dallas Tagged Articles at Cinematical

You would have thought that by now 20th Century Fox would have given up on the idea of a Dallas movie. What with casting changes and script overhauls -- not to mention a mediocre fan reaction to the whole idea in the first place. Now it looks like yet another snafu has hit the production. Page Six (the Mecca of gossip) is reporting that John Travolta has been dropped from the cast and replaced by Ben Stiller in the role of J.R. Ewing. According to Page Six's sources, Travolta was "let go about two weeks ago. He had the role of J.R. Ewing taken from him" -- ouch! But don't feel too bad for Travolta; the same sources went on to say that, "John was given a nice seven-figure 'gift' to go away quietly".

So if you are still keeping track, Travolta is officially the last remaining element of the original Dallas film that Fox had planned back in 2006. Originally the film was going to be a big-budget drama with an all star cast including Jennifer Lopez and Shirley Maclaine. Cut to one year later and the budget shrunk from $65 million to what is now described as "much less" and the cast has been scrapped. Also, instead of a drama, Fox changed directors to hire Betty Thomas to make a comedic 'behind-the scenes' version of the series. This would probably explain how Stiller got involved in the film, since he's almost as an unlikely a choice for the role as Travolta was in the first place. Stiller's reps have yet to comment on his involvement, so stay tuned to Cinematical for updates.

When I first stepped foot onto Dealey Plaza in Dallas years ago, I had an instant feeling of deja vu, similar to what most of us feel when we visit a place in person that we've previously seen only in photographs, on film or on television. It was a beautiful, sunny day; I walked around the plaza for a long, long time, picturing in my mind the motorcade that carried President John F. Kennedy on his fateful trip, checking out all the angles, tromping around the grassy knoll, staring up at the former Texas School Book Depository. That building has been converted into The Sixth Floor Museum, where you can gaze down through the window where Lee Harvey Oswald reportedly fired his assassin's rifle at 12:30 p.m. on November 22, 1963.

The Warren Commission concluded that Oswald escaped from the building, rode a city bus for two blocks, traveled several miles by taxi, stopped by the rooming house where he was staying, and then shot and killed a police officer about half a mile away. He slipped into the nearby Texas Theatre without paying, and briefly watched War is Hell (second billed to Van Heflin in Cry of Battle). He was apprehended by a flock of police officers at approximately 1:45 p.m.

I'd never thought of the Texas Theatre except as an anonymous footnote to a tragedy. I ended up attending the re-opening of the building last week as a result of my assignment to review Robert Stone's documentary Oswald's Ghost, which opens in New York on Friday, November 30, and discovered quite accidentally that the Texas Theatre has a fascinating history of its own.

It's funny, for a movie that probably only ten people are looking forward to seeing in the theater, there's certainly a lot of gossip surrounding it. Cinema Blend is reporting that their sources are telling them James Brolin, Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights), Diane Ladd, and Julie Bentz are in negotiations to star in the update of the classic 80's soap, Dallas. Brolin would star as Jock Ewing, Ladd would play Ms. Ellie, and Kelly would take over from Victoria Principal in the part of Pamela Ewing.

Last April, word spread that the production had stalled, and I think most of us thought this would be the last anyone would hear about the film. But, this August, Scott brought us the news that the film was not only back on track, but this time it would be made as a comedy with Betty Thomas at the helm. There was was no more talk of Jennifer Lopez and Luke Wilson, but John Travolta is supposedly still on board to play the big kahuna himself; J.R. Ewing.

If Blend's sources can be trusted, then the film has gone back to being a drama and the comedy script has been tossed -- yeesh, can't these people make up their minds? But I would be inclined to believe that the film will be a comedy after all since Thomas has signed on to direct. Dallas is expected to go into production this summer, that is if they can ever make up their minds about what movie they are going to make. Oh, and there's also a little strike that might happen too.

The last time we heard anything about the pointlessly-long-in-development big-screen rendition of Dallas, it was April of 2006 and Ms. Jessica Barnes was saying this: "The flick has been put on hold." Period. And we pretty much hoped figured the project was dead. Well it's back.

Yes, John Travolta will still be playing J.R. Ewing (well, thank GOD), but the director will no longer be Gurinder Chadha. Now think carefully, movie geeks. If you were producing a comedy version of a corny and antiquated ol' prime-time soap opera ... who would you get to direct the thing? Sure, why not the woman who helmed The Brady Bunch Movie and Private Parts? ...and Doctor Dolittle and ... well, I Spy. Yep, according to Variety it's Betty Thomas who'll be directing the inevitably uproarious big-screen version of Dallas. Hot Rod screenwriter Pam Brady will take over on scripting duty.

And yes, they're going for laughs with this version. On purpose, I mean. The original series had to get its chuckles the hard way: unintentionally. But don't go into this new version if you're a fan of the source material. We're told "there is also hope that a comedy about the dysfunctional Ewings will appeal to a younger audience." Makes perfect sense: Take a show that kids have never heard of, make a movie out of it, and gear it towards those kids. Production is scheduled to get underway in January, so expect all sorts of wacky casting announcements real soon.

Welcome to The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar. Each week, we'll give you a round-up of what's going on in indie film (and sometimes just cool film news and screenings) in cities near you. If you know of cool stuff happening that's related to film -- a local fest, a series of classic restored films, lectures, workshops, open calls for casting of an indie film -- send your tips to me at kim(at)cinematical(dot)com and we'll add them to the calendar.

Here are this week's happenings in film from New York to LA and points in between ...

New York City: This weekend brings New Yorks the Independent Features Film Festival at Tribeca Cinemas. The fest, whose 21 selections were chosen by viewers who watched the films over the internet, runs July 27-29, starting with tonight's red carpet premiere of audience pick alleyball.

At Film Forum, you can still check out Live-In Maid (showing through July 31). Starting today, there's also a fest going on at Film Forum: the NYC Noir Fest, a spectacular five week, 46-film exploration of the dark side. You can check out the full schedule right here -- I have to note that it includes one of my fave bad movies ever, Cat People, which I used to revel in watching every time it showed on the late-night movies on the local UHF channel when I was a kid (UHF? Yeah, that was pre-cable, thanks for noticing and making me feel old). You can also catch films like Midnight Cowboy, Taxi Driver, Panic in Needle Park, Rope, and Rear Window, if Cat People isn't your thing. As a part of the fest, Film Forum also has a series called "The Silent City: New York in the Movies, 1898-1928."

As if a fest full of noir wasn't enough to make your cinepheliac heart go all a-flutter, Film Forum also has screenings of the very excellent No End in Sight this weekend, with director Charles Ferguson on hand for Q&As following the 8PM screenings. I saw No End in Sight at Sundance, and attended a pretty impressive panel discussion of the film as well. The film rocks -- don't miss it. You can get more insight into the film as well with James Rocchi's interview with Ferguson, which we just posted today.

Over at the Walter Reade Theater, we have yet another film fest: Scanners: The New York Video Festival. You can see the full fest program right here.

Los Angeles: If you didn't make the trip down south to San Diego to hang out with all things geekerific at Comic-Con, never fear, there are plenty of things to do in that other southern Cal city. As usual, American Cinematheque's got you indie film fans covered. Mods and Rockers is still going on there, and on Sunday you can get all classic with a screening of For Whom the Bell Tolls. Coming up August 2 (and running through August 27), it's the Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror Fest, just in time to get you past those post-Comic Con blues.


Seattle: Seattleites can get their film fest jones satisfied at NW Film Forum: starting this weekend, NWFF brings you "From the Tsars to the Stars: A Journey Through Russian Fantastik Cinema." Tonight through August 2, you can catch a screening of fest fave The Trials of Darryl Hunt, which won best doc at the 2006 Seattle International Film Festival.

The Seattle International Film Festival may be long over, but the SIFF group is still bringing Seattleites great films all summer long with their SIFF Cinema Summer Series. Through August 2, they're showing Apachatpong Weerasethakul's Syndromes and a Century, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's Daratt, Bahman Ghobadi's Half Moon, and Tsai Ming-Liang's I Don't Want to Sleep Alone.

Also this weekend in Seattle: On July 28, The Film School brings Oscar-nommed director Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) into town to sneak-preview his latest doc, Taxi to the Dark Side, which played at the Tribeca Film Festival. Taxi is about torture practices used by the United States in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, told through the story of an innocent taxi driver who was tortured and killed in 2002. Gibney's a sharp guy and a solid filmmaker -- that one's a must-see for you Seattle film buffs. Tix available at Warren Etheredge's website, The Warren Report.

Toronto: Heading north of the border, Toronto film fans can head over to Yonge-Dundas Square on Tuesday, July 31 to catch Terry Gilliam's Brazil.

Austin: This weekend at The Alamo Drafthouse at Lake Creek brings you a screening for the kids (or those of us who haven't quite grown up yet, Dark Crystal. Coming up August 3 and 4 -- midnight screenings of Jackie Chan's Drunken Master! At the South Lamar location, bring the kids to free screenings through August at Kids Summer Movie Camp. Films will include Nanny McPhee, Holes, and one of my own faves, Howl's Moving Castle. Plus: The Village location has Rocky Horror Saturday night at 11:55 PM, so break out your corsets and fishnet stockings!

Dallas: Coming up in Dallas, the Dallas Video Fest runs July 31- August 5. The fest is surprisingly affordable -- all-day passes range from $10 weeknights to $25 weekends. Check out the full schedule and start making your plans now.

Oklahoma City: This weekend at the Oklahoma CIty Museum of Art: Ten Canoes and Susan Hayward in Tulsa (one screening only on Sunday). Upcoming in August: Summercamp!, Bound for Glory, La Vie en Rose, and The Outsiders. And mark your calendars NOW for Sarah Polley's remarkable Away From Her, screening starting August 16.

Want your city covered? Send your film news and links to me at kim(at)cinematical(dot)com ...

The AFI Dallas International Film Festival wrapped up this weekend, and announced a number of festival awards over the weekend. Target Filmmaker Awards of $25,000 each were given to the narrative film Shut Up and Shoot Me and the documentary New Year Baby. Shut Up and Shoot Me was directed by Steen Agro; the Czech Republic dark comedy is about a guy struggling to make ends meet who is hired by a depressed British man to kill him. New Year Baby is directed by Socheata Poeuv and is about her journey to Cambodia to discover the truth about her family and her birth in a Thai refugee camp. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting helped fund the documentary, so we may have a chance to see it on PBS eventually. The Best HD Feature award went to Sharkwater, a Canadian documentary by Rob Stewart about sharks.

Audience awards were also announced. The documentary award went to Darius Goes West, which Kim enjoyed -- check out our interview with director Logan Smalley. Music Within, the festival's opening-night film that starred Ron Livingston, took home the narrative audience award. The Little Gorilla won the audience award for short film. The festival's jury awards for the Texas competition, animated films, student films, shorts and documentaries are listed after the jump.

Kim Voynar has posted some excellent dispatch reports this week from AFI Dallas. However, she neglected to mention one thing -- that I was there too! And no, I was not so embarrassing that she couldn't mention me, I did not misbehave at the hotel bar, and that story about me in the sushi restaurant is vastly exaggerated. Nor did I attempt to flirt with the Men in Black at the Beings screening. However, I think it's time for me to share my side of the story. I was only in Dallas from Saturday through Tuesday morning, but I got a good taste of the inaugural AFI Dallas film festival.

I've lived in Austin for 15 years, and Austinites harbor stereotypes about Dallas. We've been known to protest certain developments or events in town because "what is this, Dallas? No way!" If Austin has a secret lust for turning into Berkeley, we think Dallas has a secret lust for turning into Los Angeles. I had trouble packing for this trip because I thought I'd look underdressed in my usual t-shirts and jeans ... I was right, but I decided not to care. Fortunately for me, the festival occurred at the perfect time of year for the Austin-Dallas drive; the sides of the highways were lined with bluebonnets and other wildflowers.

Since I was in Dallas just for an extended weekend, I had to limit myself to the two main AFI Dallas venues: the Angelika and the Magnolia. By a happy coincidence, our hotel was across the street from the Angelika, although crossing that street was practically life-threatening. It was obviously not a pedestrian-friendly part of town. Here's a picture of the Angelika from the outside, all decked out for the festival:

The documentary Knocking, which screened at AFI Dallas, is all about the Jehovah's Witnesses -- but never slides into preachiness or snarkiness. The film just barely over an hour, but we are presented with a general history of the religion as well as an in-depth look at a few specific members with interesting situations combining religion and family, or religion and health. The movie opens with a few TV clips from The Simpsons and David Letterman reminding us of how Jehovah's Witnesses are frequently portrayed (and mocked) in society, followed by a voiceover from co-director Joel Engardio, who informs us that his mom was a Jehovah's Witness, and while he did not follow her faith, he did want to explore it journalistically. The voiceover is used sparingly; most of the time we are hearing from specific documentary subjects.

The two main Jehovah's Witnesses in the film come from very different backgrounds. Seth Thomas is in his early twenties, lives with his parents in Plano (a suburb of Dallas), and goes door-to-door with his dad to spread the word about their faith. Seth also has a rare liver disease and will eventually need a transplant, but Jehovah's Witnesses believe that blood is extremely sacred and condemns blood transfusions. Seth is trying to find a way around the problem. Joseph Kempler, on the other hand, is from Poland, a survivor of multiple concentration camps in WWII. While in the camps, he encountered the Jehovah's Witnesses, who would not give up their religion even when promised release from the camps. He was so struck by their faith that he converted from Judaism after WWII. His daughter (by his first wife) and her family are Jewish; his second wife and their sons are Jehovah's Witnesses. Joseph wants to unite both families despite their religious differences.

AFI Dallas is only in its first year, but the festival is gathering some good online press this week from a variety of sources. And the festival isn't over yet -- it continues through Sunday. Have you checked out Cinematical's coverage yet? The best blog to visit for photos and stories about AFI Dallas is the festival's own official blog, which is being updated frequently this week while the festival continues. The site includes a link to the already infamous video clip of filmmaker David Lynch (who attended a sold-out Inland Empire screening) being asked how he feels about product placement in films. (The video clip contains language you may not want to share in public.) AFI Dallas also has its own Flickr account with tons of photos, although the hard-working festival staff has not yet had time to identify the people in the pictures. I could pick out Lynch, but that was about it.

After the jump, I've listed other online sites covering various aspects of AFI Dallas this week. If I missed yours, feel free to post a link in the comments.

According to John Horn of the L.A. Times, the film critics of Dallas/Ft. Worth are the best at predicting the Oscars. Yes, the DFA Film Critics Association frequently chooses as its own pick for best picture the same film that goes on to win best picture at the Academy Awards. And when I say frequently, I mean that the group has done this in four of the past five years. Last year they didn't pick Crash (not that anybody saw that coming save for Chicago, right?). Horn doesn't mention that they also didn't match in 2000.

This year, the DFAFCA has picked United 93 as their favorite film of 2006, so as long as Crash was just a fluke, it probably should get the Oscar. Horn doesn't analyze any of the other categories nor how Dallas/Ft. Worth correlates with the Oscars in them, so I took a look myself. In the major categories the group is as scattered with the hits and misses as any group. The actress has matched only twice in six years; the actor three times.

But it is a good bet this time the group's picks for actor and actress will be honored in February. Like nearly every other group in the country, it went with Mirren and Whitaker. Supporting actor and actress were a bit more interesting, going to Jackie Earle Haley and Cate Blanchett (for Notes on a Scandal), respectively. Though the comeback kid Haley did well with NY and SF critics, I'm pretty sure that this is Blanchett's first critic group mention (she is nominated for the Satellite and the Golden Globe). As far as how the DFWFCA rates compared to the supporting Oscars, it has matched only one actor and one actress in six years.

The group does fairly well with best director, picking four of the last six Oscar-winners. Their pick this year is Martin Scorsese (as it was in '04).

The rest of the awards, which are more or less with the majority, can be read here.