So far, there are only a few actors officially attached to Oliver Stone's W., the epic biopic about our current commander-in-chief. Josh Brolin was cast as President George W. Bush back in January, then recently Elizabeth Banks was chosen as his wife, First Lady Laura Bush, and last week James Cromwell and Ellen Burstyn were locked into the roles of former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, respectively. Unofficial casting bites, though, include a lot of other big name actors. Jeffrey Wright is reportedly in negotiations to play Colin Powell, Tommy Lee Jones is supposedly being sought for Donald Rumsfeld, Robert Duvall has been rumored to be the choice for Vice President Dick Cheney and now both Paul Giamatti and Toby Jones are being named as potentials for the part of Karl Rove (who Giamatti may have already channeled for his character in Shoot 'Em Up).Posts with tag TheBigLebowski
Who Should Be in Oliver Stone's Bush Biopic?
So far, there are only a few actors officially attached to Oliver Stone's W., the epic biopic about our current commander-in-chief. Josh Brolin was cast as President George W. Bush back in January, then recently Elizabeth Banks was chosen as his wife, First Lady Laura Bush, and last week James Cromwell and Ellen Burstyn were locked into the roles of former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, respectively. Unofficial casting bites, though, include a lot of other big name actors. Jeffrey Wright is reportedly in negotiations to play Colin Powell, Tommy Lee Jones is supposedly being sought for Donald Rumsfeld, Robert Duvall has been rumored to be the choice for Vice President Dick Cheney and now both Paul Giamatti and Toby Jones are being named as potentials for the part of Karl Rove (who Giamatti may have already channeled for his character in Shoot 'Em Up).Continue reading Who Should Be in Oliver Stone's Bush Biopic?
Cinematical Seven: Best Coen Brothers Supporting Characters
With No Country For Old Men coming to DVD next Tuesday (3/11) in the final paces of the film's victory lap, it seems like a good time to note that when one of the film's Oscars went to Best Supporting Actor Javier Bardem, it came as the logical conclusion of a long-established fact for many Coen watchers: the brothers have a Midas touch when it comes to supporting parts -- writing them, casting them, directing them. Throughout their career, the writing-directing duo of Joel and Ethan Coen have always peppered their films with brief, brisk parts that both famous and lesser-known actors have turned into standout moments. Here, then, is a list of seven truly great Coen Brothers supporting parts, as well as runners-up from each film. As ever, these lists are highly subjective, and our comments section below awaits your thoughts. ...
1. The Dane (J.E. Freeman), Miller's Crossing
In Miller's Crossing (for my money, the the most overlooked and under-appreciated film in the Coen canon) the brothers pull a balancing act; they not only refuse, refute and re-invent gangster film styles, plots and archetypes, but they also freshen, fire up and fulfill those gangster film styles, plots and archetypes. So it is with J.E. Freeman's Eddie Dane, a fearsome tough guy whose simple, shark-like capacity for murder and mayhem drives the plot and whose complicated private life adds a few twists to the finale. Much is made of John Turturro's work in this film (as it should be) but it's The Dane who keeps sticking out in my mind whenever I re-visit Miller's Crossing, a small, self-contained example of why the film as a whole is so good.
(Runners-up: Bernie Bernbaum (John Turturro), Vera Bernbaum (Marcia Gay Harden) and Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito).
Continue reading Cinematical Seven: Best Coen Brothers Supporting Characters
SF Indiefest Scene Report -- The 5th Annual The Big Lebowski Party
One of the SF Indiefest's best-loved events is the Annual The Big Lebowski Party, where San Francisco's film fans drink and dress up in honor of The Dude. Cinematical was there at this Saturday's party, held at Space Gallery on Polk Street, where nihilists milled among bathrobe-clad slackers, White Russians were served and cries of 'Over the line!" filed the air. The gallery of photos below should give you a sense of the fun; all photos are by Kristi Highum.
Gallery: SFIndiefest Big Lebowski party
Cinematical Seven: Movies Celebrating Alcohol
Happy Prohibition Repeal Day! One year from now will be the 75th anniversary of the ratification of the 21st Amendment, which lifted the ban on manufacturing, distributing and selling alcohol in the United States. Always a fan of pre-gaming, I've decided to start celebrating early with a look at some favorite movies that celebrate wine, beer and liquor.
Certainly I am no fan of alcoholism, and I encourage all Americans to drink responsibly. That is why most of these movies (not all, though) are about the appreciation of the taste of alcoholic beverages rather than about getting drunk. Also, I'm sorry to disappoint fans of Strange Brew, but that hilarious brewery-set comedy was shot in Canada and so it doesn't seem to fit the focus of this list.
Sideways (Alexander Payne, 2004)
Imagine what California's wine country would be like if Prohibition were still around. Whatever would be there in place of vineyards would sure be a waste. Just ask Miles (Paul Giamatti), everyone's favorite wine
Continue reading Cinematical Seven: Movies Celebrating Alcohol
Cinematical Seven: Favorite War Veteran Characters
Today we salute the military veterans who have either served in wartime or in peace. I think technically Veteran's Day specifically honors war veterans, but I don't see why the non-combat military personnel needs to be excluded. Still, in the movies, it's the war vets that are most memorable, and on this holiday, I'd like to present my list of seven favorites.
Obviously this list isn't comprehensive -- in fact, I don't feature any examples of the now-stereotypical Vietnam vet character, which would include Tom Cruise in Born on the Fourth of July or Gary Senise in Forrest Gump. This is just a list of characters, positive and negative, that I prefer and which I think somewhat represents the wide and diverse scope of war vets.
"Homer Parrish" from The Best Years of Our Lives (1946, William Wyler)
About fifty years before Robert Zemeckis was digitally removing Gary Senise's legs to make him the disabled vet Lt. Dan of Forrest Gump, William Wyler directed a real amputee veteran named Harold Russell as the handicapped character Homer Parrish in this movie about the difficulty of coming home following World War II. Russell actually won an Oscar for his performance as Parrish, a former high school quarterback who returns to his childhood sweetheart, with whom he's engaged and for whom he no longer feels good enough. The actor/character has hooks for hands and appears in some sappy, obligatory scenes where he has trouble with them, but he ends up a guy that is beloved more than pitied, and it's almost easy to forget he has the handicap, especially after hearing him play piano with the false limbs.
Continue reading Cinematical Seven: Favorite War Veteran Characters
RIP: Reel Important People -- January 2, 2007
James Andelin (1917-2006) - Actor who appeared in Field of Dreams, City That Never Sleeps, The Babe and Grumpier Old Men. He died of congestive heart failure and emphysema December 27, in Chicago. - John Bishop (1929-2006) - Playwright and screenwriter who wrote The Package and Drop Zone and did rewrites for Paramount during the '90s. He died of cancer December 20, in Bad Heilbrunn, Germany.
- João de Barro, aka Braguinha (1907-2006) - Brazilian composer, writer and director. He made the films Alô, Alô, Brasil and Anastácio, acted in Garota de Ipanema and wrote music for The Mandarin. He died from an infection December 24, in Rio de Janeiro.
- Pierre Delanoë (1918-2006) - French songwriter who wrote music for The Story of O and The Country I Came From. He died of heart failure December 26.
- Marion Doran (c.1910-2006) - Vet of Paramount and Columbia Pictures who started as a script typer for Preston Sturges and later married film executive D.A. Doran. She died December 26, in Woodland Hills, California.
- Wilma Dykeman (1920-2006) - Writer on the environment and race who narrated the documentary The Electric Valley. She died from an infection resulting from a broken hip December 22, in Asheville, North Carolina.
Continue reading RIP: Reel Important People -- January 2, 2007
Insert Caption: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian_thumbnail.jpg)
SCOOP: Spider-Man 4 and 5 Might be Shot at the Same Time!
Cinematical Seven: Disney's Awesome Live-Action Kid Adventures
