Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gif Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Jake Gyllenhaal Joins Duncan Jones for 'Source Code'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/jake-gyllenhaal-duncan-jones-source-code/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/jake-gyllenhaal-duncan-jones-source-code/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/jake-gyllenhaal-duncan-jones-source-code/#commentsI'm not sure what happened to Escape from the Deep, the World War II submarine thriller which was supposed to be the next project for Moon's Duncan Jones, or Mute (his other original sci-fi film). The news today, though, is even more exciting: it seems that instead of tackling historical fiction, Jones will go back to the well for some more heady science-fiction with Source Code. If the title sounds familiar, it's because the project has been floating around for over two years; last year, Shane Abbess (of the Australian pseudo-religious horror film Gabriel) was set to direct.

Source Code was written by Ben Ripley (Species III!), with a once-over by Billy Ray -- a master of the thoughtful genre film. In it, a character is forced relive a train bombing from the point of view of a stranger until he can figure out who's responsible. Jake Gyllenhaal is in negotiations to play the soldier protagonist, or perhaps the third party he inhabits. It's not clear if this is a "conventional" time-travel story or something more akin to Groundhog Day.

Jones is also attached to another sci-fi project called Mute, which he is writing and which he discusses briefly here. Source Code is supposed to start filming early next year, which will probably put the other film (not to mention Escape from the Deep) on the back burner. Meanwhile, awards speculation is starting to simmer around Moon, and especially the richly deserving Sam Rockwell. I'll believe that when I see it -- but Jones' debut showed such remarkable promise that I'm awaiting his next film with bated breath.

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]]>billy rayBillyRayduncan jonesDuncanJonesjake gyllenhaalJakeGyllenhaalmoonmutesource codeSourceCodeEugene NovikovSun, 08 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST'Ridgemont High' Inspirations Are Now Protective Parentshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/ridgemont-high-inspirations-are-now-protective-parents/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/ridgemont-high-inspirations-are-now-protective-parents/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/ridgemont-high-inspirations-are-now-protective-parents/#commentsL to R: 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High,' the book and the movie

Would you want your children to know you were the real-life inspiration for a famous tale of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll? Fast Times at Ridgemont High holds up as a heady brew of authentic teen life in the late 70s / early 80s, mixed with a fine sense of the absurd and served up by an amazing cast. It's definitely a teen sex comedy that DOESN'T suck. The movie's 25th anniversary two years ago inspired plenty of "Where Are They Now" recollections; our own Erik Davis offered his observations on an eye-opening gallery of "then and now" images for the cast.

Before the movie, however, there was the book, and before the book, there were the real-life students of Clairemont High School in San Diego, California. Cameron Crowe, then 22, went undercover at the school in 1979 to research a book on teen life. He'd graduated from another area school in 1972 -- at the age of 15! -- and was busy writing for Rolling Stone (as documented in Almost Famous), so he took a refresher course by soaking in the atmosphere at the school. Recently the class held its 30-year reunion and it turns out that some of those students have become very protective parents, according to a report in The San Diego Union-Tribune.

One graduate won't let his 15-year-old son watch the movie: "We are not going to show it to him until he's in college." The former class president says she finally allowed her daughter, a senior at the school, to read Crowe's book but isn't ready yet to allow her to see the flick, though she admits that it accurately portrayed the sex and drug activity among teens at the time.

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]]>cameron croweCameronCroweclairemont high schoolClairemontHighSchoolfast times at ridgemont highFastTimesAtRidgemontHighfeaturedphoebe catesPhoebeCatesreal life inspirationsRealLifeInspirationssan diegoSanDiegoPeter MartinSun, 08 Nov 2009 15:02:00 ESTFree Flick of the Day: Black Sabbathhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/free-flick-of-the-day-black-sabbath/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/free-flick-of-the-day-black-sabbath/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/free-flick-of-the-day-black-sabbath/#comments

Anthologies are common in the horror genre, whether two or more directors band together on a project, or whether one director takes on several short stories alone. Usually the result is that at least one of the entries is pretty weak, but the strongest entry makes the film worthwhile. Once in a while, however, you get something like Mario Bava's Black Sabbath, which has three strong entries. Bava's secret is that he was never very strong on plot or story or character; he could direct the hell out of any old script with his astonishing use of colors, mood and atmosphere. The best thing about Black Sabbath -- which the distributor American International Pictures re-titled to cash in on the success of Bava's Black Sunday -- is that it actually does have some good stories. In the first one, "The Telephone," a woman gets a phone call and learns that a dangerous man from her past has been released from jail; the entire story is set in her apartment, and Bava makes you jump each time the phone rings.

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]]>black sabbathBlackSabbathBoris KarloffBorisKarloffcinematicalfilmFree Flick of the DayFreeFlickOfTheDaymario bavaMarioBavamovieJeffrey M. AndersonSun, 08 Nov 2009 13:02:00 ESTYou Say 'Twilight,' Taylor Swift Says 'Firelight'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/you-say-twilight-taylor-swift-says-firelight/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/you-say-twilight-taylor-swift-says-firelight/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/you-say-twilight-taylor-swift-says-firelight/#commentsTaylor Swift on 'Saturday Night Live'They're hit and miss, but I always try and catch any new digital short from Saturday Night Live. * Pop / country singer Taylor Swift hosted last night's show, and the 19-year-old star really surprised me, and I'm sure a lot of other people who don't necessarily follow young pop / country singers. Her song during the opening monologue (pictured) got in digs at her ex-boyfriend, made clear her feelings on Kanye West and his MTV Video Music Awards disruption, and commented amusingly on her supposed romance with Taylor Lautner, one of the stars of the upcoming The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

That was followed up by Firelight, the SNL parody of the first Twilight flick, with Swift taking on Kristen Stewart's role of Bella Swan, complete with hair fixing, downward-cast eyes, and lip-biting. The new boy who catches her eye at school is not, however, pasty-skinned Edward Cullen but green-skinned Phillip Frank of the Frank clan. The short captures the key moments from the first film, provides a different excuse for the "good / bad boy" not to kiss the "good / good" girl, and includes a cameo from a very concerned mummy. All in all, a solid little short.

I thought Swift was pretty hilarious throughout the show. I'm not sure if that's because of lowered expectations on my part or because of better than average writing from the staff, but, in any event, Swift displayed a flair for comedy. Check out the video to get a taste.

Watch 'Firelight' after the jump!

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]]>featuredfirelightkristen stewartKristenStewartsaturday night liveSaturdayNightLivetaylor swiftTaylorSwiftthe twilight saga new moonTheTwilightSagaNewMoontwilightPeter MartinSun, 08 Nov 2009 11:02:00 ESTIs Pakistan's Film Industry Dying?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/is-pakistans-film-industry-dying/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/is-pakistans-film-industry-dying/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/is-pakistans-film-industry-dying/#comments

Left to right: Hand painted movie poster, Peshawar, Pakistan, 2006 (photo by Jim Henry); The Odeon Cinema, Lahore, Pakistan, 2009 (photo by Rahat Ali Dar for Los Angeles Times).

You've heard of Bollywood, Nollywood, and even Dollywood, but what about Lollywood? Based in Lahore, the second-largest city in Pakistan (and home to the U.S. Consulate), Lollywood produced more than 100 movies annually back in the 70s and 80s. Today, however, "Pakistani cinema has all but vanished," writes Alex Rodriguez in Los Angeles Times. Reportedly, the number of movie theaters in the country has declined from 1,100 in 1985 to just 120 today, and local film production has shrunk to fewer than a dozen movies each year. It's gotten so bad, the theater pictured above has been playing the same movie for three years. The same movie, and evidently not by popular demand!

Most of the usual suspects are blamed, with one that is unique to the country: "VCR, cable television, President Muhammad Zia ul-Haq's Islamization of Pakistani society, and finally DVD piracy." (Emphasis added.) While film industries have weathered changes in viewing habits, it appears that government edicts played a big role in the collapse of the industry: "Many cinemas were shut down, the rest were heavily taxed. New laws that required producers to have college degrees thinned the ranks of movie makers. The message Zia ul-Haq's government was sending to society was clear, [theater owner Jahanzaib] Baig says: 'We were being told that filmmaking was a vulgar and bad business to be in.'"

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]]>lahorelollywoodpakistan film industryPakistanFilmIndustrypakistani independent filmsPakistaniIndependentFilmsPeter MartinSun, 08 Nov 2009 09:02:00 ESTTrailer Park: Despicable Dragonshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/trailer-park-despicable-dragons/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/trailer-park-despicable-dragons/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/trailer-park-despicable-dragons/#comments

Despicable Me
Second trailer for this 3D animated comedy, and this time it's focusing on arch villain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) trying to break into the headquarters of a rival bad guy. This looks like fun and the bit with the shark had me howling. Check it out on July 9.

Sherlock Holmes
A second trailer for the new Holmes fllck with Robert Downey Jr. in the title role aided by Jude Law as Watson. Pretty sure this will have awesome written all over it. Plan a trip to Baker Street for Christmas day.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
There's some serious spectacle at work here. Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this adaptation of a video game I've never played, but I'm pretty sure that's not necessary. It seems tailor-made to be a summer blockbuster, which is good because it comes out on May 28.

Best Worst Movie
Speaking as someone who has watched and enjoyed some truly awful films in his time, this one really speaks to me. This documentary examines the phenomenon/train wreck that is Troll 2, a 1990 horror flick whose badness has become legendary. No release date yet and I suspect this will be hard to find in theaters.

How to Train Your Dragon
In this new animated comedy from Dreamworks, a viking teenager is trying to learn the ways of his people including hunting and killing those pesky dragons that are plaguing them. He soon learns, though, that everything his people know about dragons is wrong and sets out on his own path. Training begins on March 26.

New this week on AOL Moviefone:
  • Splinterheads - A young slacker falls in love with a beautiful carnival worker.
  • Invictus - Morgan Freeman stars as South African President Nelson Mandela who urges the captain of the national rugby team to strive for the World Cup for the sake of unifying their nation in the days following apartheid.
  • Eichmann - Historical drama based on the confession of Adolf Eichmann.
  • Mammoth - An intricately woven family drama starring Michelle Williams and Gael García Bernal as a married couple whose lives begin to spin out of control.
  • Shake Hands With the Devil - Based on true events surrounding a 1994 U.N. peacekeeping mission to Rwanda that failed to prevent the slaughter of 800,000 Rwandans.
  • Avatar - Second trailer for James Cameron's epic 3D science fiction extravaganza.
  • Did You Hear About the Morgans - A couple on the verge of divorce can't escape each other after they witness a murder and must enter the witness relocation program.

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]]>CinemaCinematicalDespicable MEDespicableMeHow to Train Your DragonHowToTrainYourDragonMoviesprince of persia: the sands of timePrinceOfPersia:TheSandsOfTimeSherlock HolmesSherlockHolmesThe Best Worst MovieTheBestWorstMovieMatt BradshawSat, 07 Nov 2009 18:03:00 ESTAmy Heckerling Gets Vampy with Krysten Ritterhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/amy-heckerling-gets-vampy-with-krysten-ritter/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/amy-heckerling-gets-vampy-with-krysten-ritter/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/amy-heckerling-gets-vampy-with-krysten-ritter/#commentsI hope you don't hate vampires, because they don't seem to be going anywhere. Now Amy Heckerling, the woman behind Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Clueless, is getting in on the bloodsucking. According to Screen Daily, Parlay Films has grabbed the international rights to an upcoming romantic comedy called Vamps, that Heckerling will write and direct.

"The film will be a modern-day tale of two young female vampires living the good life in New York until love enters the picture and each has to make a choice that will jeopardize their immortality." Krysten Ritter will star as one of the lead vamps, and they're still searching for the other bloodsucker. This marks a big jump from the actress, who has moved from bubbly side gigs on shows like Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars to some cinematic supporting roles, a lead gig in the web series Woke Up Dead, and now her first starring film job.

Perhaps I'm being overly hopeful, but it's time for Heckerling to bring us her next comedy classic, and I'm hoping this is it. There was a 13-year span between Ridgemont and Clueless, and it's been 14 years since Cher found love with Josh, so could this be the next Heckerling extravaganza we won't want to heckle? Or, just another project in an oversaturated market?

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]]>Amy HeckerlingAmyHeckerlingCinematicalKrysten RitterKrystenRitterVampsMonika BartyzelSat, 07 Nov 2009 15:33:00 ESTRight Now on TV Squadhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/right-now-on-tv-squad/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/right-now-on-tv-squad/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/right-now-on-tv-squad/#comments Our brothers and sisters over at TV Squad have busted through the boob tube and brought with them the following juicy bits of must-see eye candy.

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]]>CinemaCinematicalMoviesTV SquadTvSquadMatt BradshawSat, 07 Nov 2009 13:32:00 ESTIan McKellen Suffers 'The View' Stupidity with Grace and Withttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/ian-mckellen-and-how-to-take-idiocy-with-grace/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/ian-mckellen-and-how-to-take-idiocy-with-grace/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/ian-mckellen-and-how-to-take-idiocy-with-grace/#commentsActors might make a lot of money, but at least they work for it with long hours on set, paparazzi insanity, exhausting PR tours, and the pressures of handling the same questions over and over and over again with grace and charm. But even more impressive is when they can be graceful in the face of utter ignorance or idiocy.

We've watched John Cusack get interviewed by a clueless film student, and now (after the jump of course) you can see Ian McKellen handle the women from The View. Ah, there's nothing like having your television interview start out with an inflammatory rant about swine flu and socialized medicine. It's not a surprise really -- the once-sweet Survivor star Elisabeth Hasselbeck has made a career out throwing wild rants into unusual places on the show. But, sadly, that's only the start of the nonsense that McKellen handles with dashing grace. Whoopi Goldberg can't keep her actors straight, and Sherry Shepherd pulls off one of those classic moments where a clueless interviewer reads crap off the cards without knowing what the hell she's talking about.

Yet, in the face of all that, McKellen is pure charm. I always find that impressive. Sure, he's an actor and makes his living making fiction convincing, but to be ready with that clever retort, graciously correct someone who should know better, and take it all in stride ... I wouldn't say this about most of Hollywood, but I think we can all learn a little from that small part of the biz.

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]]>CinematicalIan McKellenIanMckellenThe ViewTheViewMonika BartyzelSat, 07 Nov 2009 11:02:00 ESTReview: The Men Who Stare at Goatshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/the-men-who-stare-at-goats-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/the-men-who-stare-at-goats-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/the-men-who-stare-at-goats-review/#comments

We're told at the beginning of The Men Who Stare at Goats that "more of this is true than you would believe." But the story of the U.S. Army's attempts to harness psychic powers to create super-soldiers is so bizarre it almost HAS to be true, in accordance with the "how could anyone make this up?" principle. In fact, I believe more of this admittedly fictionalized story than I do of The Fourth Kind, which claims to be 100 percent true. Surely there's a lesson in there.

Based on Jon Ronson's nonfiction book, The Men Who Stare at Goats stars Ewan McGregor as Bob Wilton, a journalist covering the Iraq War in 2003. Bob meets a man named Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a private contractor with an unusual past: He claims to have worked for the government as a psychic spy. Bob once met a man, back home in Michigan (played by Stephen Root), who made the same claims, and who named Lyn Cassady as one of his colleagues.

You can see why the military would be interested in psychic spying. Surveillance is a lot less dangerous when you can do it entirely with your mind, rather than having to actually sneak up and eavesdrop on people. And if we could harness things like telekinesis, well, forget about it! We'd beat the Russkies for sure!

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]]>ewan mcgregorEwanMcgregorgeorge clooneyGeorgeClooneyjeff bridgesJeffBridgeskevin spaceyKevinSpaceythe men who stare at goatsTheMenWhoStareAtGoatsEric D. SniderSat, 07 Nov 2009 09:02:00 ESTRobert Pattinson Talks 'Breaking Dawn' & 'Unbound Captives'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/robert-pattinson-talks-breaking-dawn-and-unbound-captives/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/robert-pattinson-talks-breaking-dawn-and-unbound-captives/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/robert-pattinson-talks-breaking-dawn-and-unbound-captives/#commentsGood news, Twilight fans. You have the first official news for the fourth Twilight installment, courtesy of our own Jen Yamato, FearNet and the New Moon junket.* The magically-coiffed Robert Pattinson has confirmed that Breaking Dawn will begin filming in Fall 2010, and that it's penciled into his schedule for next year.

Of course, Dawn remains unconfirmed by Summit. The most controversial installment of the Twilight series, rumors swirl that the studio is hesitant to take it to the big screen. If it is made, it seems likely that it could be split into two films a'la Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Personally, I don't see Summit risking the money they'd make on #4, and they'll find a way to steer around the gorier aspects of the book. But now you know when to look for it, though you still have the madness of Eclipse pre-production to get through.

Pattinson also dished on the movie I want to mark on my calender (Sorry, I dig boots and spurs more than vampires), a Western called Unbound Captives. The directorial debut of Madeleine Stowe, it stars Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, and Pattinson. The young heartthrob revealed that it's tenatively scheduled to begin shooting in early 2010, and he sounds enthusiastic for a role that'll be miles away from Edward Cullen. "I'm playing a kid who is kidnapped by Comanches when he was four years old, and he is brought up by them. His mother spends her entire life trying to find me and my sister. When she finds us, we can't remember who she is and can't remember anything about the Western culture she grew up in. I speak Comanche the whole movie. You can't really speak more differently from Edward."

[Special thanks also goes to Collider who apparently pried the Breaking Dawn date out of Mr. Pattinson]

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]]>Breaking DawnBreakingDawnfeaturedhugh jackmanHughJackmanmadeleine stoweMadeleineStoweNew MoonNewMoonrachel weiszRachelWeiszrobert pattinsonRobertPattinsonSummit EntertainmentSummitEntertainmentThe Twilight SagaThe Twilight Saga Breaking Dawnthe twilight saga: new moonTheTwilightSagaTheTwilightSaga:NewMoonTheTwilightSagaBreakingDawntwilightunbound captivesUnboundCaptivesElisabeth RappeSat, 07 Nov 2009 00:50:00 ESTThe Worst Movie Biopics and Five That Are Pretty Darn Goodhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/the-worst-movie-biopics-and-five-that-are-pretty-darn-good/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/the-worst-movie-biopics-and-five-that-are-pretty-darn-good/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/the-worst-movie-biopics-and-five-that-are-pretty-darn-good/#comments

Watch enough movies and you learn pretty fast that they aren't about reality, they're about entertaining us. Which sometimes makes the world of the biopic a little tricky, because not only do you have to work in the truth, but you still have to keep those butts in the seats -- and the results are not always good. Over at Moviefone they've compiled some of the worst movie biopics, and no one was safe -- with films earning a spot for mixing up their facts, ridiculous casting, or just downright lazy filmmaking.

So who made the list? Well, you've got your usual suspects like Oliver Stone's Alexander, a film that has so much wrong with it I don't know where to put the blame (oh, that's right, on everyone). Other films that made the cut for the less than flattering title of 'Real Life Catastrophes' were Kevin Spacey's Bobby Darin flick, Beyond The Sea, Luc Besson's The Messenger, and Alan Parker's Evita. But don't think the classics made it out unscathed either, because both Captain Eddie and The Babe Ruth Story also earned a mention.

As a genre, I love biopics -- especially the bad ones. I've watched everything from made-for-TV movies on The Beach Boys to high art flicks like I'm Not There. So no matter what kind of biopic it might be, I will usually give it a chance. Over the years, I've seen movies that bend the truth and those that just mess it up entirely, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy them. Besides, if you're looking for unadulterated facts, you should probably head to the library and not the multiplex.

After the jump: five of my favorite movie biopics...

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]]>alexanderbiopiccourtney loveCourtneyLoveKevin SpaceyKevinSpaceymalcolm xMalcolmXSid and NancySid ViciousSidAndNancySidViciousspike leeSpikeLeesweet dreamsSweetDreamsWoody HarrelsonWoodyHarrelsonJessica BarnesFri, 06 Nov 2009 21:15:00 ESTHello, My Name is Scott and I Love the 'G.I. Joe' Blu-rayhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/g-i-joe-dvd-blu-ray-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/g-i-joe-dvd-blu-ray-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/g-i-joe-dvd-blu-ray-review/#commentsBack in August was when G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra hit the screens, and while I had no reason to expect anything but a merciless brain-pummeling from the experience, I walked out suitably impressed with the flick's popcorn-tastic mentality. I even ended my review with this: "Truth be told, the flick's action centerpiece, a crazy chase through Paris, will soon be on heavy blu-ray rotation around my house." Yes, the director who slapped me with The Mummy Returns and pummeled me with Van Helsing is now back in my good graces. (The awesomely amusing Deep Rising is always the tie-breaker for Stephen Sommers.)

You can enjoy my wonderfully insightful G.I. Joe review right here if you like, but this time out I just want to focus on the blu-ness and not the wackness: If you liked the flick, you want to own it on Blu-ray, trust me on that one. The supplemental features are basic but well-produced: there's an audio commentary with Sommers and producer Bob Ducsay that shows a good deal of enthusiasm and preparation on their part, plus on disc 2 you'll find a pair of rather slick and thorough featurettes: the 30-minute The Big Bang Theory is the "catch-all" behind-the-scenes piece that covers a lot of bases, and Next-Gen Action (about 20 minutes) focuses more intently on the special effects and production design.

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]]>g.i. joeg.i. joe dvdG.i.JoeG.i.JoeDvdScott WeinbergFri, 06 Nov 2009 20:32:00 ESTCheck Out The Real-Life Men Who Stare at Goatshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/check-out-the-real-life-men-who-stare-at-goats/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/check-out-the-real-life-men-who-stare-at-goats/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/check-out-the-real-life-men-who-stare-at-goats/#comments
By: John Gholson

I'm not sure why, but Overture Films has chosen to downplay the "based on a true story" aspects of their high-profile new satirical film The Men Who Stare at Goats. The film finds Ewan McGregor as a journalist looking for a story in Iraq who stumbles across a former member (George Clooney) of a special platoon of psychics employed by the U.S. military. While many moments in the film seem outlandish and ridiculous, they become even more jaw-dropping with the knowledge that the film is based on fact.

Author Jon Ronson first explored the topic of remote viewers and psychic super-soldiers in a three-part Channel 4 television documentary, The Crazy Rulers of the World, the first part of which ("The Men Who Stare at Goats") he turned into a book in 2004. It's amazing to see the very real people behind the First Earth Battalion (renamed the New Earth Army in the film) recounting the bizarre stories that are brought to life on the big screen in the quasi-fictional movie by writer-director Grant Heslov.

It's a must-see if you plan on catching the film, and absolutely fascinating. There's a cynical side of me that would like to assume the members of the First Earth Battallion all are crackpots, but there's too much fact mixed in with the weirdness for me to dismiss it outright.

You can see the first episode of Jon Ronson's original documentary, in its entirety, over at SciFi Squad.

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]]>channel 4Channel4documentaryfirst earth battallionFirstEarthBattallionGrant HeslovGrantHeslovJon RonsonJonRonsonnew earth armyNewEarthArmythe crazy rulers of the worldThe men who stare at goatsTheCrazyRulersOfTheWorldTheMenWhoStareAtGoatsCinematical staffFri, 06 Nov 2009 19:45:00 ESTRoland Emmerich May or May Not Blow Up the World Againhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/roland-emmerich-may-or-may-not-blow-up-the-world-again/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/roland-emmerich-may-or-may-not-blow-up-the-world-again/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/roland-emmerich-may-or-may-not-blow-up-the-world-again/#commentsAt a press junket earlier this summer for 2012, Roland Emmerich told reporters he's not doing any more blow-'em-up flicks. "I would not know how to top this... It's just one of these things, you know. I had a hard time deciding to do another disaster movie, but... you cannot make a disaster movie if there's not something --- an idea in this disaster which elevates it to something more than a disaster. And so it was this idea, you know, that there will be a global flood and it's a retelling of Noah's Arc."

Later he added, "It's not my last film, it's my last disaster film. And that's because I wouldn't know what else to do. It's just, you know what, I really didn't want to do this movie at first... But when I decided that the idea was too good to not do it for the reason I had done before, I said, okay, if I do it, I will do it in such a spectacular manner that nobody can top it for a long time. I have that pride in my work."

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]]>2012anonymousindependence dayindependence day 2IndependenceDayIndependenceDay2Roland EmmerichRolandEmmerichsequelshakespeareJenni MillerFri, 06 Nov 2009 19:02:00 ESTGwyneth Paltrow Joins Nicole Kidman in 'The Danish Girl'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/gwyneth-paltrow-nicole-kidman-the-danish-girl/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/gwyneth-paltrow-nicole-kidman-the-danish-girl/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/gwyneth-paltrow-nicole-kidman-the-danish-girl/#commentsThe upcoming The Danish Girl is one of those independent, edgy films that has all the right elements for something brilliant, but it's subject matter is so tricky that it could end up becoming a farce. Based on David Ebershoff's novel, The Danish Girl is the story of the world's first post-operative transsexual, Einar Wegener, and his wife, Greta. Tomas Alfredson is set to direct, Nicole Kidman has long been attached to play Einar, and Variety reports that Gwyneth Paltrow has stepped in to play Greta. She's stepping in for Charlize Theron, who originally held the role, but has dropped out for unspecified reasons.

The story takes place in 1920s Denmark. Greta* was a portrait painter, and needed a model. She asked Einar to step into a dress, stockings, and heels, and created some kind of awakening in Einar. In women's clothes, her husband became an outrageous character named Lili. The paintings of Lili became extremely popular, few realizing a man had stood in for them. Lili than took on a public life of her own, and Greta often introduced Lili as her sister. Eventually, Einar / Lili decided to commit to gender reassignment surgery, a dangerous and experimental procedure at the time. Greta stood beside her husband until his transformation was complete, and then their marriage was declared null and void by the King of Denmark.

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Continue reading Gwyneth Paltrow Joins Nicole Kidman in 'The Danish Girl'

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]]>charlize theronCharlizeTheronDavid EbershoffDavidEbershoffEinar WegenerEinarWegenerfeaturedGerda WegenerGerdaWegenerGreta WegenerGretaWegenerGwyneth PaltrowGwynethPaltrowLili WegenerLiliWegenerNicole KidmanNicoleKidmanthe danish girlTheDanishGirlTomas AlfredsonTomasAlfredsonElisabeth RappeFri, 06 Nov 2009 18:15:00 ESTDiscuss: The Movies That Haunt Youhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/discuss-the-movies-that-haunt-you/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/discuss-the-movies-that-haunt-you/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/discuss-the-movies-that-haunt-you/#comments

After heaps of buzz and praise, and our own Eric Snider saying: "it's compelling and artistic, punctuated with warm humor and masterful performances, and ultimately triumphant and hopeful," Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire is finally hitting theaters today. It's a harrowing look at one girl's traumatic young life of being pregnant with her second baby (by her father), abused by her mother, and struggling with illiteracy and obesity. In other words, a movie that demands you to think and feel -- to be touched beyond the 110 minute span of the film.

Naturally, that made me think about movies that haunt us. It can be for any number of reasons -- because of a film's thought-provoking power, how it's filmed and presented, the way it latches on to pain in our own experience, unsettles our own belief systems, angers us, or challenges us. Whether it ends sadly, or with hope. Whatever the reason, certain films seep into us and refuse to leave, whether it be for a few fleeting post-credits moments, or a week, month, year, or lifetime.

Upon leaving Requiem for a Dream the first time, my friend and I couldn't get the music out of our heads. We couldn't stop repeating the same thoughts as our brains tried to process them. Even if I don't see the film before my eyes, the music brings back every feeling, every moment of tenseness. As the credits started moving in Dogville, I couldn't shake the last powerful moments out of my head. It took a while to shake the gooseflesh from my arms, and every time I let my mind slip back, there's a brief jolt of shocked memory.

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Continue reading Discuss: The Movies That Haunt You

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]]>Cinematicaldiscussfeaturedfilms that haunt youFilmsThatHauntYoumemorable moviesMemorableMoviesMonika BartyzelFri, 06 Nov 2009 17:32:00 ESTReview: Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphirehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire-review/#comments

By Eric D. Snider (reprint from 1/19/09 -- Sundance Film Festival)

The premise of Precious is so unsettling and bleak that no one would blame you if you didn't want to see it: It's the story of an obese 16-year-old illiterate Harlem girl who's pregnant (for the second time) by her own father, lives with her monstrously abusive mother, and has almost given up on life. But if you do see it, you'll find that it's compelling and artistic, punctuated with warm humor and masterful performances, and ultimately triumphant and hopeful.

The girl is named Claireece "Precious" Jones (she goes by Precious), and she's played with astonishing rawness by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe. Narrating the film, Precious tells us the grim facts. Beyond the ones already noted, she is still in junior high school (where she's dumbly in love with her kindly math teacher); her first child, born with Down syndrome, is technically in her mother's custody but is actually cared for by her grandmother; and her mother, Mary (Mo'Nique), is a welfare-absorbing harridan who abuses Precious in every possible way, hating her daughter for "stealing" her man. Precious did no such thing, of course -- she was raped by her father -- but Mary is not interested in details.

Precious is directed by her principal to an alternative school called Each One Teach One. Her class is populated by other girls who dropped out or were kicked out of public schools for various reasons; it's telling that even in such a motley group, Precious is still the most timid, the most withdrawn, and the most messed-up. The teacher, Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), is dedicated to her work, perhaps the first adult to ever take a genuine interest in helping Precious. The other students might be Precious' first friends, too.

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]]>precious: based on the novel push by sapphirePrecious:BasedOnTheNovelPushBySapphirereviewCinematical staffFri, 06 Nov 2009 16:48:00 ESTInsert Caption: Pirate Radiohttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/insert-caption-pirate-radio/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/insert-caption-pirate-radio/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/insert-caption-pirate-radio/#comments The Men Who Stare at Goats (in theaters now). Congrats go out to our three animal-loving winners, all of whom have admitted to staring at Cinematical all day long (because we're just that cool).

1. "Part of a secret government program to... bake me a cake as fast as you can." -- Kurt P.

2. "The mirror game is a fun acting game to play in Army Acting Class...as long as you know and trust your partner implicitly." -- John R.

3. "Little did the woman know, but an electrifying rendition of the YMCA was about to break out." -- Ben M.

See full image and all captions

This week we're turning up the dial and tuning in for the upcoming release of Pirate Radio, about a group of rogue DJs who, in the 1960s, changed the world of Rock n Roll forever by playing rock records (and simultaneously breaking the law) from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Directed by Richard Curtis (Love, Actually), the film stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost and Kenneth Branagh. The folks behind our three favorite captions this week will sail away with one Pirate Radio soundtrack and one Pirate Radio poster. Sound off below.



Read the official rules for this contest

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]]>pirate radioPirateRadiothe men who stare at goatsTheMenWhoStareAtGoatsErik DavisFri, 06 Nov 2009 16:10:00 ESTStephen Frears Gears Up for 'High Fidelity' Reunionhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/stephen-frears-gears-up-for-high-fidelity-reunion/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/stephen-frears-gears-up-for-high-fidelity-reunion/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/stephen-frears-gears-up-for-high-fidelity-reunion/#commentsHaving dipped into the seductive waters of sexy courtesans, Stephen Frears is now looking towards the future, and the future's got lots of gambling. The trades are reporting that Frears is set to direct Lay the Favorite, a dramedy that will rejoin him with High Fidelity scribe D.V. De Vincentis. The project stems from an upcoming memoir by Beth Raymer called Lay the Favorite, Take the Dog, which will be published this Spring.

Now, why did I say trades and not pick one? That's because it's time to play Pick the Plot.

In one corner, we've got The Hollywood Reporter, who says that this is a world of "geeky gamblers" who "figure out how to work the sportsbook system in Las Vegas for their own profit. It centers on a woman in her early thirties who has made a series of bad choices but achieves a redemption of sorts when she meets and then becomes involved with the gamblers." De Vincentis says: "This is the version of 50-year-old math geeks from Queens in basketball shorts who have pet guinea pigs."

In the other corner, we've got Variety describing the story as a "young woman's journey into the world of sports gambling. She starts out as a cocktail waitress but gets caught up in gambling until falling in love," calling it a cross between High Fidelity and The Grifters.

So, geek fest with gambling and a little romance thrown in for good measure, or a romantic world where a cocktail waitress can gamble her way to money ... and love. Which do you choose?

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]]>Beth RaymerBethRaymerCinematicalD.V. DeVincentisD.v.DevincentisLay the FavoriteLay the Favorite Take the DogLayTheFavoriteLayTheFavoriteTakeTheDogStephen FrearsStephenFrearsMonika BartyzelFri, 06 Nov 2009 15:32:00 EST