jon Hamm, the man who looks like a cartoon pilot, has joined the cast of Howl. Commence girly shrieking, gaze at the photo to your left, sink into your chair with a grin on your face. It's cool. I did it too.

All right, now that's over with. Howl is already generating a lot of buzz, all of which should keep it from disappearing into indie obscurity. Not only does it center on a notorious moment of literary history, but its collected a heck of an ensemble cast -- James Franco (who is playing Allen Ginsberg), Paul Rudd, Mary-Louise Parker, David Strathairn, Jeff Daniels, Bob Balaban, Treat Williams and Alessandro Nivola are all on board. (Check out Peter Martin's piece to see who plays whom.)

Hamm has landed a very meaty part in the Ginsberg story -- he'll play the famous defense attorney Jake Ehrlich. Ehrlich was actually the attorney for Lawrence Ferlinghetti who had published Howl stateside as the owner of City Lights Bookstore. He faced a $500 fine and a 6 month sentence for daring to publishing Ginsberg's poem, and gained the services of Ehrlich thanks to the ACLU. Ehrlich took the case pro-bono, and later wrote an account of the trial titled Howl of the Censor, and was the inspiration for the television series "Perry Mason."

All joking and gushing aside, it's wonderful to see Hamm get to use his acting chops outside of Mad Men and Keanu Reeves. Now if some studio executive would watch that Lex Luthor video and make the obvious DC choice ...

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]]>Allen GinsbergAllenGinsbergdavid strathairnDavidStrathairnHowlJake EhrlichJakeEhrlichJames FrancoJamesFrancoJeff DanielsJeffDanielsJon HammJonHammMary-Louise ParkerMary-louiseParkerPaul RuddPaulRuddElisabeth RappeWed, 25 Mar 2009 20:15:00 ESTDennis Quaid and Julianne Moore Become THE Bill and Hillaryhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/25/dennis-quaid-and-julianne-moore-become-the-bill-and-hillary/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/25/dennis-quaid-and-julianne-moore-become-the-bill-and-hillary/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/25/dennis-quaid-and-julianne-moore-become-the-bill-and-hillary/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Recreating well-known political figures has been pretty popular lately. We've had the surprising casting twist of Josh Brolin as Dubya, plus a whole slew of other political figures in W. We've seen Paul Giamatti become a Founding Father. Frank Langella got to take on good ol' Nixon. And now, we're getting Bill and Hillary, and the famous Clinton duo is not being played by Darrell Hammond and Amy Poehler. It's a pair you'd probably never guess.

Variety reports that Dennis Quaid is set to star as President Clinton, with Julianne Moore taking on Hillary in an upcoming HBO film called The Special Relationship. While, at first glance, this might seem like a tale that will discuss certain forays in the Oval Office and risque behavior with cigars, the piece will look at an entirely different relationship -- the "sometimes turbulent political relationship" between Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair -- who will be played by Michael Sheen.

You might remember that Sheen already played Blair in both The Deal and The Queen, so this will be old hat. (Helen McCrory, who played Cherie Blair in The Queen, is also set to reprise her role.) He was also the Frost to Langella's Nixon, and Frost/Nixon playwright Peter Morgan wrote the screenplay to this project and is hoping to make his directorial debut with the feature, should it get greenlit.
Can you imagine Dennis and Julianne as Bill and Hillary?

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]]>CinematicalDennis QuaidDennisQuaidHelen McCroryHelenMccroryJulianne MooreJulianneMooreMichael SheenMichaelSheenPeter MorganPeterMorganThe Special RelationshipTheSpecialRelationshipMonika BartyzelWed, 25 Mar 2009 08:55:00 EST'They Killed Sister Dorothy' Gets Play on HBOhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/24/they-killed-sister-dorothy-gets-play-on-hbo/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/24/they-killed-sister-dorothy-gets-play-on-hbo/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/24/they-killed-sister-dorothy-gets-play-on-hbo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

One of SXSW's prize winning documentaries is finally coming to the masses. This Wednesday (March 25), HBO2 will be premiering Daniel Junge's documentary They Killed Sister Dorothy at 8:00/9:30 p.m ET/PT. It will get a handful of replays, so check HBO's schedule and your local listings if you miss it on the first try.

Junge's documentary examines the life and brutal murder of Sister Dorothy Stang, a 73-year-old nun from Ohio who was shot to death in an Amazon jungle. Three men were eventually convicted of killing her, and the Brazilian government stepped up to continue her work in preserving the Amazon rainforest.

Kim Voynar reviewed the documentary at SXSW last year, and was full of praise for its tight style and clear narrative: "They Killed Sister Dorothy isn't just a film about a nun thwarting the attempts of honest ranchers to simply make a living; at its heart, this is really a story about the wealthy versus the poor, and about an activist trying to protect a natural resource from those who would destroy it for profit."

The other five reviewers collected by Rotten Tomatoes all found it equally riveting, which suggests we should all check it out. Sister Dorothy Stang was willing to die for her cause and no matter what your feelings on environmental issues might be, her story is worth knowing and remembering.

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]]>Daniel JungeDanielJungethey killed sister dorothyTheyKilledSisterDorothyElisabeth RappeTue, 24 Mar 2009 08:32:00 ESTWatch This: Coen Bros. Direct 'Clean Coal Air Freshener'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/27/watch-this-coen-bros-direct-clean-coal-air-freshener/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/27/watch-this-coen-bros-direct-clean-coal-air-freshener/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/27/watch-this-coen-bros-direct-clean-coal-air-freshener/#commentsFiled under: ,

Joel and Ethan Coen - The Coen BrothersLast year about this time, Joel and Ethan Coen were basking in the glow of winning multiple Academy Awards for No Country for Old Men. This year, they're hard at work finishing their black comedy follow-up, A Serious Man, which is due out this fall.

While they're in that black comedy mood, the Coen Brothers took time out to direct a 30-second TV ad in support of the Reality Coalition. You can watch the video, which is embedded below, thanks to the folks at Funny or Die. The Reality Coalition wants to "expose the coal industry's misleading marketing campaign for so-called 'clean coal,'" according to a prepared statement.

The Coens have always laced their work with sly, subversive messages, but the video is the first time they've been so straightforward in making a contribution to a, gulp, somewhat political campaign. (Don't worry, the ad itself won't knock you over the head with its message.) The press release says they "were excited to be part of this important project."

I love the line, "Clean Coal Clean harnesses the awesome power of the word 'clean' to make it sound like the cleanest there is." Beyond the concept and the ad copy, what makes the spot work is the deadpan comic timing of the Coen Brothers; the 'suburban family trying a new product' is a tried-and-true advertising gambit, but they give it a good, choking spin. Check it out:

Clean Coal Air Freshener! - watch more funny videos

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]]>a serious manASeriousMancoen brothersCoenBrothersethan coenEthanCoenjoel coenJoelCoenno country for old menNoCountryForOldMenreality coalitionRealityCoalitionPeter MartinFri, 27 Feb 2009 12:02:00 ESTDiscuss: The 25 Best Movies for Conservativeshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/23/discuss-the-25-best-movies-for-conservatives/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/23/discuss-the-25-best-movies-for-conservatives/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/23/discuss-the-25-best-movies-for-conservatives/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Hollywood isn't known as a place for a 'conservative' frame of mind. I think Sean Penn reminded us of that quite nicely during his Oscar acceptance speech when he endearingly referred to the crowd of tinsel-town elite as "You Commie Homo-Loving Sons of Guns". But that doesn't mean our Red-state friends don't like to go to the movies just as much as their liberal brethren -- so what's a Conservative to do? Well, the National Review has come to the rescue and compiled a list of The Best Conservative Movies. And how does a movie arrive on such a list? According to NR, "Conservatives enjoy these films because they are great movies that offer compelling messages about freedom, families, patriotism, traditions, and more" -- because I guess it is impossible for someone with Liberal political views to care about those things. So even though the political leanings of the cast and crew reportedly did not come into play for the list, I'm not sure I believe the addition of David Mamet's The Edge wasn't inspired (if only a little) by the filmmakers political 180 earlier this year.

Now for the list itself, well, there are the obvious choices like Red Dawn, 300 and The Dark Knight that are praised for their themes featuring individuals fighting against a terrorist, invading hoards, and a chorus of naysayers (sound familiar?). But the rest of the list isn't so obvious, and there are some weird selections in the bunch. Juno was noted for being pro-life (but punished for its heroines "unrealistic level of self-confidence"), Brazil for its tale of bureaucracy run amok, Groundhog Day for promoting small town values, and The Incredibles was even noted for bringing a little Ayn Rand back to the kiddie set. Personal politics aside, I have to wonder just what, exactly, some of these people were on when they included Ghostbusters on the list (I know, I know, an EPA guy is a bad guy, but c'mon, leave Dr. Venkman out of this).

Continue reading Discuss: The 25 Best Movies for Conservatives

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]]>300conservativesghostbustersoscarsred dawnRedDawnsean pennSeanPennThe Dark Knightthe incrediblesTheDarkKnightTheIncrediblesJessica BarnesMon, 23 Feb 2009 22:02:00 ESTMichael Moore Wants Your Wall Street Horror Storieshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/11/michael-moore-wants-your-wall-street-horror-stories/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/11/michael-moore-wants-your-wall-street-horror-stories/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/11/michael-moore-wants-your-wall-street-horror-stories/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Michael MooreHas the economy gotten you down? Are you subsisting on day-old bread and processed cheese slices? (Oh wait, we're supposed to be talking about you, not me.) Are you righteously angry about what Wall Street has done -- and do you have inside information to prove it? Well, America, Michael Moore feels your pain, and he'd like to share it -- by putting you on camera so you can help him expose "the greatest crime story ever told."

As we reported In November, Moore decided to change the focus of his next project from "what's going on in the world and America's place in it" to "the global financial crisis and the U.S. economy." Anne Thompson at Variety points to his web site, where Mike has posted a plea for "a few brave people who work on Wall Street or in the financial industry to come forward and share with me what they know."

Moore says that participants can decide to what extent they want to be involved. I'm assuming that means they can decide whether they wish to be on camera or not, and then whether they want to be identified on camera if they sit for an interview. Alternatively, I suppose they could provide Moore with 'inside information' without appearing in the film.

Moore is nothing if not a master of hyperbole, though it's interesting to observe how the tone changes in his message. At first he says: "I am humbly asking you for a moment of courage, to be a hero and help me expose the biggest swindle in American history."

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]]>michel mooreMichelMoorewall street horror storiesWallStreetHorrorStoriesPeter MartinWed, 11 Feb 2009 14:15:00 ESTDiscuss: Have We Entered a New Wave of Hollywood Politics?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/09/discuss-have-we-entered-a-new-wave-of-hollywood-politics/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/09/discuss-have-we-entered-a-new-wave-of-hollywood-politics/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/09/discuss-have-we-entered-a-new-wave-of-hollywood-politics/#commentsFiled under: ,



By now you've probably heard: Val Kilmer is considering running for governor of New Mexico in 2010. It seems that he's "looking for ways to be contributive," and if he can make "a substantial contribution," he'll run. And if he decides that there's a big contribution to be made ... well, he's determined to win: "If I run, I'm going to be the next governor." At least he's mastered the art of positive thinking.

THR also notes that if he runs, it won't be a conventional campaign. Kilmer says that it's all about getting out and listening to people, but will that also include shepherding in a new generation of politicians? When ol' Ronnie Reagan was entering the political world, he was coming out of a restricted Hollywood. Being an actor might have been a surprising twist, but Reagan didn't reveal much in his Hollywood work. But now: We've got terminators, professional wrestlers, and perhaps, egads, the man who played John Holmes. Will Kilmer swear that he only got high on film? Or, will he possibly make his varied film career a political selling point rather than ignoring it? I mean, he's a Real Genius, so anything is possible.

What do you think about Val's new interest, or would you prefer that he stuck with acting or condiments? And what do you think about today's actors getting into the political world? Are you comfortable having a man or woman in office after you've seen their bits?

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]]>CinematicalHollywood politiciansHollywoodPoliticianspoliticsVal KilmerValKilmerMonika BartyzelMon, 09 Feb 2009 12:32:00 ESTGeorge Clooney and Aaron Sorkin Love a 'Challenge'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/04/george-clooney-and-aaron-sorkin-love-a-challenge/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/04/george-clooney-and-aaron-sorkin-love-a-challenge/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/04/george-clooney-and-aaron-sorkin-love-a-challenge/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When it comes to George Clooney's political leanings, I have to tell you, I'm a little conflicted. Does it make me a hypocrite that I cringe whenever most actors wax poetic on the state of the union, but whenever Clooney gets a little high on the horse I tend to give him a pass -- maybe it's because I usually agree with him, or maybe like most of the world, I just can't seem to say no to 'The Clooney'. So while most of Clooney's political fare has been a relatively easy sell, his latest politically charged flick definitely will not fall into that category. Luckily for him, he has found the perfect partner in crime. Variety reports that Clooney has joined forces with Liberal darling Aaron Sorkin to write a script for the film version of Jonathan Mahler's book, The Challenge: Hamdan v. Rumsfeld and the Fight Over Presidential Power.

Clooney is producing under his Smoke House banner, and is reportedly looking to direct and star as the Navy lawyer, Charles Swift. Along with the Georgetown U. law professor Neal Katyal, Swift worked tirelessly to ensure a fair trail for Osama bin Laden's driver, Salim Hamdan. Hamdan was captured back in 2001, and was convicted and sentenced to 5 1/2 years for providing material support to Al-Qaeda after being held at the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison. So even if you don't agree with Clooney and Sorkin's politics -- and I can guarantee that there are a lot of you out there who don't. I'll just be keeping my fingers crossed that The Challenge doesn't keep Sorkin so busy he doesn't have time for that other legal drama we have been hearing so much about.

So where does that leave me with actors and their politics? Plenty has already been said on the subject, so I won't rehash it all here. But while Iraq movies continue to crumble at the box-office, and the only presidents we are willing to dissect are the ones long past. I have to give Clooney credit for his willingness to tackle one hell of an unpopular subject -- don't you?

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]]>aaron sorkinAaronSorkinbookgeorge clooneyGeorgeClooneyjonathan mahlerJonathanMahlerpoliticsThe ChallengeTheChallengeJessica BarnesWed, 04 Feb 2009 16:03:00 ESTSundance Review: In the Loophttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/01/26/sundance-review-in-the-loop/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/01/26/sundance-review-in-the-loop/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/01/26/sundance-review-in-the-loop/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



In the Loop, which was picked up for U.S. release by IFC at Sundance, seemed tailor-made for easy summations: "It's The Office meets The West Wing," the early-screening set said, along with raving endorsements about how funny In the Loop actually was. And the latter part of that was proven right when I saw In the Loop at Sundance; it's achingly, wrenchingly, dizzyingly funny, with a bleak, bitter sense of humor that makes each laugh feel like the people behind In the Loop are not so much tickling your funny bone as they are going at it with an ice pick.

And yes, In the Loop has the handheld-yet-slightly-too-steady camerawork of The Office, where the comedy of uncomfortable silence builds and builds as the camera lingers and stays on, and it also has the petty rivalries and silly squabbles of The Office; it seems that whether you're selling paper or pushing it, work is work. And In the Loop also has the insider-y, rushed feeling of The West Wing, where many scenes are done as a walk-and-talk and we're reminded that they talk about the corridors of power because that's usually where the deals get cut.

But In the Loop also transcends those easy comparisons, and does so to great effect. The idea that government is as messy and petty and foolish as any other workplace is scary, and funny; the insider's view of politics in it isn't warm walk-and-talk idealism but the ugly, mean pragmatism of the stalk-and-talk, or even the prowl-and-growl. On the surface level, In the Loop is The Office meets The West Wing, sure; what it winds up feeling more like is as if John Cleese and George Orwell wrote Dr. Strangelove for our media-soaked age where wars are conducted in part through press releases and focus groups, or Catch-22 for the 24/7 news era.

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]]>Anna ChlumskyAnnaChlumskyArmando IanucciArmandoIanucciIn the LoopInTheLoopPeter CapaldiPeterCapaldiThe Thick of ItTheThickOfItTom HollanderTomHollanderJames RocchiMon, 26 Jan 2009 11:03:00 ESTReview: Frost/Nixonhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/03/review-frost-nixon/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/03/review-frost-nixon/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/03/review-frost-nixon/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



"You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore ..."
-- Richard Nixon, on his 1962 loss to Pat Brown for the Governorship of California

That statement turned out, of course, not to be true; we would have Nixon to kick around for decades more. That statement also concealed a different truth, which is that Nixon -- the hunched, scowling, puritan-satyr of American politics -- could not only take a beating, but also dish one out. Frost/Nixon, Ron Howard's film adaptation of Peter Morgan's stage play, kicks Nixon around, but it also lets him kick back, as TV personality (not journalist or reporter, but personality) David Frost faces Nixon in a series of 1977 interviews for an ambitious, expensive and poorly-planned multi-night TV broadcast. Why would Nixon agree to an on-camera inquisition? Because Frost paid him -- $600,000 -- for the chance to do so, and because Nixon thought it might be a chance to re-emerge from his exile after resigning the presidency in 1974. Two men, their careers in decline, circling each other for a shot at redemption: Frost (Michael Sheen) is wagering his fortune on the chance to re-make his reputation; Nixon (Frank Langella), with neither reputation or fortune, is desperate for a chance to escape infamy.

But Frost/Nixon is not simply the equivalent of Thunderdome for readers of The Nation, where two men enter and one man leaves. Morgan's script is smart enough to make sure there are things hidden under that clash, a quieter film about character and communication, modern media and ancient principles. And we also get the interview field of combat, which drapes the slick surface of modern manners over the kind of brute, bloody battle you normally see only in nature documentaries. The film, like Frost's interviews, is not merely about Watergate -- which is good, because we have, I should think, drained that well of venality fairly dry -- but instead about bigger issues of accountability and process and principle. Frost, stripped of all pretense, was asking Nixon a good question: Who the hell do you think you are? Nixon, stripped of all pretense, was asking an equally good question: Who the hell are you to ask?

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]]>David FrostDavidFrostFrank LangellaFrankLangellaFrostNixonKevin BaconKevinBaconmichael sheenMichaelSheenrebecca hallRebeccaHallRichard NixonRichardNixonRon HowardRonHowardJames RocchiWed, 03 Dec 2008 21:02:00 EST