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/The Kiddie Matinee, Or: My Summer with Hot Tamales in My Hairhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/05/the-kiddie-matinee-or-my-summer-with-hot-tamales-in-my-hair/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/05/the-kiddie-matinee-or-my-summer-with-hot-tamales-in-my-hair/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/05/the-kiddie-matinee-or-my-summer-with-hot-tamales-in-my-hair/#commentsFiled under:




One summer, my home town's local movie theater got the bright idea to run a series of kids-only matinees. As far as I remember, it was the only summer that they did this. Looking back, it's one of those ideas that was probably a lot better on the drawing board than in execution.

The LaMar Theater was a real, old-school, small-town movie palace. Just a block from the ocean in Manhattan Beach, California -- hence the compounded Spanish for "the sea" -- with thick, red velvet curtains and a big screen above a raised stage. There was a ceiling mural that featured dolphins arcing above curling waves, and big plaster sea shells served as covers for the sconces that lit the walls.

In the 1940's my grandmother was manager of the LaMar for a time, and I have photos of her posing with movie stars and USO workers, doing publicity when the theater hosted special shows to benefit the war effort. My mother worked at the theater as a barely legal usher, and told me that during one of these drives she shot craps backstage with Donald O'Connor and some of the musicians. Sadly, the theater is now gone, torn down in the 1980s to make room for a McDonalds and a multiplex.

The summer of the children's matinee fiasco, I was maybe ten or eleven years old. I loved movies -- Mom, the former movie usher, reared me with daily viewings of Ben Hunter's Movie Matinee on KTTV, watching old black-and-white films from the 40's and 50's while she did laundry. Every day he'd run a contest called "Hunter's College of Obscure Knowledge," showing a photo or clip and asking a trivia question, and awarding a prize to the first caller with the correct answer. My mother never called the show, but she got every question right.

Continue reading The Kiddie Matinee, Or: My Summer with Hot Tamales in My Hair

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]]>Dawn TaylorSun, 05 Jul 2009 13:02:00 ESTDiscuss: Little 'Orphan' Aneurysmhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/05/discuss-little-orphan-aneurysm/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/05/discuss-little-orphan-aneurysm/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/05/discuss-little-orphan-aneurysm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Another day, another snafu on the ol' political correctness front. It seems that adoptive parents and adoption agencies are up in arms because of a line in the trailer for Warner Brothers' forthcoming thriller, Orphan: "It must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own."

A full ABC News report has parents calling for the studio to remove the line from the trailers, which it did, despite the fact that the trailer can only play before other R-rated films. But that's not enough, because apparently, the film itself can be and has been taken as one big campaign playing up the stereotypes and exploiting the fears of adoption.

I can't speak for everyone, but I'd like to think that any potential parent who finds themselves scared off from real-world adoption because of something they saw in a heavily exaggerated movie probably do not have the proper judgment to serve as a parent in the first place. As for the effect that line and the whole premise might have on adopted kids specifically, I really can't speak to that, as I don't know how exposed to the film's marketing they'd be if watching appropriate channels and seeing appropriate movies.

What are your thoughts? Over-reaction? Just right reaction? Or are we simply overdue for this summer's next big controversy?

[Thanks to Shock for the heads-up.]

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]]>adoptionadoptive parentsAdoptiveParentscontroversyjaume collet-serraJaumeCollet-serraorphanpeter sarsgaardPeterSarsgaardvera farmigaVeraFarmigaWilliam GossSun, 05 Jul 2009 11:02:00 ESTThe Lure of the Cheap DVD Rackhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/05/the-lure-of-the-cheap-dvd-rack/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/05/the-lure-of-the-cheap-dvd-rack/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/05/the-lure-of-the-cheap-dvd-rack/#commentsFiled under: ,



Consider this post your confessional as well as my own. You see, I can't resist a cheap DVD. Even if the film isn't something I'd even put on a top 10 or 20 list, if I see it for $10.00 or less, I must own it.

This week's guilty grab was Australia, a film I was very disappointed in, and planned never to see again unless I stumbled on it while flipping through cable channels. But there it was on half.com, "watched once, brand new" for $5.00. I thought about how very nice "the bucket scene" is, and how it's chock full of beautiful sunsets and rugged Australian landscapes (several that aren't named Hugh Jackman) and I caved. It's really the perfect movie for knitting to, because I can just concentrate on turning my sock heel, and look at the pretty cinematography. My DVD shelf is chock full of such films. Kate and Leopold, The Long Kiss Goodnight (worth far more than whatever I paid), my entire Mel Gibson collection, Marie Antoinette, The Wedding Singer, and so on. The list is long and not very illustrious (Vanishing Point remake, anyone?), but at least I can say I didn't go out of my way for most of them. I just threw them into the Target cart while shopping for flip flops. I'm always on the hunt for more. I saw The Transporter in a hologram box awfully cheap, and it's begging to come home with me for those awkward Sunday nights when I need something short before heading back to the grind.

So while Scott Weinberg was positively crowing about the fact that I'd willingly purchased Australia with my own money, I see nothing wrong in it. I can spend $5.00 on a lot sillier things, like a magazine that ultimately ends up in my recycle bin, or an enormous Starbucks espresso that is gone in a matter of minutes. But Hugh Jackman's tight shirt? That lasts forever.

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]]>Australiacheap DVDsCheapDvdsHugh JackmanHughJackmanElisabeth RappeSun, 05 Jul 2009 09:03:00 ESTTrailer Park: Carrying, Retreating and Informinghttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/trailer-park-carrying-retreating-and-informing/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/trailer-park-carrying-retreating-and-informing/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/trailer-park-carrying-retreating-and-informing/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Carriers
A decent looking tale of an apocalyptic plague and four friends attempt to survive it. If you've read The Stand or seen the mini-series based on it the idea seems kind of similar. Chris Prine, the new James T. Kirk stars and I thought the faces drawn on the surgical masks were a nice touch. Things start getting germy on September 4.

Couples Retreat
Four couples head to a tropical resort where they learn that couples' therapy is a mandatory part of the program. The impressive cast includes Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristin Davis, and Kristen Bell. The retreat commences on October 9.

Planet 51
There's a new full length trailer for this animated comedy about a human astronaut landing on an alien world that looks strikingly like an American suburb. The residents of the planet see the visitor as a threat and it looks like there's probably a decent message for kids about prejudice, but this one doesn't thrill me. The idea is cute and they get points for the use of The Killers' song "Spaceman" but it didn't have me laughing. Planet 51 touches down on November 20.

Continue reading Trailer Park: Carrying, Retreating and Informing

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]]>CarriersCloudy WIth a Chance of MeatballsCloudyWithAChanceOfMeatballsCouples RetreatCouplesRetreatPlanet 51Planet51The InformantTheInformantMatt BradshawSat, 04 Jul 2009 21:03:00 ESTRon Weaseley Has Swine Fluhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/ron-weaseley-has-swine-flu/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/ron-weaseley-has-swine-flu/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/ron-weaseley-has-swine-flu/#commentsFiled under: ,

It may not be a celebrity story to rival the endless coverage of Michael Jackson's death, but actor Rupert Grint, who plays ginger-kid Ron Weaseley in the Harry Potter films, is reportedly recovering from a mild case of swine flu.

Grint's management said that he took a few days off from work on the adaptation of the series' final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which will be released as two movies. The next flick in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hits theaters on July 15.

Swine flu aside, it must be something of a relief for Grint -- along with fellow Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson -- to be finally seeing the end of the J.K. Rowling gravy train. While the massively popular film series gave the trio instant celebrity and all the opportunities that brings, they've been chained to the Potter films for half their lives. Grint, who was 13 when he made the first film, turns 21 in August, and seems to have made solid choices so far in building his career. Along with a fair amount of British radio and TV voiceover work, he was praised for his role in 2006's Driving Lessons opposite Laura Linney and Julie Walters.

Continue reading Ron Weaseley Has Swine Flu

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]]>featuredharrypotterandthehalf-bloodprincenewsrupert grintswine fluDawn TaylorSat, 04 Jul 2009 19:02:00 ESTQuick List: Romance for Boyshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/quick-list-romance-for-boys/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/quick-list-romance-for-boys/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/quick-list-romance-for-boys/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It's funny, but I've been watching Kevin Smith movies for a long time now, but it was only as I was reading through Total Film's list of the Best & Worst: Kevin Smith, that I realized something that I never really thought all that much about before -- and what was my big epiphany? Well, I finally discovered that Smith's films in the end are just rom-coms with poop jokes. Smith may have been considered a foul-mouthed stoner for most of his career, but now that I've looked beyond his shtick, I've finally come to the conclusion that the guy is a big old softy. Which got me thinking: Is there such a thing as romance for boys?

Now if you're the observant type, you've probably noticed I'm not a dude, so what do I know, right? But I've been told time and again that I'm not the 'average girl' (whatever that means) when it comes to my movie tastes, so I'm going to put that theory to the test, and get in touch with my masculine side to create a list of romantic movies for men.

After the jump; My 5 picks for boy-friendly romance...

Continue reading Quick List: Romance for Boys

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]]>40 year old virgin40YearOldVirginfeaturedHigh FidelityHighFidelityjohn cusackJohnCusackjudd apatowJuddApatowkevin smithKevinSmithpt andersonPtAndersonPunch Drunk LovePunchDrunkLoveromanceJessica BarnesSat, 04 Jul 2009 17:03:00 ESTLori Petty's Directorial Debut to Hit Screens on July 17http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/lori-pettys-directorial-debut-to-hit-screens-on-july-17/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/lori-pettys-directorial-debut-to-hit-screens-on-july-17/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/lori-pettys-directorial-debut-to-hit-screens-on-july-17/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hearing about a mixture of Lori Petty and David Alan Grier immediately brings to mind the wonderful '90s, when Petty was the tough-as-nails Tank Girl in a post-apocalyptic water-hungry world and Grier was one of the big names of In Living Color. But now the two have teamed up, and it's not for some quirky bit of comedy, but rather a super-heavy drama that's finally going to hit the big screen.

Variety reports that Phase 4 Films has picked up the U.S. rights to The Poker House, which just so happens to be Petty's directorial debut from a script she wrote with Grier. The Living Color alum stars with Selma Blair and Jennifer Lawrence in the story which can, simply and vaguely, be described as "a portrait of life in a poor small town in Iowa in 1976," as Variety says. But a little more specifically, it's the story of a young basketball playing girl who has heavy troubles at home -- think prostitutes, pimps, and the struggles of desperation and poverty.

For IGN, Todd Gilchrist compared the film to the heaviness of Boys Don't Cry, Monster, and In the Bedroom, but stated: "Ultimately, The Poker House just isn't a very good film, regardless of where it came from, who made it or what it's trying to say." So why bother? One, it's looking to be one of those films you love or hate. Two, it's based on Petty's actual experiences, so it could give you a look into the mind of our Tank Girl.

The film hits theaters on July 17.

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]]>CinematicalDavid Alan GrierDavidAlanGrierLori PettyLoriPettyThe Poker HouseThePokerHouseMonika BartyzelSat, 04 Jul 2009 15:02:00 ESTSnag This: Jazz on a Summer's Dayhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/snag-this-jazz-on-a-summers-day/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/snag-this-jazz-on-a-summers-day/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/snag-this-jazz-on-a-summers-day/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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

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

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

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

Continue reading Snag This: Jazz on a Summer's Day

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]]>anita odayAnitaOdaybert sternBertSternjazz on a summers dayJazzOnASummersDaylouis armstrongLouisArmstrongnewport jazz festivalNewportJazzFestivalsnag thisSnagThisthelonius monkTheloniusMonkPeter MartinSat, 04 Jul 2009 13:02:00 ESTRight Now on TV Squadhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/right-now-on-tv-squad/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/right-now-on-tv-squad/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/right-now-on-tv-squad/#commentsOur 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:
  • Seth Green is promoting the DVD release of Robot Chicken: Star Wars -- Episode II with a touring ice skating show.
  • Despite his recent death we're still going to be seeing TV commercials starring pitchman Billy Mays.
  • America's Got Talent has found there own version of Brit singing sensation Susan Boyle in Kevin Skinner, a chicken catcher (whatever that is) from Kentucky.
  • Summer's only just started but TV Squad has screened some of CBS's new shows for the Fall. Here's what they think.
  • For those who can't get enough weirdness in their life, the upcoming final season of Lost is going to be 18 hours long instead of 17.
  • ...and finally, after hosting the Tonys and TV Land Awards, Neil Patrick Harris is about to close a deal that will have him hosting the Emmys.

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]]>CinemaCinematicalMoviesTV SquadTvSquadMatt BradshawSat, 04 Jul 2009 11:02:00 ESTChristian Bale's Rollercoaster Careerhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/christian-bales-rollercoaster-career/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/christian-bales-rollercoaster-career/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/04/christian-bales-rollercoaster-career/#commentsFiled under: ,

Christian Bale Rollercoaster

From Pacman to Public Enemies, he's had more ups and downs than most other actors of his generation. Christian Bale has careened between extreme highs and deep lows, in the view of the folks at MovieFill, and they decided that a rollercoaster was the most apt visual metaphor for his career. A reduced-size version can be seen above.

They squeeze most of his films into the chart, though they left out a few. Before his sensational role in Mary Harron's American Psycho, he was very appealing in Metroland and got good notices in Todd Haynes' Velvet Goldmine; pre-Batman Begins / The Dark Knight, he was fun to watch as a frisky villain in John Singleton's Shaft and an uptight, would-be psychiatrist in Laurel Canyon. I don't agree with every notation in the chart. Harsh Times, for example, is cited as one of his "lows," but Bale was riveting. Two notorious off-screen incidents are included, which both affected his public perception, though it seems somewhat unfair to lump those in with his films.

Still, the rollercoaster graphic provides an easy way to look back and consider the range and daring of what he's done, especially earlier in his career. Recently he's been in more big-budget productions than anything else, and next up is David O. Russell's boxing biopic The Fighter. I'd love to see him in a couple of smaller indie flicks. What are your thoughts on Christian Bale's career so far? More ups than downs?

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]]>american psychoAmericanPsychobatman beginsBatmanBeginschristian baleChristianBalefeaturedharsh timesHarshTimeslaurel canyonLaurelCanyonmetrolandpublic enemiesPublicEnemiesshaftthe dark knightTheDarkKnightvelvet goldmineVelvetGoldminePeter MartinSat, 04 Jul 2009 09:02:00 EST400 Screens, 400 Blows - Sci-Fi Goes to War http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/400-screens-400-blows-sci-fi-goes-to-war/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/400-screens-400-blows-sci-fi-goes-to-war/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/400-screens-400-blows-sci-fi-goes-to-war/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



A few months ago, I saw two new sci-fi movies at the San Francisco International Film Festival, and now both are in limited release: Duncan Jones's Moon (21 screens) and Aristomenis Tsirbas' Battle for Terra (2 screens). And it got me thinking. These two movies couldn't be more different, and the main distinction between them is this. Moon is sci-fi based on an actual sci-fi idea. That means that science actually figures into the fiction somewhere. And Battle for Terra is the perfect example of a war film decorated with sci-fi trimmings; its big "twist" is that the humans are the bad guys and the aliens are the good guys, but aside from that the story unfolds exactly like a regular war film. The aliens, spaceships and other gizmos don't really figure into the major themes or plot.

It got me thinking about how many science fiction movies are really just war movies in disguise. (The current Terminator Salvation is another one.) It's very easy to transform the combatants of a war to alien races and make the cause of the war something fictitious, like the "spice" in Dune (1984). It's much easier to explain why people are fighting over that powerful stuff than why they're fighting over differences in religions or beliefs. And it's much nicer to justify battling alien invaders than it is to justify humans fighting humans. Frankly, I'm all for this little bit of deception, provided the sci-fi movies have three things. Battle for Terra has none of them.

Continue reading 400 Screens, 400 Blows - Sci-Fi Goes to War

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]]>battle for terraBattleForTerracinematicalfilmhurt lockerHurtLockermoonmovieJeffrey M. AndersonFri, 03 Jul 2009 21:03:00 EST'The Ugly Truth' of Vibrating Underwearhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/the-ugly-truth-of-vibrating-underwear/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/the-ugly-truth-of-vibrating-underwear/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/the-ugly-truth-of-vibrating-underwear/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I now take back any defense I gave Katherine Heigl for her comments about Knocked Up. I was already on my way there when I heard about The Ugly Truth and its premise where a smart and successful woman turns to a chauvinist to learn about nabbing her beau. I hit the brink with the second trailer where she actually tries to deep throat a hot dog and stick out her chest to get the guy, while he says every pervish thing he can think of. And now ... now there's vibrating underwear.

In the clip after the jump, so appropriately coming to us from Coming Soon, Heigl's character gets a little vibrating gift as she gets ready for a date. She decides to put on the panty rocket and then gets whisked off on a half-date/half-business meeting. At no time does she decide to excuse herself to take off these things, and in fact, gets into some hot trouble when the remote falls into the hands of a kid at the next table. Heigl channels When Harry Met Sally, poorly I might add, and Gerard Butler watches in amusement.

Heigl... How any woman who notes chauvinism in a Judd Apatow movie can then take on this schlock is beyond my comprehension. Furthermore, take away Butler's charm and put ... hmm ... let's say Steve Buscemi into the role -- is it still all romantically funny, or does it get downright creepy? Actually, now that would be a movie -- The Ugly Truth, where a romcom tries to deliver this bull pucky to audiences without a dapper leading man to make it palatable.

Continue reading 'The Ugly Truth' of Vibrating Underwear

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]]>CinematicalGerard ButlerGerardButlerKatherine HeiglKatherineHeiglThe Ugly truthTheUglyTruthMonika BartyzelFri, 03 Jul 2009 19:33:00 ESTTerrific Trailers: Miami Vicehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/terrific-trailers-miami-vice/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/terrific-trailers-miami-vice/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/terrific-trailers-miami-vice/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Michael Mann's latest crime opus has already hit theaters, and like most of his devoted fans, I was there opening day. Granted, my desire to be first in line for Public Enemies mainly had to do with my preoccupation with pretty boys in nice suits, but trust me, there were some loftier ideals at work. One of the reasons I love Mann's films is that he finds new ways to tell relatively traditional stories...which brings me to Miami Vice. Vice definitely wasn't one of Mann's most popular films, but I always defend this flick, and here's why: growing up, I watched Miami Vice, and I might have loved it, but even at the tender age of 10 I knew it was kind of silly. I had always wondered what the series would have looked like if the show had a little less cheap humor about Crockett and his alligator and a little more 'dignity' -- fast forward to 2006, and that's exactly what Mann did.

Gone were the over the top white suits and wise cracks (I mean, thank god I didn't have to watch Colin Farrell yucking it up with 'Elvis'), and instead, Mann replaced them with a darker, meaner, and (dare I say it?) more realistic Miami Vice. But just because Mann brought Vice into the present, didn't mean that those traditional touches were gone, and the teaser was proof. That first trailer had it all -- the music perfectly timed with every shotgun pump, speedboats, helicopters, guns and hot girls...and you can't get more Miami Vice than that.

After the jump; the teaser and a reminder of Vice on the small screen..

Continue reading Terrific Trailers: Miami Vice

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]]>colin farrellColinFarrelljamie foxxJamieFoxxmiami viceMiamiVicemichael mannMichaelMannpublic enemiesPublicEnemiesscenes we loveScenesWeLoveterrific trailersTerrificTrailerstrailerJessica BarnesFri, 03 Jul 2009 18:03:00 ESTAttention, SXSW Wannabes! The Panel Picker is Herehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/attention-sxsw-wannabes-the-panel-picker-is-here/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/attention-sxsw-wannabes-the-panel-picker-is-here/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/attention-sxsw-wannabes-the-panel-picker-is-here/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

So you wanna rake in the indie cred in Austin at next year's South by Southwest Festival? You have a skootch more than a week left to submit proposals for panels and/or rate the ones that have already been submitted for SXSW. But lucky for you, the SXSW Panel Picker is at your fingertips any time of the day or night. This cool new tool allows for everyone to have a say in what panels get okay'd for the festival.

According to the official site, "SXSW thrives on the creative intersection that takes place when great minds get together, and we feel the Panel Picker truly celebrates that. We believe that the real experts at SXSW are the people who bring the event to life - you, the thousands of people who attend every year. You know what you want to see, so this is your chance to help make that happen."

Previous panels include "The Incredible Shrinking (Expanding?) Film Critic Profession," which featured Cinematical's very own Scott Weinberg, "From Script to Screen," a Stanley Kubrick discussion, and much more. Get on your horse and head over 'cause the Panel Picker closes its doors on July 10th.

You can also stay up to date on all the latest SXSW-related film news and reviews over at the official blog. They gave Erik Davis' earlier post on the real girl behind SXSW's indie hit 500 Days of Summer a nice shout out, too. Even if you don't get your very own panel, you should do yourself a favor and hit up the festival since it's filled to the gills with enough media to burn your retinas and pop your eardrums. Plus, you can eat some BBQ with the peeps you Tweet at. Hey, just sayin'.

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]]>Austinpanelssouth by southwestSouthBySouthwestSXSWSXSW 2010Sxsw2010Jenni MillerFri, 03 Jul 2009 16:33:00 ESTFan Rant: My Apologies to Woody Allenhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/fan-rant-my-apologies-to-woody-allen/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/fan-rant-my-apologies-to-woody-allen/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/fan-rant-my-apologies-to-woody-allen/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Dear... uh, well... Woody Allen, I suppose:

So here you are, with Whatever Works, which is something like your 44th feature at the age of 73. That's really something, but I'm sure you already know that. As if it wasn't enough that we can credit you with the likes of Annie Hall and The Purple Rose of Cairo... But I digress, although maybe that's the best strategy at the moment, because I can't exactly talk about Whatever Works just yet. It doesn't open in my neck of the woods until tomorrow today, and well, they refused to screen it for press.

Actually, they kinda did screen it, and, apparently, it's all kinda your fault.

Continue reading Fan Rant: My Apologies to Woody Allen

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]]>criticslarry davidLarryDavidmovie reviewsMovieReviewsorlando sentinelOrlandoSentinelpressroger mooreRogerMoorerotten tomatoesRottenTomatoessony classicsSonyClassicswhatever worksWhateverWorkswoody allenWoodyAllenWilliam GossFri, 03 Jul 2009 15:03:00 ESTGuinew Moon -- Piggy 'Twilight' Spoofhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/guinew-moon-piggy-twilight-spoof/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/guinew-moon-piggy-twilight-spoof/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/guinew-moon-piggy-twilight-spoof/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Did you watch the New Moon trailer and wonder if wolfy Jacob would've been any more scary if he could morph into a little guinea pig?

You may have noticed that little hairy beasts are fighting their way to the big screen later this month with G-Force. To help kick off the film, which opens on July 24, Electric Spoofaloo has been holding a contest. Viewers pitch ideas for spoof trailers featuring the little hairy beasts, they're voted on, and then the site makes the pitches come to life.

There's a faux Harry Potter that isn't all that funny, but Spoofaloo really hits the nail on the head with their take on the New Moon trailer (which you can see after the jump). It works so well that it seems like Stephanie Meyer's world was just destined for guineadom. There's the dramatic kiss, and then Bella's cataclysmic paper cut that sends her whole life into upheaval. (Whoever knew that paper could be so destructive? Good thing no one ever got one at school during the few years Jasper went to Forks High.)

From beginning to end, it's all there, right down to a ridiculously beefy guy filling in for Taylor Lautner and exploding into a guinea pig -- one that looks just as frightening as that big, fluffy wolf. How sad is it when your menacing animal can be easily replaced by a hand-held pet? I mean, I have a tendency to think lots of scary animals look cute, but that's the least menacing movie wolf I've ever seen!

Continue reading Guinew Moon -- Piggy 'Twilight' Spoof

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]]>CinematicalElectric SpoofalooElectricSpoofalooGuinew MoonGuinewMoonNew MoonNewMoonMonika BartyzelFri, 03 Jul 2009 13:32:00 ESTMichael Bay Trashes Megan Fox, Talks 'Transformers 3' and 3Dhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/michael-bay-trashes-megan-fox-talks-transformers-3-and-3d/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/michael-bay-trashes-megan-fox-talks-transformers-3-and-3d/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/michael-bay-trashes-megan-fox-talks-transformers-3-and-3d/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Seems like a small war is starting to brew between Michael Bay and Megan Fox, after the latter said some unflattering things about Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, telling the Early Show recently that she still doesn't understand the movie and that it's apparently made for geniuses. Bay, of course, is not one to take criticism lightly -- especially from some girl who was nobody until he dropped her into the first Transformers movie.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal about the situation with Fox, he says, "Well, that's Megan Fox for you. She says some very ridiculous things because she's 23 years old and she still has a lot of growing to do. You roll your eyes when you see statements like that and think, "Okay Megan, you can do whatever you want. I got it." But I 100% disagree with her. Nick Cage wasn't a big actor when I cast him, nor was Ben Affleck before I put him in "Armageddon." Shia LaBeouf wasn't a big movie star before he did "Transformers"-and then he exploded. Not to mention Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, from "Bad Boys." Nobody in the world knew about Megan Fox until I found her and put her in "Transformers." I like to think that I've had some luck in building actors' careers with my films."

We shouldn't worry whether this war of words will hurt either person's involvement in a third Transformers movie because according to Bay that's not happening anytime soon. On a third Transformers film, he says, "I just want to take some time off. It's been almost three years that I've devoted myself entirely to this world of robots. At some point, enough is enough-and I literally carried this movie on my back. ... I don't know who [would] want to take on my shoes with this franchise. We might just take a year down."

Continue reading Michael Bay Trashes Megan Fox, Talks 'Transformers 3' and 3D

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]]>cinematicalfeaturedmegan foxMeganFoxmichael bayMichaelBaytransformers 2transformers 3Transformers2Transformers3transformers: revenge of the fallenTransformers:RevengeOfTheFallenErik DavisFri, 03 Jul 2009 12:02:00 ESTGo, Stark Industries Racer, Go!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/go-stark-industries-racer-go/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/go-stark-industries-racer-go/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/go-stark-industries-racer-go/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



Here's a bit of geeky fun for your Fourth of July weekend. (And frankly, anything Jon Favreau is Re-Tweeting is worth posting.) Road and Track Magazine caught a spy photo of Tony Stark's stylish racecar sitting all by its lonesome on the Iron Man 2 set. The magazine reports that they've recreated the Grand Prix de Monaco on a very elaborate set that copies the Monaco circuit.

I know what you're thinking "A racecar? That's ok, I guess." It's not news that they did a scene set in Monaco either. But what you might have forgotten is that this is where Mickey Rourke's Whiplash makes his first appearence, undoubtedly shocking the wealthy racing fans with his prison tats, reactor whips, and overall terrifying demeanor. Also, Road and Track reveals a hint as to how that showdown gets underway, because with Tony Stark being the sort of dashing billionaire he is, he isn't just attending the race -- he's driving that very car in it. Something tells me it gets stopped by a big Russian ex-con ... and since this is Iron Man, the car probably explodes in the ensuing battle.

I know, it isn't much, but it's something to build on. San Diego ComicCon is only a few weeks away, and this dry spell of hints and glimpses will be forgotten.

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]]>Grand Prix de MonacoGrandPrixDeMonacoIron Man 2IronMan2jon favreauJonFavreaumickey rourkeMickeyRourkerobert downey jr.RobertDowneyJr.WhiplashElisabeth RappeFri, 03 Jul 2009 10:32:00 ESTIn Memoriam: Harve Presnell (1933-2009)http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/in-memoriam-harve-presnell-1933-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/in-memoriam-harve-presnell-1933-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/in-memoriam-harve-presnell-1933-2009/#commentsFiled under:

Actor, singer and Broadway star Harve Presnell died July 1, 2009 at the age of 75. Born September 14, 1933, Presnell started his career on stage, playing prominent roles on Broadway in shows such as The Unsinkable Molly Brown, before moving into film work in the late 1960s. Perhaps best known as the domineering father-in-law to William H. Macy's sheepish wannabe kidnapper in Fargo, Presnell enjoyed a career resurgence in the 1990s and became one of the more recognizable character actors of the last two decades.

Presnell's performance in Fargo was one of those that made even cinephiles wonder, who is this guy? Playing Wade Gunderson, the gruff and obstinate father of the film's kidnap victim, he complemented the desperate ambition of Macy's Jerry Lundegaard and the smalltown sensibleness of Frances McDormand's Marge Gunderson. That same year, he appeared in several other movies, including The Whole Wide World, Larger Than Life and The Chamber, rekindling a film career that stagnated in 1976.

Continue reading In Memoriam: Harve Presnell (1933-2009)

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]]>harve presnellHarvePresnellTodd GilchristFri, 03 Jul 2009 09:02:00 ESTPublic Enemies ... On A Scale of 1-10?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/02/public-enemies-on-a-scale-of-1-10/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/02/public-enemies-on-a-scale-of-1-10/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/02/public-enemies-on-a-scale-of-1-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



It's the Fourth of July weekend, and what better way to celebrate America's independence than by watching a John Dillinger decide taxation with representation wasn't nearly as much fun as the patriots made it out to be. Public Enemies has gone wide this week, brandishing their tommy guns in the hopes of stealing some of Transformers' box office thunder. If anyone can do it, it might just be Johnny Depp, who does appeal to a crowd that Optimus Prime just can't reach.

Jeffrey Anderson was full of praise for Michael Mann's film, likening it to earlier crime classics such as Max Nosseck's Dillinger or Don Siegel's Baby Face Nelson. "... it equals them, capturing some of their raw energy and allure and clocking in as a longer, but equally fast-moving and adrenaline-pumping example Somehow Mann only manages to use the extra time for flash and spectacle, and hardly any for depth or detail, but that only helps to speed things along. Happily, he also avoids the typical origin story, and plunges right in ... One of the movie's main themes is that Dillinger lives for the moment, unwilling or unable to consider the future, and with little use for the past. That's Mann's credo as well, and it's what keeps the lengthy Public Enemies in shape. Most scenes come with an intense immediacy, with an effective use of shaky cams and stark lighting, giving chaos an open invitation to rear its ugly head at any time. The bullets are loud and plentiful and when they hit, the blood is not shy about making an exit."

But that's one smooth criminal's opinion. Give us yours!


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]]>Billy CrudupBillyCrudupChristian BaleChristianBalejohn dillingerJohnDillingerJohnny DeppJohnnyDeppMichael MannMichaelMannPublic EnemiesPublicEnemiesUniversalElisabeth RappeThu, 02 Jul 2009 22:02:00 EST