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Main Discussion Area => Stream of Consciousness => Topic started by: RGMike on February 26, 2005, 06:01:48 PM

Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 26, 2005, 06:01:48 PM
As we all remember, I predicted Jamie Foxx would win Best Actor even before Ray opened, but rather than be satisfied with going one-for-one, here are a few more predictions -- feel free to disagree.

Actress -- Imelda Staunton. I'm out on a small limb here; many have hyped this as a Swank/Bening rematch/horserace. And if Being Julia were a better movie, they'd probably give it to Annette this time. I see enough of a split for Staunton to sneak thru, especially if enough voters have seen Vera Drake.

Supp Actor: Morgan Freeman. He's beloved, this is his 4th nom, and the Million Dollar Baby juggernaut (M$B as the trades abbreviate it) seems to be gathering steam at the right time.

Supp Actress: Cate Blanchett.  This one's close between her and Virgina Madsen, but this is probably their best way to throw something to Aviator.

Screenplay (Orig): Eternal Sunshine; it's closest competition is Aviator.

Screenplay (Adapted): Sideways better win this one, though if they REALLY love M$B...

Song: Everyone seems to be picking that drippy ballad from Polar Express but my pick, "Accidentally In Love" -- the only Counting Crows song I've ever liked -- was a huge hit. And Shrek 2 ain't winning...

...Animated Film: The Incredibles.

Director: Eastwood. I really think they just like him more than that  Scorsese fella from Noo Yawk.

Picture: M$B (I just love typing "M$B"). It's peaking at just the right time, and that ridiculous "controversy" led by Michael Medved (the nelliest heterosexual in America) will actually help.

Oh and I think they'll throw Passion of Mel the Cinematography prize as a see-how-we-love-the-red-states-too statement.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on February 26, 2005, 07:25:43 PM
I wish I could play along -- but I only saw three movies last year: Super-Size Me, Fahrenheit 9/11, and A Home At The End Of The World.  Needless to say, I'm the most ill-equipped voter imaginable.

I did see Ray last week, leaving Ray himself as the only person who hasn't.  Amazingly good, though the end came rather sudden and simplistic.  I guess there was no other way to bring it to a close, though.
Title: get in line!
Post by: ggould on February 26, 2005, 07:41:11 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
I wish I could play along -- but I only saw three movies last year: Super-Size Me, Fahrenheit 9/11, and A Home At The End Of The World.
I saw F911, SSM, and have not even spun the Netflix DVD of Ray yet that's been in my house for a couple of weeks! Maybe we're even, I saw The Incredibles.  I'm usually pretty out of touch on Oscar night.  We almost saw Sideways tonight, but I had to go to the office.
Title: Re: get in line!
Post by: princessofcairo on February 26, 2005, 11:39:47 PM
Quote from: "ggould"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
I wish I could play along -- but I only saw three movies last year: Super-Size Me, Fahrenheit 9/11, and A Home At The End Of The World.
I saw F911, SSM, and have not even spun the Netflix DVD of Ray yet that's been in my house for a couple of weeks! Maybe we're even, I saw The Incredibles.  I'm usually pretty out of touch on Oscar night.  We almost saw Sideways tonight, but I had to go to the office.


i haven't even received ray from netflix yet. it's at the top of my list, but there are only so many copies available, and people like geoff who rent movies then keep them around the house for several weeks prevent me from seeing it. :)

the only movie i saw that's been nominated is maria, full of grace. i did manage to break my normal "one movie a year" theatre schedule last year. i saw:

- team america, f**k yeah.
- the fallen. or forgiven, or missing. whatever crazy julianne moore flick that was.
- badasssssss
- fat albert
- a very long film
- mean girls
- man on fire (let the mutha burn, damnit)
- kitchen stories (should be nominated for something, somewhere - one of my top three foreign flicks)
- the day after tomorrow

i think that's it.

i do have a rental recommendation, though: rabbit-proof fence. awesome true story.
Title: Re: get in line!
Post by: ggould on February 27, 2005, 12:02:51 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i haven't even received ray from netflix yet. it's at the top of my list, but there are only so many copies available, and people like geoff who rent movies then keep them around the house for several weeks prevent me from seeing it. :)
Well, we saw it tonight, and it'll be in the mail Monday!  I can't see it as best picture, but then I didn't see the others, so who knows?  I kind of want to see Sideways, partly to see Sandra Oh.  I saw her in this Candian flick Last Night (http://imdb.com/title/tt0156729/     yeah, I'm obsessed with anything relating to my favorite TV show, Due South)  It was pretty odd, pretty cool.
Title: Re: get in line!
Post by: RGMike on February 27, 2005, 10:41:46 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i saw:

- badasssssss.


Best Overlooked Movie of 2004.  The cinematography certainly deserved a nom, that guy did amazing work on a small budget.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Anonymous on February 27, 2005, 11:19:52 PM
Well Mike, except for where you got all mushy & picked Imelda Staunton I'd say you were a helluva prognosticator.  Swank was an upset winner last time, but she was the closest thing to a lock this time around.  The only major movie I saw already was Sideways & it got the one award we both thought it would, so I could only base my picks on what others were saying & on past Oscar history, but you did much better than I.  If the DGA hadn't already picked Eastwood I would have said Scorcese was a lock, but historically there's like a 96% correspondence between the DGA pick & the Academy pick.  So go figure, poor guy is 0-6.  

You know who else is shaping up as a tragic Susan-Lucci-figure besides Scorcese?  Kate Winslett.  She's the first actress to receive 4 noms before age 30 (an age she'll hit in October), but that also makes her the first actress to go 0-4 before age 30.  At this rate she'll tie Deborah Kerr's career 0-6 mark of futility for actresses before she's 35 and surpass the record 0-7 mark shared by Richard Burton & Peter O'Toole before she's 40.  Lovely girl though, just lovely.

Note to POC, did you see Jenny Lumet in the opera box with her mom & sis during the presentation to her dad?  Va-va-voom!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 28, 2005, 07:36:06 AM
Quote from: "Anonymous"
Note to POC, did you see Jenny Lumet in the opera box with her mom & sis during the presentation to her dad?  Va-va-voom!


yes -- poc and I watched together and we were both like, "Who IS that???"  She had enough cleavage for 3 women.  

Loved Irish Greg's line this morning about how they paired Salma Hayek & Penelope Cruz to prove that they really are 2 separate women.

and for those who missed it -- the Razzies were also given out this weekend:

http://www.razzies.com/asp/directory/25thWinners.htm
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 28, 2005, 08:27:00 AM
Quote from: "Anonymous"
Note to POC, did you see Jenny Lumet in the opera box with her mom & sis during the presentation to her dad?  Va-va-voom!


yum, yum, indeed.

i kept waiting for salma to grab penelope's ass. but maybe that ole lesbian bed death has already set in.

i thought chris rock was out of control. in a good, weird way. no one escaped his fiery tongue! only it was terribly harsh. hilarious, but ouch!!!! i'm glad he dissed halle berry. ha!

best eye-candy (and dressed):
prince
samuel l.
johnny depp
jenny lumet
salma hayek
a meaty julia roberts
al pacino
morgan freeman

worst:
renee welldigger
that woman who didn't win for art direction because she was wearing gold lame


oh - and the teasing about vitamin c presenting was just wrong. chris rock is no substitute for mrs. douglas.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 28, 2005, 12:39:36 PM
too late, of course, but this Oscar Drinking Game was posted on Slate.com. Think how hung-over we'd be if we'd played...

The idea is one drink per infraction execept where noted:

•   Every Michael Moore and/or Mel Gibson reference.

•   Every Brad/Jennifer/Angelina reference.

•   Every poor schlub who, just as he is about to get his chance to say thank you after the first guy droned on for a minute, doesn't even get a second at the microphone before the band drowns him out.

•   Every time someone mentions how wonderful The Movies are as an institution.

•   Every male winner who thanks his wife for being "beautiful", rather than intelligent, loyal or supportive.

•   Every person named during the Necrology who you forgot was dead.

•   If booing is audible when Reagan's death is mentioned, chug, because we'll have two weeks of conservative complaints to endure.

•   Every losing nominee who pretends to look happy as someone else goes up to the stage.

•   Every actor you spot with odd facial hair he has obviously grown for a current movie role.

•   Every time ABC promotes Desperate Housewives in some way.

•   Every time Chris Rock mentions a black person, and then they cut to a shot of the first black person they find in the audience.

•   Chug if during or immediately after the Counting Crows performance, they cut to one of Adam Duritz's many ex-girlfriends.

•   Chug when Chris Rock makes fun of any ABC programming.

•   Every shot of or reference to the guys from Ernst & Young.

•   The Mary Steenburgen Memorial Shot: Every presenter who's announced as an Oscar nominee or winner and you can't remember for what.

•   Every time there's an inexplicable cut to Jack Nicholson.

•   Every shot of one of Rock's former SNL castmates, but drink everything in the entire neighborhood if they show Rob Schneider.

• Drink if you can't figure out a damn thing Prince says when presenting an award.

• Chug if Rock brings up Pootie Tang.

My feeling is that THIS WILL KILL US ALL.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 28, 2005, 12:45:13 PM
yeah, we would have been wasted.

sideshow bob has many ex-girlfriends?

mary steenburgen was nominated?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 28, 2005, 12:56:59 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
mary steenburgen was nominated?


she won for Melvin and Howard.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 28, 2005, 01:02:57 PM
the Clint and the Babs:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050228/ids_photos_en/r714529292.jpg
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on February 28, 2005, 01:10:05 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Anonymous"
Note to POC, did you see Jenny Lumet in the opera box with her mom & sis during the presentation to her dad?  Va-va-voom!


yes -- poc and I watched together and we were both like, "Who IS that???"  She had enough cleavage for 3 women.  



Anyone know of a photo of her online? I watched the first hour or so (thru best supporting actress), ducked out for dinner, and made it back just in time for the necrology and the big guns.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 28, 2005, 01:14:38 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
the Clint and the Babs:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050228/ids_photos_en/r714529292.jpg


have they ever been that close before?

melvin and howard? never heard of it. adding it to netflix....
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 28, 2005, 01:19:03 PM
Quote from: "urth"
I watched the first hour or so (thru best supporting actress), ducked out for dinner, and made it back just in time for the necrology and the big guns.


Jenny's guns were bigger :shock:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 28, 2005, 01:23:31 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"

Jenny's guns were bigger :shock:


they were cannons!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 28, 2005, 01:31:12 PM
Quote from: "urth"

Anyone know of a photo of her online? I watched the first hour or so (thru best supporting actress), ducked out for dinner, and made it back just in time for the necrology and the big guns.


i can't find anything online. and i scrolled through the imdb red carpet pics form last night. no love.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 28, 2005, 04:24:18 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "urth"

Anyone know of a photo of her online? I watched the first hour or so (thru best supporting actress), ducked out for dinner, and made it back just in time for the necrology and the big guns.


i can't find anything online. and i scrolled through the imdb red carpet pics form last night. no love.


so far I can't either, unless that is her arm in the background of the one shot of her dad.  But there was a pretty good pic of Salma & Penelope snuggled up close together.  Also Tom Brady arm in arm with Bridget Moynahan (she's hot, check out The Recruit).  And some stunning young thing named Natalia Vodianova.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 28, 2005, 04:33:32 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
"Boy Scouts Exploring Extended To Include Teenage Girls"


oh yeah! cue porky's!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 03, 2005, 11:36:40 AM
You heard it here first! Next Year's Best Actor & Actress:

(http://www.oscarwatch.com/Kris/images/walktheline.jpg)

Joaquin & Reese are playing Johnny Cash And June Carter Cash!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 03, 2005, 12:04:59 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
You heard it here first! Next Year's Best Actor & Actress:

(http://www.oscarwatch.com/Kris/images/walktheline.jpg)

Joaquin & Reese are playing Johnny Cash And June Carter Cash!


what?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

hmm. i want to be upset. on principle. but i really like joaquin. when he's not playing mel gibson's son. i don't think i've seen reese in anything. but she seems...capabl.e
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 03, 2005, 03:00:59 PM
Quote
i don't think i've seen reese in anything. but she seems...capable


Say WHAT!?  You've never seen Pleasantville?  or Election?  Get thee to a Blockbuster woman!

Even better yet, find & watch Freeway, with a majorly twisted Kiefer Sutherland & one of the great movie fantasies of the latter 20th century acted out on film (namely Brooke Shields blowing her brains out).  Or if you're in a romantic/coming-of-age mood, find & watch Man In The Moon, her stellar debut when she was only 14.

Reese W. may have taken the big bucks & punched the clock with her last couple of flicks, but she is most definitely 'capable'.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 03, 2005, 03:08:38 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote
i don't think i've seen reese in anything. but she seems...capable


Say WHAT!?  You've never seen Pleasantville?  or Election?  Get thee to a Blockbuster woman!

Even better yet, find & watch Freeway, with a majorly twisted Kiefer Sutherland & one of the great movie fantasies of the latter 20th century acted out on film (namely Brooke Shields blowing her brains out).  Or if you're in a romantic/coming-of-age mood, find & watch Man In The Moon, her stellar debut when she was only 14.

Reese W. may have taken the big bucks & punched the clock with her last couple of flicks, but she is most definitely 'capable'.


shows what i know. i've seen "pleasantville." now i remember who she is. :) i liked that one a lot.

"man in the moon," the andy kaufman flick? who was she? i only remember jim, paul and danny. was she is love thang? i should see that again.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 03, 2005, 03:19:30 PM
Quote
"man in the moon," the andy kaufman flick? who was she? i only remember jim, paul and danny. was she is love thang? i should see that again.


almost had me going there.  You're talkin' 'bout Man ON the Moon, not Man IN the Moon.

The coming-of-age story starring a then-unknown Reese Witherspoon is the latter: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102388/
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 03, 2005, 03:20:06 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote
i don't think i've seen reese in anything. but she seems...capable


Say WHAT!?  You've never seen Pleasantville?  or Election?  Get thee to a Blockbuster woman!

Even better yet, find & watch Freeway, with a majorly twisted Kiefer Sutherland & one of the great movie fantasies of the latter 20th century acted out on film (namely Brooke Shields blowing her brains out).  Or if you're in a romantic/coming-of-age mood, find & watch Man In The Moon, her stellar debut when she was only 14.

Reese W. may have taken the big bucks & punched the clock with her last couple of flicks, but she is most definitely 'capable'.


Hear, Hear! nicely summarized, Mr. S.  Freeway rocks.

And princess, this a a different Man in the Moon than the Carrey-as-Kaufman flick.  Early '90s, and just loverly.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 03, 2005, 03:26:52 PM
Has anyone else seen Freeway?  It's a must see, but only for those who like movies that go in unexpected directions & aren't queasy.

(note to Gaz:  remember that guy Larry that we worked with back in eSchwab days?  Medium-tall, gray-haired late-in-life queen.  After talking movies one day he gave me a personal money-back-guarantee on this.  Said I had to rent it, but if I didn't like it he'd rent me any movie of my choice to make up for it.)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 03, 2005, 03:27:23 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote
"man in the moon," the andy kaufman flick? who was she? i only remember jim, paul and danny. was she is love thang? i should see that again.


almost had me going there.  You're talkin' 'bout Man ON the Moon, not Man IN the Moon.

The coming-of-age story starring a then-unknown Reese Witherspoon is the latter: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102388/


oh...sam and tess harper? i'm there.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 03, 2005, 03:28:29 PM
and now i think it was courtney love in the kaufman flick. a far cry from witherspoon. a withered spoon, perhaps?

yeah, i know. it's time to go home.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 03, 2005, 07:04:32 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
You heard it here first! Next Year's Best Actor & Actress:

(http://www.oscarwatch.com/Kris/images/walktheline.jpg)

Joaquin & Reese are playing Johnny Cash And June Carter Cash!

Forget the statuettes; I want June's coat!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 03, 2005, 08:11:52 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Forget the statuettes; I want June's coat!


LOL! It sure beats all of Beyonce's hideous outfits on Sunday night. Drag queens were taking notes so they'd know what NOT to wear...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 04, 2005, 08:27:48 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Forget the statuettes; I want June's coat!


LOL! It sure beats all of Beyonce's hideous outfits on Sunday night. Drag queens were taking notes so they'd know what NOT to wear...


god. i'd completely blocked her performances out of my head. i couldn't stand the way her head bobbled. another plasticene porter.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 04, 2005, 01:05:50 PM
i finally saw ray last night - wow! jamie foxx! i always knew he was special, but gosh. that was good.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 04, 2005, 01:49:40 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i finally saw ray last night - wow!


YAY!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 04, 2005, 10:57:06 PM
So the headline reads:

RAY SAYS 'YAY' FOR 'RAY'
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 05, 2005, 06:34:41 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
So the headline reads:

RAY SAYS 'YAY' FOR 'RAY'


TODAY
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 05, 2005, 08:20:34 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
So the headline reads:

RAY SAYS 'YAY' FOR 'RAY'


TODAY

THEY'RE COMIN' TO AMERICA
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 05, 2005, 09:19:44 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
So the headline reads:

RAY SAYS 'YAY' FOR 'RAY'


TODAY

THEY'RE COMIN' TO AMERICA


THIS IS NOT AMERICA
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 08, 2005, 08:44:07 AM
saw "the aviator" last night. it was long, but interesting. but the cast! woah! alec baldwin was magnificent! as usual. he's an aries, you know. born on 3 april, also...anyhoo. willem dafoe! alan alda was amazing, too. and cate as kate was deeeevine! "there were photographers at the FUNE-ruhl." nice job.

and ian holm and john c. reilly and brent spiner!!!

even gwen stefani cast as jean harlow and jude law as errol flynn worked.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 08, 2005, 08:55:10 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
saw "the aviator" last night. it was long, but interesting. but the cast! woah! alec baldwin was magnificent! as usual. he's an aries, you know. born on 3 april, also...anyhoo. willem dafoe! alan alda was amazing, too. and cate as kate was deeeevine! "there were photographers at the FUNE-ruhl." nice job.

and ian holm and john c. reilly and brent spiner!!!

even gwen stefani cast as jean harlow and jude law as errol flynn worked.


Gwen worked because she was in, like, one scene (and one scene too many, IMHO).  But yeah, Mr Baldwin does that schtick better than anybody. (You saw The Cooler, yes?)

"Of course you're socialists -- you have money."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 08, 2005, 09:59:14 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"


Gwen worked because she was in, like, one scene (and one scene too many, IMHO).  But yeah, Mr Baldwin does that schtick better than anybody. (You saw The Cooler, yes?)

"Of course you're socialists -- you have money."


yes, it was one scene too many. i kept thinking to myself, "that's not gwen stefani, is it?" wasn't convinced until the credits. yes, i saw "the cooler." mmm...yum, yum baldwin. so.......powerful! even when he's powerless ("outside providence").

"i sweat, and you're deaf."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 09, 2005, 12:53:54 PM
some fine trailers in the theatre the other night.

"hostage" with bruce willis. looks terrifying! not a bad plotline. over the top, a bit, but, hey, it's bruce willis.

"the interpreter." this i *must* see. sean penn and nicole kidman. another thriller!!!

some crusade movie i'll have to see because i'm a history buff. starring jeremy irons and some other people.

"hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy." can't wait! they spelled out "42" in stars in the upper-lefthand side of the screen at the end of the preview (when the film title appeared). very nice touch.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 09, 2005, 01:10:01 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
some fine trailers in the theatre the other night.

"hostage" with bruce willis. looks terrifying! not a bad plotline. over the top, a bit, but, hey, it's bruce willis.

"the interpreter." this i *must* see. sean penn and nicole kidman. another thriller!!!

some crusade movie i'll have to see because i'm a history buff. starring jeremy irons and some other people.

"hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy." can't wait! they spelled out "42" in stars in the upper-lefthand side of the screen at the end of the preview (when the film title appeared). very nice touch.


What about "Upside of Anger"? are you a Joan Allen fan? they say she totally rocks in ths movie -- next year's Oscar, asssuming the remember back to March.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 09, 2005, 01:30:56 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"


What about "Upside of Anger"? are you a Joan Allen fan? they say she totally rocks in ths movie -- next year's Oscar, asssuming the remember back to March.


never heard of anger, never heard of joan...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 09, 2005, 01:40:40 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"


What about "Upside of Anger"? are you a Joan Allen fan? they say she totally rocks in ths movie -- next year's Oscar, asssuming the remember back to March.


never heard of anger, never heard of joan...


Shirley, you jest!

You need to make yourself a Joan Allen film fest:

The Contender
The Crucible
Pleasantville
Nixon
(she was Pat)
Face/Off
Ice Storm
(she was the one who wasn't Sigourney Weaver)

She rules!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 09, 2005, 01:50:21 PM
Don't forget that she was in Manhunter, the first Hannibal Lecter movie.  Her character doesn't show up until 2/3 in, but then she steals every scene, at least until the screaming starts.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 09, 2005, 01:51:09 PM
I also liked the preview of the HitchHikers guide with the 42 in it (since I just turned 42 of course).
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 09, 2005, 01:54:37 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"


Shirley, you jest!

You need to make yourself a Joan Allen film fest:

The Contender
The Crucible
Pleasantville
Nixon
(she was Pat)
Face/Off
Ice Storm
(she was the one who wasn't Sigourney Weaver)

She rules!


oh that joan allen! i just imdb'ed her. i recognise her face. and i remember her in "pleasantville." she had a brown bob, right?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 09, 2005, 05:10:29 PM
and i don't know who jessica alba is, but she sure looks like scarlett johanssen in that movie poster..."nc 17," or whatever the new movie is called.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 09, 2005, 05:14:29 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
and i don't know who jessica alba is, but she sure looks like scarlett johanssen in that movie poster..."nc 17," or whatever the new movie is called.


mmmmm, Jessica Alba.  Way hot.  She was in this weird scifi show a few years back on Fox.  Wasn't good, but she was hot hot hot.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 09, 2005, 09:08:12 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
and i don't know who jessica alba is, but she sure looks like scarlett johanssen in that movie poster..."nc 17," or whatever the new movie is called.


"Sin City", the next "Pulp Fiction" if the hype is correct.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 10, 2005, 07:51:18 AM
And then there's In My Country, which pairs Sam L Jackson and Juliette Binoche. Hubba Hubba!

(I always want to call her Juliette Brioche.)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 10, 2005, 08:04:46 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
(I always want to call her Juliette Brioche.)


Well, butter my buns and call me a biscuit!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 10, 2005, 08:17:18 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
And then there's In My Country, which pairs Sam L Jackson and Juliette Binoche. Hubba Hubba!

(I always want to call her Juliette Brioche.)


hubba hubba, indeed!
he can call me brioche, if he wants to

wow. that has to be good. i think. sam is hit or miss sometimes. but mostly hit. and i'm glad he refused to star in a film with fifty pennies. he never would have landed a brioche film after that.

now if sam and brioche get it on, that would be something! when's the last time we had an interracial - ok, black and white - lead couple in a film?

...

i remember so little of films, someone is bound to tell me there were three releasedlast year.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 10, 2005, 10:18:02 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
when's the last time we had an interracial - ok, black and white - lead couple in a film?

Does Monster's Ball count?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 10, 2005, 10:20:20 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
when's the last time we had an interracial - ok, black and white - lead couple in a film?

Does Monster's Ball count?


why, yes. in some strange way, it does.

probably wins the prize for "best sex scene i wish didn't turn me on."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 21, 2005, 01:20:22 PM
so i watched bubba ho-tep over the weekend. thanks for the rec, beej! at least i think it was beej. here's what i think:

Movie recommendation: Bubba Ho-Tep, 2002
Why: Because Bruce Campbell is the closest thing to an Old Elvis we're ever going to see.
Why#2: Ossie Davis plays Jack Kennedy, and he shagged Marilyn Monroe.
Best Line: "I was gyrating, you know, taking care of business, and my hip went out."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 21, 2005, 01:33:53 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
so i watched bubba ho-tep over the weekend. thanks for the rec, beej! at least i think it was beej. here's what i think:

Movie recommendation: Bubba Ho-Tep, 2002
Why: Because Bruce Campbell is the closest thing to an Old Elvis we're ever going to see.
Why#2: Ossie Davis plays Jack Kennedy, and he shagged Marilyn Monroe.
Best Line: "I was gyrating, you know, taking care of business, and my hip went out."


Great flick. Chef's parents would not be out of place in that retirement home.

"Three fitty? I ain't givin' no Loch Ness monster three fitty!"

I saw Upside of Anger Saturday.  Joan Allen totally rocks. And Beej & mshray would be interested to know that her 4 daughters are all played by hotties.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 21, 2005, 01:51:53 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
so i watched bubba ho-tep over the weekend. thanks for the rec, beej! at least i think it was beej. here's what i think:

Movie recommendation: Bubba Ho-Tep, 2002
Why: Because Bruce Campbell is the closest thing to an Old Elvis we're ever going to see.
Why#2: Ossie Davis plays Jack Kennedy, and he shagged Marilyn Monroe.
Best Line: "I was gyrating, you know, taking care of business, and my hip went out."


Great flick. Chef's parents would not be out of place in that retirement home.

"Three fitty? I ain't givin' no Loch Ness monster three fitty!"

I saw Upside of Anger Saturday.  Joan Allen totally rocks. And Beej & mshray would be interested to know that her 4 daughters are all played by hotties.


Yeah, I saw the trailer too.  BTW another Joan Allen must see is The Bourne Supremacy which I just rewatched on Sat.  It is one of the great post-Berlin Wall spy thrillers.  She plays a deputy director at the CIA, a smart woman in a tough man's world, and man does she knock it out of the park.  Matt Damon is quite good too, as is Julia Stiles reprising a role that was virtually a cameo in the first film & now is a central character.

As far as In My Country, I saw Ebert & Roeper give it 2 thumbs down because the romance is not very believable and the romantic subplot trivializes the drama of the actual Peace & Reconciliation Trials.

Lastly, I think "Three Fitty!?" constitutes the funniest 3 syllables ever written for the South Park series.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 21, 2005, 03:21:52 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
I think "Three Fitty!?" constitutes the funniest 3 syllables ever written for the South Park series.


"Succubus got my baby!"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 21, 2005, 04:06:27 PM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
and i don't know who jessica alba is, but she sure looks like scarlett johanssen in that movie poster..."nc 17," or whatever the new movie is called.


mmmmm, Jessica Alba.  Way hot.  She was in this weird scifi show a few years back on Fox.  Wasn't good, but she was hot hot hot.


That was Dark Angel, and she was only 19 at the time.  That was my appointment TV for 2001

Hubba hubba indeed

She will be in the upcoming Fantastic Four movie, as Sue Storm, but why on earth would you want to make her figure become invisible?  One great bit of casting though is Michael (The Shield) Chiklis as Ben Grimm.  She's got two more films coming out in the next 12 months according to IMDb, so get ready for her to be presenting at the Oscars next year, maybe even hosting the tech awards.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 21, 2005, 08:42:44 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
She's got two more films coming out in the next 12 months according to IMDb, so get ready for her to be presenting at the Oscars next year, maybe even hosting the tech awards.


I love the way they always get a hottie to host the tech awards for the geekboys to drool over. LOL!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 31, 2005, 08:31:07 AM
Saw Millions last nite. Very sweet and clever and Spielbergian (if Spielberg were a Brit; it's directed by Danny Boyle of Trainspotting and 28 Days Later).  But the best surprise: the soundtrack included my fave forgotten Clash song, "Hitsville UK".
Title: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on May 26, 2005, 08:54:47 AM
Saw "Young Skywalker" transform into "Lord Vader" last night.  Big fun.  Anyone else, besides POC, been yet?  

Spoiler ---

Everybody dies.
Title: Re: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Post by: RGMike on May 26, 2005, 09:09:43 AM
Quote from: "Rod"
Saw "Young Skywalker" transform into "Lord Vader" last night.  Big fun.  Anyone else, besides POC, been yet?  


I'm there this weekend for sure. But Mark Morford feels differently:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2005/05/25/notes052505.DTL
Title: Re: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Post by: ggould on May 26, 2005, 09:59:48 AM
Quote from: "Rod"
Saw "Young Skywalker" transform into "Lord Vader" last night.  Big fun.  Anyone else, besides POC, been yet?  

Spoiler ---

Everybody dies.
I want to go before it's totally spoiled!
Title: Re: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Post by: mshray on May 26, 2005, 12:36:25 PM
Quote from: "Rod"
Saw "Young Skywalker" transform into "Lord Vader" last night.  Big fun.  Anyone else, besides POC, been yet?  

Spoiler ---

Everybody dies.


I played hookie a little and went for a long lunch on Monday.

I think in my mind there was almost no way for George Lucas to make the kind of movie I wanted to see, not with all the stuff he'd already set the table with, but at least it wasn't outright bad like the final Matrix movie.
Title: Re: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on May 26, 2005, 12:45:48 PM
Quote from: "ggould"
Quote from: "Rod"
Saw "Young Skywalker" transform into "Lord Vader" last night.  Big fun.  Anyone else, besides POC, been yet?  

Spoiler ---

Everybody dies.
I want to go before it's totally spoiled!


Oops!  Sorry man, but really, that's just a joke.  Obviously, not everyone dies.  Episode 4, A New Hope, has people in it.  And non-people too.
Title: Re: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on May 26, 2005, 12:51:48 PM
Quote from: "mshray"

I think in my mind there was almost no way for George Lucas to make the kind of movie I wanted to see, not with all the stuff he'd already set the table with, but at least it wasn't outright bad like the final Matrix movie.


Agreed, mostly.   I won't go too far now with comments -- let the others among us see it first.  Easily the best of the prequels, though, and arguably better than Star Wars Episode 6:  Attack of the Teddy Bears.
Title: Re: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Post by: mshray on May 26, 2005, 12:56:24 PM
Quote from: "Rod"
Agreed, mostly.   I won't go too far now with comments -- let the others among us see it first.  Easily the best of the prequels, though, and arguably better than Star Wars Episode 6:  Attack of the Teddy Bears.


Almost as soon as I go tback into my car on Monday I started reviewing the movie in my mind, and the best way I can put it is, "Thank GOD Peter Jackson didn't do this to the LoTR trilogy."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Beej on May 26, 2005, 01:04:36 PM
Quote
I love the way they always get a hottie to host the tech awards for the geekboys to drool over. LOL!

A trend I think they started with Ashley Judd a few years back. She showed up at the Oscars without underwear that year, as we all remember. OK. Maybe just me.

I can remember a time when Tom Hanks hosted the tech awards. His presentation about it at the Oscar ceremony was hella funny. Hard to say if he was wearing underwear at the time becuase his tux wasn't all that revealing.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on May 26, 2005, 01:36:03 PM
Quote from: "Beej"
Quote
I love the way they always get a hottie to host the tech awards for the geekboys to drool over. LOL!

A trend I think they started with Ashley Judd a few years back. She showed up at the Oscars without underwear that year, as we all remember. OK. Maybe just me.


tacky sweet.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Beej on May 26, 2005, 01:41:41 PM
Quote
tacky sweet

Hey, maybe she didn't have time to do laundry....
Title: Re: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Post by: ggould on May 26, 2005, 01:45:08 PM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "ggould"
Quote from: "Rod"
Saw "Young Skywalker" transform into "Lord Vader" last night.  Big fun.  Anyone else, besides POC, been yet?  

Spoiler ---

Everybody dies.
I want to go before it's totally spoiled!


Oops!  Sorry man, but really, that's just a joke.  Obviously, not everyone dies.  Episode 4, A New Hope, has people in it.  And non-people too.
I understand, but I have already read elsewhere about how many Jedi bite the big one, I just want to see it before it gets too disseminated in the popular culture.
Title: AFI -- 100 years of movie quotes...
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on June 22, 2005, 10:48:53 AM
Last night on CBS, AFI ran a special on movie quotes.  Lot's of fun to watch.  Here's the list.

http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/quotes.aspx#list
Title: Re: AFI -- 100 years of movie quotes...
Post by: mshray on June 22, 2005, 11:30:39 AM
Quote from: "Rod"
Last night on CBS, AFI ran a special on movie quotes.  Lot's of fun to watch.  Here's the list.

http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/quotes.aspx#list


That's great, love that stuff.

Interestingly, the #1 quote, as well as the #28 & #99, are almost universally misquoted:

#1.  Frankly Scarlet my dear, I don't give a damn.
#28.  Play it again Sam.  Play 'As Time Goes By.'
#99.  I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog Toto, too!


and this is little known, but #10, (DeNiro's "You lookin' at me?" in Taxi Driver) was not only ad-libbed, he wasn't even supposed to talk.  The script simply read:  "Bickle looks in the mirror."
Title: Re: AFI -- 100 years of movie quotes...
Post by: ggould on June 22, 2005, 12:41:55 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "Rod"
Last night on CBS, AFI ran a special on movie quotes.  Lot's of fun to watch.  Here's the list.

http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/quotes.aspx#list
That's great, love that stuff.

Interestingly, the #1 quote, as well as the #28 & #99, are almost universally misquoted:

#1.  Frankly Scarlet my dear, I don't give a damn.
#28.  Play it again Sam.  Play 'As Time Goes By.'
#99.  I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog Toto, too!

and this is little known, but #10, (DeNiro's "You lookin' at me?" in Taxi Driver) was not only ad-libbed, he wasn't even supposed to talk.  The script simply read:  "Bickle looks in the mirror."

Well, it looks like the strikethrough tag is quickly pressed into service!  Especially handy for all of you nitpickers out there!  [geoff ducks, and avoids the swinging otter]
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Beej on June 22, 2005, 12:49:44 PM
I'll have to go back over the postings so's I can learn to cross stuff out, too!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on June 22, 2005, 09:46:37 PM
Quote from: "Beej"
I'll have to go back over the postings so's I can learn to cross stuff out, too!


I had to try out the strike thru
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 24, 2005, 12:42:09 PM
Hot news! "X-Men 3" may be filming in SF:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=3&entry_id=134#readmore

check the caption under the pic of Patrick Stewart & Ian McKellen.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 29, 2005, 09:15:51 AM
War of the Worlds --  Mick LaSalle loves it (so beware):

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/06/29/DDGDMDFVCU18.DTL

but Roger Ebert pans it:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050628/REVIEWS/50606007
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on July 01, 2005, 11:02:35 AM
i've never seen "beyond the forest," but i always associated
#62 - What a dump.
with mr. and mrs. burton.
Title: "Calling You" from Bagdad Cafe
Post by: ggould on July 07, 2005, 09:46:54 PM
We just watched Bagdad Cafe (I don't remember who recommended it) and there's a song, "Calling You" by Jevetta Steele, that I'm sure I've heard before.  Did they ever play a version of this on KFOG?

http://imdb.com/title/tt0095801/
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 08, 2005, 07:32:34 AM
How bad IS Fantastic Four?  From David Edelstein's review on Slate.com:

"As Ben—aka "Thing"—Michael Chiklis gives the only decent performance. With his wiseacre rasp and the pugilistic tilt to his bald head, he looks like Bruce Willis' heavyset older brother—Bruce Willis squashed down. But he's saddled with the two worst scenes, both of which involve the disgust of his supposedly loving wife at the scaly behemoth that he has become. After he has just saved many lives on the Brooklyn Bridge (the firefighters give him a round of applause, which shames the police into lowering their guns), Wifey emerges from the crowd to lay her wedding ring at his feet. The audience roars at that—but not as hard as they do when archvillain mogul Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) introduces Jessica Alba as "my director of genetic research." It's not that Alba looks like a junior-college sorority girl, it's that she looks like the stupidest junior-college sorority girl. Why couldn't they have cast someone more plausible, like Hilary Duff?"

On the other hand, Mick LaSalle hated it too, so maybe there's hope...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Beej on July 08, 2005, 09:13:28 AM
Oh, man. They've had so much trouble getting this picture made. They went through a mazillion scipts. And apparently? Kept all the bad stuff from each!

I haven't seen it. But, from what you've posted (& I read in LaSalle's review)- maybe I can wait for cable....

Of course, sometimes a bad movie can be a good-bad movie. It depends.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 09, 2005, 12:33:26 AM
Well I never had much hope once I learned that they were going to make Dr Doom into the jilted third party in a love triangle with Sue & Reed, instead of the nefarious ruler of Latveria who dabbled in the occult and melted his face off.

Tonight my mother-in-law baby sat, so Christina & I saw Dark Water.  It's not nearly that bad & manages to create a real pervasive sense of dread without cheating too much.  Good acting pretty much across the board, from John C. Reilly, Pete Posthelwaite, Tim Roth (nicely cast against type) and not least Jennifer Connolly & the young actress who plays her daughter.  The ending leaves a bit to be desired, but up until the last 15 minutes there are still numerous ways in which you can imagine the plot going & you'll probably guess quite wrong about it if you try.

I didn't read any reviews until just now, after returning from the film, and to my astonishment Mick LaSalle has written a review that I agree with nearly 100%.  Seriously, if you like his review you will enjoy the movie.

Is this a sign that the apocalypse is upon us?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 09, 2005, 11:24:51 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Tonight my mother-in-law baby sat, so Christina & I saw Dark Water.... Jennifer Connolly & the young actress who plays her daughter....


What, no Dakota Fanning !?!  :wink:
Title: Re: "Calling You" from Bagdad Cafe
Post by: princessofcairo on July 11, 2005, 11:29:12 AM
Quote from: "ggould"
We just watched Bagdad Cafe (I don't remember who recommended it) and there's a song, "Calling You" by Jevetta Steele, that I'm sure I've heard before.  Did they ever play a version of this on KFOG?

http://imdb.com/title/tt0095801/


i'm not sure if they played jevetta's version on kfog, but jeff buckley and george michael also have nice versions. i remember first hearing the george michael version on some mtv special (or was it vh1?): the making of listen without prejudice, vol. 1. i need to find that video. there were some really cool segments of george in the studio. they showed how he mixed the album - it was rather intricate and interesting. and some live footage with some swell backup singers...
Title: Re: "Calling You" from Bagdad Cafe
Post by: ggould on July 11, 2005, 11:41:14 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "ggould"
We just watched Bagdad Cafe (I don't remember who recommended it) and there's a song, "Calling You" by Jevetta Steele, that I'm sure I've heard before.  Did they ever play a version of this on KFOG?

http://imdb.com/title/tt0095801/
i'm not sure if they played jevetta's version on kfog, but jeff buckley and george michael also have nice versions. i remember first hearing the george michael version on some mtv special (or was it vh1?): the making of listen without prejudice, vol. 1. i need to find that video. there were some really cool segments of george in the studio. they showed how he mixed the album - it was rather intricate and interesting. and some live footage with some swell backup singers...

Thanks for reading my post.  I did a lyrics search and see that some sites say Jeff Buckley wrote the lyrics, but I thought this guy Tedford was credited.  Go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000G3D/  and listen to first sample.  That's the song that's stuck in my head.
Title: Re: "Calling You" from Bagdad Cafe
Post by: princessofcairo on July 11, 2005, 12:01:30 PM
Quote from: "ggould"

Thanks for reading my post.  I did a lyrics search and see that some sites say Jeff Buckley wrote the lyrics, but I thought this guy Tedford was credited.  Go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000G3D/  and listen to first sample.  That's the song that's stuck in my head.


i can't listen to the file at present, but that's the first i've heard of the soundtrack version. i always thought jevetta's was the soundtrack version. but maybe her version was used for the short-lived television series of the same name with whoopi goldberg and jean stapleton. quite doubftul jeff buckley wrote the lyrics. quite, quite doubtful.
Title: Re: "Calling You" from Bagdad Cafe
Post by: ggould on July 11, 2005, 01:21:59 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "ggould"

Thanks for reading my post.  I did a lyrics search and see that some sites say Jeff Buckley wrote the lyrics, but I thought this guy Tedford was credited.  Go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000G3D/  and listen to first sample.  That's the song that's stuck in my head.
i can't listen to the file at present, but that's the first i've heard of the soundtrack version. i always thought jevetta's was the soundtrack version. but maybe her version was used for the short-lived television series of the same name with whoopi goldberg and jean stapleton. quite doubftul jeff buckley wrote the lyrics. quite, quite doubtful.

Listen when you get a chance, and if anyone has this, please let me know!  I would've popped the $.99 by now if it was on iTunes.  There are many other versions, Barbra Streisand included, but no Jevetta.  When you click on the Windows media sample on the Amazon link, even though it has some other artist listed (Deninger Blasmuski), the file info says Jevetta.  This is certainly haunting me at this point!
Title: Re: "Calling You" from Bagdad Cafe
Post by: princessofcairo on July 12, 2005, 09:14:02 AM
Quote from: "ggould"

Listen when you get a chance, and if anyone has this, please let me know!  I would've popped the $.99 by now if it was on iTunes.  There are many other versions, Barbra Streisand included, but no Jevetta.  When you click on the Windows media sample on the Amazon link, even though it has some other artist listed (Deninger Blasmuski), the file info says Jevetta.  This is certainly haunting me at this point!


that is indeed the jevetta steele version. i MAY have a copy on cd or as an mp3 file. i'm not certain. i'll check in vrious locations this week, and if so, i'll email it to you.
Title: Re: "Calling You" from Bagdad Cafe
Post by: ggould on July 12, 2005, 09:50:24 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "ggould"

Listen when you get a chance, and if anyone has this, please let me know!  I would've popped the $.99 by now if it was on iTunes.  There are many other versions, Barbra Streisand included, but no Jevetta.  When you click on the Windows media sample on the Amazon link, even though it has some other artist listed (Deninger Blasmuski), the file info says Jevetta.  This is certainly haunting me at this point!
that is indeed the jevetta steele version. i MAY have a copy on cd or as an mp3 file. i'm not certain. i'll check in vrious locations this week, and if so, i'll email it to you.

Thank you kindly.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 15, 2005, 07:38:55 AM
I forget where it was that we were discussing "whatever happened to Henry Gibson?" but apparently he's in Wedding Crashers. Which looks freakin' hilarious.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 19, 2005, 09:27:30 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
I forget where it was that we were discussing "whatever happened to Henry Gibson?" but apparently he's in Wedding Crashers. Which looks freakin' hilarious.


And indeed I saw WC last nite and it IS freakin' hilarious. I'm not a huge Owen Wilson fan but Vince Vaughn rules.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 22, 2005, 07:18:00 AM
Roger Ebert gives Rob Zombie a rave!

"Here is a gaudy vomitorium of a movie, violent, nauseating and really a pretty good example of its genre. If you are a hardened horror movie fan capable of appreciating skill and wit in the service of the deliberately disgusting, "The Devil's Rejects" may exercise a certain strange charm. If on the other hand you close your eyes if a scene gets icky, here is a movie to see with blinders on, because it starts at icky and descends relentlessly through depraved and nauseating to the embrace of road kill."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on July 25, 2005, 03:46:37 PM
well, bad news. i checked a few places, and i don't own jevetta steele's version of "calling you" in digital. i have a cassette copy somewheres, but it's incomplete. and i couldn't find "westbound #9," either, alicat. sorry, charlies.
Title: how desperate am I?
Post by: ggould on July 25, 2005, 04:46:03 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
well, bad news. i checked a few places, and i don't own jevetta steele's version of "calling you" in digital. i have a cassette copy somewheres, but it's incomplete. and i couldn't find "westbound #9," either, alicat. sorry, charlies.

I had a line on the CD on ebay, but is buying the CD+postage worth one song?  Maybe it will fall from the sky somehow soon.  Things happen that way now and then. :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
Title: Re: how desperate am I?
Post by: Gazoo on July 25, 2005, 10:14:54 PM
Quote from: "ggould"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
well, bad news. i checked a few places, and i don't own jevetta steele's version of "calling you" in digital. i have a cassette copy somewheres, but it's incomplete. and i couldn't find "westbound #9," either, alicat. sorry, charlies.

I had a line on the CD on ebay, but is buying the CD+postage worth one song?  Maybe it will fall from the sky somehow soon.  Things happen that way now and then. :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Maybe, maybe not.  But this CD is definitely worth the price + postage if you can find it:

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:40q6g4sptv8z

Various Artists, Banana Republic: Soul

1    The Sound -    Neville Brothers    4:23
2    Sweet Thing -    Rufus & Chaka Khan    3:17
3    Midnight at the Oasis -    Brand New Heavies    3:45
4    Son of a Preacher Man -    Aretha Franklin    3:14
5    Love Letters -    Ali    4:04
6    99.9 F -    Suzanne Vega    3:09
7    Got to Give It Up, Pt. 1 -    Marvin Gaye    4:05
8    Calling You -    Jevetta Steele    5:20
9    White on Blonde -    Texas    3:40
10    Every Time I Turn Around (Back in Love Again) -    LTD    4:35
11    Summer Breeze -    Isley Brothers    3:06
12    Love Train -    OJays    2:57
Title: Re: how desperate am I?
Post by: RGMike on July 25, 2005, 10:18:22 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "ggould"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
well, bad news. i checked a few places, and i don't own jevetta steele's version of "calling you" in digital. i have a cassette copy somewheres, but it's incomplete. and i couldn't find "westbound #9," either, alicat. sorry, charlies.

I had a line on the CD on ebay, but is buying the CD+postage worth one song?  Maybe it will fall from the sky somehow soon.  Things happen that way now and then. :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Maybe, maybe not.  But this CD is definitely worth the price + postage if you can find it:

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:40q6g4sptv8z

Various Artists, Banana Republic: Soul

1    The Sound -    Neville Brothers    4:23
2    Sweet Thing -    Rufus & Chaka Khan    3:17
3    Midnight at the Oasis -    Brand New Heavies    3:45
4    Son of a Preacher Man -    Aretha Franklin    3:14
5    Love Letters -    Ali    4:04
6    99.9 F -    Suzanne Vega    3:09
7    Got to Give It Up, Pt. 1 -    Marvin Gaye    4:05
8    Calling You -    Jevetta Steele    5:20
9    White on Blonde -    Texas    3:40
10    Every Time I Turn Around (Back in Love Again) -    LTD    4:35
11    Summer Breeze -    Isley Brothers    3:06
12    Love Train -    OJays    2:57


Texas are considered "soul"?
Title: Re: how desperate am I?
Post by: ggould on July 26, 2005, 12:10:36 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "ggould"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
well, bad news. i checked a few places, and i don't own jevetta steele's version of "calling you" in digital. i have a cassette copy somewheres, but it's incomplete. and i couldn't find "westbound #9," either, alicat. sorry, charlies.
I had a line on the CD on ebay, but is buying the CD+postage worth one song?  Maybe it will fall from the sky somehow soon.  Things happen that way now and then. :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
Maybe, maybe not.  But this CD is definitely worth the price + postage if you can find it:

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:40q6g4sptv8z

Various Artists, Banana Republic: Soul

1    The Sound -    Neville Brothers    4:23
2    Sweet Thing -    Rufus & Chaka Khan    3:17
3    Midnight at the Oasis -    Brand New Heavies    3:45
4    Son of a Preacher Man -    Aretha Franklin    3:14
5    Love Letters -    Ali    4:04
6    99.9 F -    Suzanne Vega    3:09
7    Got to Give It Up, Pt. 1 -    Marvin Gaye    4:05
8    Calling You -    Jevetta Steele    5:20
9    White on Blonde -    Texas    3:40
10    Every Time I Turn Around (Back in Love Again) -    LTD    4:35
11    Summer Breeze -    Isley Brothers    3:06
12    Love Train -    OJays    2:57


Texas are considered "soul"?

I tell ya, allmusic sucks so bad.  I kept falling in and out of being logged in, but at one point saw a huge list of people who did "calling you" and it seems like some sort of modern standard.  I see that Holly Cole did a version (another Due South connection) and I think Natalie Cole too.  There's a CD on ebay I might bid on tomorrow.  We'll see.
Title: Re: how desperate am I?
Post by: princessofcairo on July 26, 2005, 10:02:34 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"

Texas are considered "soul"?


i was thinking the same about suzanne vega.
Title: Re: how desperate am I?
Post by: mshray on July 26, 2005, 10:49:44 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"

i was thinking the same about suzanne vega.


That's the one that made me spit milk out my nose (figuratively, that is)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 26, 2005, 11:16:19 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
well, bad news. i checked a few places, and i don't own jevetta steele's version of "calling you" in digital. i have a cassette copy somewheres, but it's incomplete. and i couldn't find "westbound #9," either, alicat. sorry, charlies.


I do now.  Geoff & POC, check your Inboxes.
Title: Re: how desperate am I?
Post by: RGMike on July 26, 2005, 11:28:21 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"

i was thinking the same about suzanne vega.


That's the one that made me spit milk out my nose (figuratively, that is)


Now I'm picturing Phil Spector with milk coming out his nose...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on July 26, 2005, 01:02:25 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i couldn't find "westbound #9," either, alicat. sorry, charlies.


Got yer back, there POC. I found it on the Rhino 70s soul box, so ripped & sent it Ali's way about a week or so ago.
Title: what about me?
Post by: ggould on July 26, 2005, 02:08:40 PM
Quote from: "urth"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i couldn't find "westbound #9," either, alicat. sorry, charlies.
Got yer back, there POC. I found it on the Rhino 70s soul box, so ripped & sent it Ali's way about a week or so ago.

No Bagdad Cafι soundtrack for me?
 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
Title: Re: what about me?
Post by: ggould on July 26, 2005, 03:28:29 PM
Quote from: "ggould"
Quote from: "urth"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i couldn't find "westbound #9," either, alicat. sorry, charlies.
Got yer back, there POC. I found it on the Rhino 70s soul box, so ripped & sent it Ali's way about a week or so ago.
No Bagdad Cafι soundtrack for me?
 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
I won the ebay auction, so I'll have a round of Jevetta's for everyone!
Title: Steve Zissou and David Bowie
Post by: ggould on July 30, 2005, 09:40:27 PM
watching the DVD.  One of the Team Zissou guys, a black actor named Seu Jorge sings all these Bowie songs in French on an acoustic guitar throughout the film.  Kind of funny.  Odd film.  No coincidence the director also did Rushmore, Tenenbaums, etc.

[Martha says maybe it's Portugese, I don't know]
Title: Re: Steve Zissou and David Bowie
Post by: RGMike on July 31, 2005, 10:53:27 AM
Quote from: "ggould"
watching the DVD.  One of the Team Zissou guys, a black actor named Seu Jorge sings all these Bowie songs in French on an acoustic guitar throughout the film.  Kind of funny.  Odd film.  No coincidence the director also did Rushmore, Tenenbaums, etc.

[Martha says maybe it's Portugese, I don't know]


I believe it was Portugese.  "Odd" is a good word -- I LOVED Tenenbaums, so Zissou was a bit of a letdown for me.

Unrelated, but Geoff we know you loved the TV show Due South, so FYI: next Sunday on the Sundance Channel (if you have it on your cable), a new Canadian show called Slings & Arrows starring DS's Mountie, Paul Gross (as well as Mark McKinney of Kids in the Hall). It's about a wacky small-town Shakespeare company.
Title: Re: Steve Zissou and David Bowie
Post by: ggould on July 31, 2005, 09:07:15 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Geoff we know you loved the TV show Due South, so FYI: next Sunday on the Sundance Channel (if you have it on your cable), a new Canadian show called Slings & Arrows starring DS's Mountie, Paul Gross (as well as Mark McKinney of Kids in the Hall). It's about a wacky small-town Shakespeare company.

We don't get Sundance, and I tend to tune in on any Due South related content.  I could never watch 'Providence' without thinking of Melina Kanakaredes as Victoria, a pivotal role in Due South.  Thanks for thinking of me.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 10, 2005, 12:51:02 PM
poc -- check it out! The Streep will play Martha Mitchell in a new flick about Watergate:

http://www.turkishpress.com/nw.asp?s=u&i=050808192721.pndtesbz&t=Meryl%20Streep,%20Gwyneth%20Paltrow,%20Annette%20Bening%20to%20star%20in%20Watergate%20movie
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 10, 2005, 12:59:09 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
poc -- check it out! The Streep will play Martha Mitchell in a new flick about Watergate:

http://www.turkishpress.com/nw.asp?s=u&i=050808192721.pndtesbz&t=Meryl%20Streep,%20Gwyneth%20Paltrow,%20Annette%20Bening%20to%20star%20in%20Watergate%20movie


god, the picture alone has me spitting milk out of...nevermind. see, i'm eating some kozy shack, and i just reread the posts on the previous page about suzanne vega and phil spector, and...nevermind.

damn. the streep is hot. the streep playing martha mitchell will be uberhot. i don't even care if she's paying alongside pal(e)trow. and i don't normally care for annette, either, but she's an sfsu alum, so, raise the roof, i guess.

yippee! new streep for me! and everyone!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 10, 2005, 01:02:12 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
poc -- check it out! The Streep will play Martha Mitchell in a new flick about Watergate:

http://www.turkishpress.com/nw.asp?s=u&i=050808192721.pndtesbz&t=Meryl%20Streep,%20Gwyneth%20Paltrow,%20Annette%20Bening%20to%20star%20in%20Watergate%20movie


god, the picture alone has me spitting milk out of...nevermind. see, i'm eating some kozy shack, and i just reread the posts on the previous page about suzanne vega and phil spector, and...nevermind.

damn. the streep is hot. the streep playing martha mitchell will be uberhot. i don't even care if she's paying alongside pal(e)trow. and i don't normally care for annette, either, but she's an sfsu alum, so, raise the roof, i guess.

yippee! new streep for me! and everyone!


Well there you go.  You take the Streep, I get the Benning.  We can double.   :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 10, 2005, 01:10:54 PM
Quote from: "mshray"


Well there you go.  You take the Streep, I get the Benning.  We can double.   :wink:


sounds like a date!
speaking of dates, the little fox is at 2209 Broadway, right?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on August 10, 2005, 01:17:11 PM
Quote from: "mshray"

Well there you go.  You take the Streep, I get the Benning.  We can double.   :wink:


Ben*ing. Benning is a fort in Georgia.

Just keeping my hand in, I'm just sayin'...

Boy, we've been chatty today. Geoff, any way of seeing how many posts have been made in a given period of time?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 10, 2005, 01:17:44 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "mshray"


Well there you go.  You take the Streep, I get the Benning.  We can double.   :wink:


sounds like a date!
speaking of dates, the little fox is at 2209 Broadway, right?


yup!
Title: number of posts
Post by: ggould on August 10, 2005, 01:23:38 PM
Quote from: "urth"
Boy, we've been chatty today. Geoff, any way of seeing how many posts have been made in a given period of time?

well, if anyone wants to poke around phpbb.org to find out how, let me know, but the back office has just a total usage kind of thing:

Number of posts:   15638   Posts per day:   76.79

If I had looked yesterday, we could infer, but yes, I wondered if we're all pretty unhappy with our day jobs on some level to seek this much escape!
Title: Re: number of posts
Post by: RGMike on August 10, 2005, 01:32:33 PM
Quote from: "ggould"
I wondered if we're all pretty unhappy with our day jobs on some level to seek this much escape!


I think that's pretty much a given. An uber-given, in fact. :wink:
Title: Re: number of posts
Post by: ggould on August 10, 2005, 01:46:11 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "ggould"
I wondered if we're all pretty unhappy with our day jobs on some level to seek this much escape!
I think that's pretty much a given. An uber-given, in fact. :wink:

Understood, it just seemed more so today!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 10, 2005, 01:53:31 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i don't even care if she's paying alongside pal(e)trow.


last nite's Sex & the City rerun was where Carrie goes to a shrink with celeb clients, including Pal(e)trow...

Carrie: what does Gwynneth need a shrink for?
Stanford: I hear she suffers from high self-esteem.

ETA: nice to have Jill Clayburgh making a comeback, but I can't imagine a better Pat Nixon than Joan Allen in Oliver Stone's Nixon.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on August 18, 2005, 10:01:23 AM
Went to Wedding Crashers last night. Not appropriate for kids. Lots of tits and simulated sex. I liked it, very funny. There was more to it than I had anticipated from previews. I'll see it again when out for rental.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 18, 2005, 10:58:38 AM
Quote from: "Alicat"
Went to Wedding Crashers last night. Not appropriate for kids. Lots of tits and simulated sex. I liked it, very funny. There was more to it than I had anticipated from previews. I'll see it again when out for rental.


it was freakin' hilarious.  Now I wanna see 40 Year-Old Virgin.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on August 19, 2005, 08:48:40 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Alicat"
Went to Wedding Crashers last night. Not appropriate for kids. Lots of tits and simulated sex. I liked it, very funny. There was more to it than I had anticipated from previews. I'll see it again when out for rental.


it was freakin' hilarious.  Now I wanna see 40 Year-Old Virgin.


Yeah, I want to see 40 Year Old Virgin too.  The reviews are good, so it's not like they showed only the 3 or 4 funny bits in the movie in the commercials.

Speaking of reviews, I've noticed that Peter Hartlaub is doing most of the reviews in the Chron the last couple of weeks.  I suspect that LaSalle is on vacation, but one can hope he's moved on to something else.  :twisted:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 19, 2005, 10:58:48 AM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Now I wanna see 40 Year-Old Virgin.


Yeah, I want to see 40 Year Old Virgin too.  The reviews are good, so it's not like they showed only the 3 or 4 funny bits in the movie in the commercials.


I am taking a long lunch to see the 11:30 show at Great Mall.  Don't tell on me.

Review coming around 2pm.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on August 19, 2005, 12:12:35 PM
Quote from: "mshray"

I am taking a long lunch to see the 11:30 show at Great Mall.  Don't tell on me.

Review coming around 2pm.


Must be nice to be able to pull stuff like that while you're at work. I would so LOVE to be able to slip off for a few hours for a Giants day game one day.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on August 19, 2005, 03:08:19 PM
Quote from: "urth"
Quote from: "mshray"

I am taking a long lunch to see the 11:30 show at Great Mall.  Don't tell on me.

Review coming around 2pm.


Must be nice to be able to pull stuff like that while you're at work. I would so LOVE to be able to slip off for a few hours for a Giants day game one day.


You could have joined me more than once. Sometimes you just have to get out and do that kind of thing.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 19, 2005, 03:57:25 PM
Quote from: "urth"
Quote from: "mshray"

I am taking a long lunch to see the 11:30 show at Great Mall.  Don't tell on me.

Review coming around 2pm.


Must be nice to be able to pull stuff like that while you're at work. I would so LOVE to be able to slip off for a few hours for a Giants day game one day.


OH
MY
GOD!!


This is by far the funniest movie I have seen in a theater since probably Something About Mary.

Beej, the opening scene will not only make you laugh, it will probably make you jealous as hell.

Alicat, when you see it remember the following Spanish phrase, which was lifted straight out of my 8th grade textbook:  Cuando arregla mi quarto, no encuentro nada.

ETA:  POC, you should see this even though they make a lot of fun of Michael McDonald....and they give him some props at the end of the credits.

If you have heard the ad on KFOG you know that there's a hair removal scene, and according to IMDB that really is Steve Carrell's hair being ripped out.

I am now going to change my quote.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 19, 2005, 09:03:04 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
ETA:  POC, you should see this even though they make a lot of fun of Michael McDonald....and they give him some props at the end of the credits.

If you have heard the ad on KFOG you know that there's a hair removal scene, and according to IMDB that really is Steve Carrell's hair being ripped out.


As long as they don't remove any of Michael McDonald's hair :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 23, 2005, 01:09:10 PM
As long as they don't remove any of Michael McDonald's hair :wink:[/quote]

hear, here!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 23, 2005, 01:39:00 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
As long as they don't remove any of Michael McDonald's hair :wink:


hear, here!


hair, hair!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Beej on August 23, 2005, 01:42:29 PM
Quote
Beej, the opening scene will not only make you laugh, it will probably make you jealous as hell.

Which one of my Hollywood girlfriends is cheating on me now?!  :D

ETA: (after reading a bit about the movie on IMDB) Hmmm. I see. He collects things that I like....
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 26, 2005, 08:10:52 AM
Quote from: "Beej"
Quote
Beej, the opening scene will not only make you laugh, it will probably make you jealous as hell.

Which one of my Hollywood girlfriends is cheating on me now?!  :D

ETA: (after reading a bit about the movie on IMDB) Hmmm. I see. He collects things that I like....


You HAVE to see this movie Beej.  Do not delay any further.  My bro Chris saw it & concurs.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 26, 2005, 08:11:54 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "Beej"
Quote
Beej, the opening scene will not only make you laugh, it will probably make you jealous as hell.

Which one of my Hollywood girlfriends is cheating on me now?!  :D

ETA: (after reading a bit about the movie on IMDB) Hmmm. I see. He collects things that I like....


You HAVE to see this movie Beej.  Do not delay any further.  My bro Chris saw it & concurs.


and I saw it last nite. HIGH-larious.

"You look like a Man-O-Lantern!"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 26, 2005, 08:35:48 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "Beej"
Quote
Beej, the opening scene will not only make you laugh, it will probably make you jealous as hell.

Which one of my Hollywood girlfriends is cheating on me now?!  :D

ETA: (after reading a bit about the movie on IMDB) Hmmm. I see. He collects things that I like....


You HAVE to see this movie Beej.  Do not delay any further.  My bro Chris saw it & concurs.


and I saw it last nite. HIGH-larious.

"You look like a Man-O-Lantern!"


"It's Man-tastisc!"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 26, 2005, 08:58:59 AM
yesterday was a do-nothing day, and my brother and i watched the following films:

coming to america - i can't ever pass this one by. just genius. genius! and garcelle beauvais plays a flower bearer. hot.

sommersby - don't tell, but i like richard more than jodie in this one. and when i say, "like," i mean, "lust after."

beauty shop - speaking of lusting, have you seen rudy huxtable lately? i thought what i felt for the olsen twins, but this is several degrees more unwholesome...damn. oh, the movie is hilarious!

old boy - an action-packed, psychological thriller with oodles of violence! a really effed-up story that gets you at the end. excellent film.

ring 2 - snore bore. i'm so sick of little kids who are supposed to be scary. there will never be another rhoda!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 26, 2005, 09:06:18 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
yesterday was a do-nothing day, and my brother and i watched the following films:

sommersby - don't tell, but i like richard more than jodie in this one. and when i say, "like," i mean, "lust after."


presumably you've seen the original (and superior) French version, Return of Martin Guerre, avec Monsieur Depardieu?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 26, 2005, 09:09:57 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
yesterday was a do-nothing day, and my brother and i watched the following films:

sommersby - don't tell, but i like richard more than jodie in this one. and when i say, "like," i mean, "lust after."


presumably you've seen the original (and superior) French version, Return of Martin Guerre, avec Monsieur Depardieu?


nope. i'll have to check it out! though i'd have a hard time believing anyone could mistake depardieu for another person.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 26, 2005, 09:21:58 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
yesterday was a do-nothing day, and my brother and i watched the following films:

sommersby - don't tell, but i like richard more than jodie in this one. and when i say, "like," i mean, "lust after."


presumably you've seen the original (and superior) French version, Return of Martin Guerre, avec Monsieur Depardieu?


nope. i'll have to check it out! though i'd have a hard time believing anyone could mistake depardieu for another person.


his nose has been mistaken for Karl Malden's...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 26, 2005, 10:18:42 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
yesterday was a do-nothing day, and my brother and i watched the following films:

sommersby - don't tell, but i like richard more than jodie in this one. and when i say, "like," i mean, "lust after."


presumably you've seen the original (and superior) French version, Return of Martin Guerre, avec Monsieur Depardieu?


nope. i'll have to check it out! though i'd have a hard time believing anyone could mistake depardieu for another person.


his nose has been mistaken for Karl Malden's...


are you kidding?  His nose has been mistaken for a whole other person.

 :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 12, 2005, 06:58:58 PM
Morey Movie Alert!

Next Monday the Castro is showing Xanadu, ONJ, ELO, and all.  I have never seen it.  Has anyone?

I wonder if Dave will go -- it's his first day back from vacay. Nah, he probably has it on laserdisc.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 18, 2005, 11:01:50 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Morey Movie Alert!

Next Monday the Castro is showing Xanadu, ONJ, ELO, and all.  I have never seen it.  Has anyone?

I wonder if Dave will go -- it's his first day back from vacay. Nah, he probably has it on laserdisc.


It's tomo'w nite (9/19). Not only are they showing Xanadu... it's a double-bill with The Wiz!   X at 7pm, W at 8:50. I'm really tempted...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on September 18, 2005, 02:21:05 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Morey Movie Alert!

Next Monday the Castro is showing Xanadu, ONJ, ELO, and all.  I have never seen it.  Has anyone?

I wonder if Dave will go -- it's his first day back from vacay. Nah, he probably has it on laserdisc.


It's tomo'w nite (9/19). Not only are they showing Xanadu... it's a double-bill with The Wiz!   X at 7pm, W at 8:50. I'm really tempted...


You should def go.  Especially if they have a drag-queen host interjecting with MST3K-ish commentary.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 18, 2005, 08:36:57 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Morey Movie Alert!

Next Monday the Castro is showing Xanadu, ONJ, ELO, and all.  I have never seen it.  Has anyone?

I wonder if Dave will go -- it's his first day back from vacay. Nah, he probably has it on laserdisc.


It's tomo'w nite (9/19). Not only are they showing Xanadu... it's a double-bill with The Wiz!   X at 7pm, W at 8:50. I'm really tempted...


You should def go.  Especially if they have a drag-queen host interjecting with MST3K-ish commentary.


It's a tough choice -- Zito's pitching against the Twins Mon nite.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 19, 2005, 09:29:16 AM
Hey didja know Elijah Wood is gonna play Iggy Pop in a biopic?

http://punknews.org/article.php?sid=13680

one wag on a movie geek website said: "Elijah Wood isn't even as big as Iggy Pop's schlong - how's he gonna play Iggy?"

ROTFL!
Title: Hello Down There!
Post by: urth on October 27, 2005, 04:29:31 PM
Anyone heard of this late 60s rock-sploitation flick? I just ran across a description of it on a record-store website, and it sounds kinda groovy. Music by Jeff Barry (Da Do Ron Ron, Sugar Sugar etc.) Cast features Tony Randall, Janet Leigh and Jim Backus and an early appearance by Richard Dreyfus among a typically campy sounding cast.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064417/

Here's the description I read:

Hello Down There– 1969
Struggling garage band Harold and the Hang Ups have just had their latest song run through a song analysis computer and told it is 95% groovy. Now all they gotta work on is that other 5%, and they’ll have themselves a sure-fire million seller. Record producer Nate Ashbury (Roddy McDowell inna far-out Nehru jacket) tells them to come back when they do. Hi-jinks ensue when the band is forced to move to an underwater house built by dad Tony Randall. Uber-cool Dad that he is, he promises the kids the acoustics are perfect for them to create the magic they need to impress that darn computer. And though the evilness inherent in this all-knowing musicomputer is not really highlighted (the band wants nothing more than to please it) it’s quite obvious that what once was a fanciful plot point has now frighteningly become a current tool in the creation of todays latest “hits”. Seriously, I can see Finger Eleven now working their balls off to get that final 5%. As for the movie, the producers hired Jeff Barry to do the music this particular band performs. With song credits ranging from "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Sugar Sugar" to producing artists such as Dusty Springfield and The Monkees, Mr. Barry was more than adept at supplying the movie with some pretty perfect bubblegum pop songs. The organ driving the propulsive "Glub Glub" is nothing short of a whale sized hook, and more than enough reason for someone to finally put out a soundtrack for this forgotten time-capsule of a movie. And though the DVD is letterboxed with drop-dead gorgeous colors (the sets are amazing!) why, oh why isn’t it in stereo?! Sure, the mono-mix is clean and bright, but with a movie so filled wall to wall in music and sound effects this is more than disappointing. So, you may be asking yourself, besides the most awesome music and sets, what have I got to look forward to when I view Hello Down There? Well, I’ll tell you: You’ll get to see a pre-Jaws, bass-playing, lip-synching Richard Dreyfuss fight sharks! Mom Janet Leigh “Davy Dancing” as well as finding herself wet and screaming in a sly Psycho reference (just replace the plunging knife with a friendly seal). Boozing housekeeper Charlotte Rae (Facts of Life’s Mrs. Garrett) thinking someone slipped acid in her flask when she begins seeing dolphins talk. And finally, the groovy chick keyboard player and zany love bead festooned drummer must be seen by all lovers of 60’s kitch. So, if you got some pocket change (this thing is CHEAP!) and any of the above piqued your interest, by all means treat yourself tonight to a heapin’ helpin’ of Hello Down There.
Title: Re: Hello Down There!
Post by: RGMike on October 27, 2005, 09:49:05 PM
Quote from: "urth"
Anyone heard of this late 60s rock-sploitation flick? I just ran across a description of it on a record-store website, and it sounds kinda groovy. Music by Jeff Barry (Da Do Ron Ron, Sugar Sugar etc.) Cast features Tony Randall, Janet Leigh and Jim Backus and an early appearance by Richard Dreyfus among a typically campy sounding cast.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064417/

Here's the description I read:

Hello Down There– 1969...


I betcha this just moved to the top of Gaz's must-see list.
Title: Re: Hello Down There!
Post by: urth on October 27, 2005, 10:40:01 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "urth"
Anyone heard of this late 60s rock-sploitation flick? I just ran across a description of it on a record-store website, and it sounds kinda groovy. Music by Jeff Barry (Da Do Ron Ron, Sugar Sugar etc.) Cast features Tony Randall, Janet Leigh and Jim Backus and an early appearance by Richard Dreyfus among a typically campy sounding cast.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064417/

Here's the description I read:

Hello Down There– 1969...


I betcha this just moved to the top of Gaz's must-see list.


Mine too. Or at least, it's way up there. I'm still trying to hunt up a copy of Wild in the Streets.
Title: Re: Hello Down There!
Post by: Gazoo on October 27, 2005, 11:01:41 PM
Quote from: "urth"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "urth"
Anyone heard of this late 60s rock-sploitation flick? I just ran across a description of it on a record-store website, and it sounds kinda groovy. Music by Jeff Barry (Da Do Ron Ron, Sugar Sugar etc.) Cast features Tony Randall, Janet Leigh and Jim Backus and an early appearance by Richard Dreyfus among a typically campy sounding cast.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064417/

Here's the description I read:

Hello Down There– 1969...


I betcha this just moved to the top of Gaz's must-see list.


Mine too. Or at least, it's way up there. I'm still trying to hunt up a copy of Wild in the Streets.


Holy madre, that would be a double-feature to die for.  Or at least, to drop for.

Seriously, thank you for calling this to my attention.  And this just might tie in to the 2006 EMP Pop Conference ... muuhhhaaahhh
Title: Re: Hello Down There!
Post by: urth on October 27, 2005, 11:09:01 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "urth"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "urth"
Anyone heard of this late 60s rock-sploitation flick? I just ran across a description of it on a record-store website, and it sounds kinda groovy. Music by Jeff Barry (Da Do Ron Ron, Sugar Sugar etc.) Cast features Tony Randall, Janet Leigh and Jim Backus and an early appearance by Richard Dreyfus among a typically campy sounding cast.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064417/

Here's the description I read:

Hello Down There– 1969...


I betcha this just moved to the top of Gaz's must-see list.


Mine too. Or at least, it's way up there. I'm still trying to hunt up a copy of Wild in the Streets.


Holy madre, that would be a double-feature to die for.  Or at least, to drop for.

Seriously, thank you for calling this to my attention.  And this just might tie in to the 2006 EMP Pop Conference ... muuhhhaaahhh


If you're going the way I think you're going with this, the Freak Out set we heard a couple weeks back might provide some fodder for your thesis as well. And don't forget The Party, Peter Sellers' fab take on groovy sixties parties.

Birdy Numnum.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 18, 2005, 12:06:07 PM
who's up for zabriskie point at the castro? wed: nov 30, 4:30 and 9:30p...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 18, 2005, 12:41:19 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
who's up for zabriskie point at the castro? wed: nov 30, 4:30 and 9:30p...


Hmmm. I've never seen it. Is that a double-bill with something else?

BTW, do you know about Breakfast on Pluto, the new Neil Jordan film with Cillian Murphy as an Irish transvestite? Guess who plays a small supporting role as one of his lovers? That Sexy Voice himself, Mr Ferry!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 18, 2005, 12:58:21 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
who's up for zabriskie point at the castro? wed: nov 30, 4:30 and 9:30p...


Hmmm. I've never seen it. Is that a double-bill with something else?

BTW, do you know about Breakfast on Pluto, the new Neil Jordan film with Cillian Murphy as an Irish transvestite? Guess who plays a small supporting role as one of his lovers? That Sexy Voice himself, Mr Ferry!


no double-bill. haven't heard about pluto, but, yum yum, mr. ferry!!!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 18, 2005, 01:04:35 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
who's up for zabriskie point at the castro? wed: nov 30, 4:30 and 9:30p...


Hmmm. I've never seen it. Is that a double-bill with something else?

BTW, do you know about Breakfast on Pluto, the new Neil Jordan film with Cillian Murphy as an Irish transvestite? Guess who plays a small supporting role as one of his lovers? That Sexy Voice himself, Mr Ferry!


no double-bill. haven't heard about pluto, but, yum yum, mr. ferry!!!


actually, I just checked the Castro website, it's a double-bill with "North By Northwest", always worth seeing on a big screen, especially if you never have.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 18, 2005, 01:09:58 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
who's up for zabriskie point at the castro? wed: nov 30, 4:30 and 9:30p...


Hmmm. I've never seen it. Is that a double-bill with something else?

BTW, do you know about Breakfast on Pluto, the new Neil Jordan film with Cillian Murphy as an Irish transvestite? Guess who plays a small supporting role as one of his lovers? That Sexy Voice himself, Mr Ferry!


no double-bill. haven't heard about pluto, but, yum yum, mr. ferry!!!


actually, I just checked the Castro website, it's a double-bill with "North By Northwest", always worth seeing on a big screen, especially if you never have.


aah, yes, i see i misread the newsletter. well, that makes it even more of an event! 7pm for nxnw, then zabriskie? i remember someone here saying it wasn't an impressive film. i don't remember who, though. in any event, i'm up for nxnw, fer sure.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on November 18, 2005, 01:36:08 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
who's up for zabriskie point at the castro? wed: nov 30, 4:30 and 9:30p...


Hmmm. I've never seen it. Is that a double-bill with something else?

BTW, do you know about Breakfast on Pluto, the new Neil Jordan film with Cillian Murphy as an Irish transvestite? Guess who plays a small supporting role as one of his lovers? That Sexy Voice himself, Mr Ferry!


no double-bill. haven't heard about pluto, but, yum yum, mr. ferry!!!


actually, I just checked the Castro website, it's a double-bill with "North By Northwest", always worth seeing on a big screen, especially if you never have.


aah, yes, i see i misread the newsletter. well, that makes it even more of an event! 7pm for nxnw, then zabriskie? i remember someone here saying it wasn't an impressive film. i don't remember who, though. in any event, i'm up for nxnw, fer sure.


I'd bet it was Geoff who commented on it, as I believe there's a Jerry Garcia connection--I think he contributed to the soundtrack, and maybe the GD as well.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 21, 2005, 07:57:53 AM
Meant to post this over the weekend: saw Walk the Line and liked it a lot. Phoenix and Witherspoon are both terrific. Yes, it's a typical H'wood biopic in a lot of ways (it's quite similar to Ray) but well worth seeing.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 21, 2005, 06:52:05 PM
i caught miles electric at the red vic on saturday. great film! they included almost the entire isle of wight concert! and great commentary by talented cats...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 26, 2005, 08:07:42 PM
In the midst of my traditional Thanksgiving weekend movie orgy, I just saw New York Doll, the docu about New York Dolls bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane, who after hitting rock bottom (suicide attempt, alcoholism) converted to Mormonism and, after years of telling his new (and skeptical) Mormon friends about his former rock'n'roll life, went to London for the NY Dolls reunion in 2004. A rather sad & sweet film, worth seeing, tho' it will show up on IFC and the Sundance Channel (which co-produced it) sooner than later.

"you can't wrap your arms around a memory", indeed.

(http://www.dustygroove.com/images/products/n/newyorkdoll_newyorkdo_101b.jpg)

(That's Arthur on the far left)
Title: Pixies
Post by: ggould on November 26, 2005, 09:43:23 PM
for you young folk, on cable channel 22 now.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 30, 2005, 07:50:04 AM
I'm taking bets on how many critics this week embellish their reviews of AeonFlux with some variation on "Aeon Sux".
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on December 02, 2005, 09:35:37 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
I'm taking bets on how many critics this week embellish their reviews of AeonFlux with some variation on "Aeon Sux".


No reviews at all -- which is a REALLY bad sign.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 02, 2005, 09:49:41 AM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "RGMike"
I'm taking bets on how many critics this week embellish their reviews of AeonFlux with some variation on "Aeon Sux".


No reviews at all -- which is a REALLY bad sign.


couldn't be as bad as zabriskie point. moral of the film: "cops are bad, breasts are good."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 02, 2005, 09:49:57 AM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "RGMike"
I'm taking bets on how many critics this week embellish their reviews of AeonFlux with some variation on "Aeon Sux".


No reviews at all -- which is a REALLY bad sign.


indeed. Poor Charlize -- she makes a good movie (North Country) and it flops. And now this.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on December 02, 2005, 09:51:49 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "RGMike"
I'm taking bets on how many critics this week embellish their reviews of AeonFlux with some variation on "Aeon Sux".


No reviews at all -- which is a REALLY bad sign.


couldn't be as bad as zabriskie point. moral of the film: "cops are bad, breasts are good."


So what's your point?  :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 02, 2005, 10:03:50 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "RGMike"
I'm taking bets on how many critics this week embellish their reviews of AeonFlux with some variation on "Aeon Sux".


No reviews at all -- which is a REALLY bad sign.


couldn't be as bad as zabriskie point. moral of the film: "cops are bad, breasts are good."


actually, that's the moral of AeonFlux too.  Plus, it has Frances McDormand with the worst hairdo in the history of cinema.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 02, 2005, 09:59:11 PM
Surprise! at least one critic (David Edelstein) says Flux Don't Sux:

http://www.slate.com/id/2130909/
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 08, 2005, 02:04:15 PM
hey, mike, are you up for some gay cowboys on saturday or sunday matinee?

morriseey just sang to me on itunes: "some girls' mothers are bigger than other girls' mothers."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 08, 2005, 02:50:22 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
hey, mike, are you up for some gay cowboys on saturday or sunday matinee?


Sorry, we're doing BBM next weekend. This weekend will be too crowded, it's only at Embarcadero and every gay guy in town will be there -- I'd be surprised if it isn't already sold out, in fact.    I'm doing the Clooney Fri nite at the Empire.  And "Geisha" looks like Asian drag queen heaven.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 08, 2005, 03:02:35 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
hey, mike, are you up for some gay cowboys on saturday or sunday matinee?


Sorry, we're doing BBM next weekend. This weekend will be too crowded, it's only at Embarcadero and every gay guy in town will be there -- I'd be surprised if it isn't already sold out, in fact.    I'm doing the Clooney Fri nite at the Empire.  And "Geisha" looks like Asian drag queen heaven.

were i not gigging friday night, i'd join you in clooney...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 12, 2005, 06:50:43 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
hey, mike, are you up for some gay cowboys on saturday or sunday matinee?


Sorry, we're doing BBM next weekend. This weekend will be too crowded, it's only at Embarcadero and every gay guy in town will be there -- I'd be surprised if it isn't already sold out, in fact.    I'm doing the Clooney Fri nite at the Empire.  And "Geisha" looks like Asian drag queen heaven.


saw brokeback yesterday - excellent! not to be missed! i'd never seen heath before. he gave an awesome performance.
and you were right about sold-out shows, and all the gay boys.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on December 12, 2005, 06:55:24 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
hey, mike, are you up for some gay cowboys on saturday or sunday matinee?


Sorry, we're doing BBM next weekend. This weekend will be too crowded, it's only at Embarcadero and every gay guy in town will be there -- I'd be surprised if it isn't already sold out, in fact.    I'm doing the Clooney Fri nite at the Empire.  And "Geisha" looks like Asian drag queen heaven.


saw brokeback yesterday - excellent! not to be missed! i'd never seen heath before. he gave an awesome performance.
and you were right about sold-out shows, and all the gay boys.


"The drag queens, the speed freaks, all the homo boys sing 'touch me baby tainted love' ..." -- Linda Perry, "Fruitloop Daydream"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 12, 2005, 07:42:09 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
hey, mike, are you up for some gay cowboys on saturday or sunday matinee?


Sorry, we're doing BBM next weekend. This weekend will be too crowded, it's only at Embarcadero and every gay guy in town will be there -- I'd be surprised if it isn't already sold out, in fact.    I'm doing the Clooney Fri nite at the Empire.  And "Geisha" looks like Asian drag queen heaven.


saw brokeback yesterday - excellent! not to be missed! i'd never seen heath before. he gave an awesome performance.
and you were right about sold-out shows, and all the gay boys.


I saw the Clooney in Syriana, which is excellent but VERY dark. The good guys don't win.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 12, 2005, 03:31:50 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
hey, mike, are you up for some gay cowboys on saturday or sunday matinee?


Sorry, we're doing BBM next weekend. This weekend will be too crowded, it's only at Embarcadero and every gay guy in town will be there -- I'd be surprised if it isn't already sold out, in fact.    I'm doing the Clooney Fri nite at the Empire.  And "Geisha" looks like Asian drag queen heaven.


saw brokeback yesterday - excellent! not to be missed! i'd never seen heath before. he gave an awesome performance.
and you were right about sold-out shows, and all the gay boys.


You never saw Monster's Ball?  If you did but forgot, Heath was Billy Bob's son.  That was the first time I realized he could actually act & was not just a pretty boy.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 12, 2005, 03:48:46 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
You never saw Monster's Ball?  If you did but forgot, Heath was Billy Bob's son.  That was the first time I realized he could actually act & was not just a pretty boy.



NEVER mention Halle Berry movies to the princess.  Nasty, unpleasant memories.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 12, 2005, 03:59:53 PM
We saw The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, kids loved it, parents loved it.

Don't know about what these boooks meant to you guys, but my dad read them all the way through to my brothers & me when we were real little (and usually my younger brothers would fall asleep before he got to the end of the chapter), and he read them all again a couple years later.  I think the second time around I partly taught myself how to read by following along over his shoulder.  I read them again in college and now that my boys are old enough for 'chapter books' I have been continuing the tradition.  We finished TLTW&TW and are nearly done with Prince Caspian, so the boys have been very eager to see the film.

I can't speak for anyone else because Narnia was a central part of my earliest & fondest memories & probably shaped a lot of my imagination.  It certainly led to my lifelong love for specualtive fiction.  But, imho, this qualifies as one of the most perfectly executed adaptations of a famous book in movie history.  For me it plays almost exactly on screen as it has so many times in my head.  They left nothing out, and only added a couple of elements that really enhance the key plot points.  The four children are nearly perfectly cast, although Lucy ought to have had fairer hair.  The CGI is so good that you completely don't notice it.  Aslan, Mr. & Mrs. Beaver, Tumnus, et al are such seemless & realistic images on screen that there's practically no disbelief to suspend.  And unlike Lord of the Rings, the EFX aren't dazzling in and of themselves, and thus don't remind you that you are in a movie theater.

I had Gabriel, my not-quite-4-yr-old, on my lap most of the show & he was really into it, kept asking me questions, but for the most part when I told him to shush & just watch he did so.  At one point he was a little frightened and I told him it was all okay, and Christina (sitting on the other side of Adrian, my soon-to-be-6-yr-old) asked what was bothering him.  Before I could answer, Adrian said, "He's an emotional child".  Not disdainfully, mind you, just be way of explanation.  Cracked me up.

Later after Aslan has made his sacrifice & Lucy & Susan are sitting there crying, Gabriel started to cry too, and he said, "Daddy, when's the table going to break?"  Of course just as he spoke it was completely silent & and everyone within 20 feet must have heard.  Then one second later came the great CRACK of the table breaking.  Perfect timing.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on December 12, 2005, 04:29:40 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
We saw The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, kids loved it, parents loved it.

Don't know about what these boooks meant to you guys, but my dad read them all the way through to my brothers & me when we were real little (and usually my younger brothers would fall asleep before he got to the end of the chapter), and he read them all again a couple years later.  I think the second time around I partly taught myself how to read by following along over his shoulder.  I read them again in college and now that my boys are old enough for 'chapter books' I have been continuing the tradition.  We finished TLTW&TW and are nearly done with Prince Caspian, so the boys have been very eager to see the film.

I can't speak for anyone else because Narnia was a central part of my earliest & fondest memories & probably shaped a lot of my imagination.  It certainly led to my lifelong love for specualtive fiction.  But, imho, this qualifies as one of the most perfectly executed adaptations of a famous book in movie history.  For me it plays almost exactly on screen as it has so many times in my head.  They left nothing out, and only added a couple of elements that really enhance the key plot points.  The four children are nearly perfectly cast, although Lucy ought to have had fairer hair.  The CGI is so good that you completely don't notice it.  Aslan, Mr. & Mrs. Beaver, Tumnus, et al are such seemless & realistic images on screen that there's practically no disbelief to suspend.  And unlike Lord of the Rings, the EFX aren't dazzling in and of themselves, and thus don't remind you that you are in a movie theater.

I had Gabriel, my not-quite-4-yr-old, on my lap most of the show & he was really into it, kept asking me questions, but for the most part when I told him to shush & just watch he did so.  At one point he was a little frightened and I told him it was all okay, and Christina (sitting on the other side of Adrian, my soon-to-be-6-yr-old) asked what was bothering him.  Before I could answer, Adrian said, "He's an emotional child".  Not disdainfully, mind you, just be way of explanation.  Cracked me up.

Later after Aslan has made his sacrifice & Lucy & Susan are sitting there crying, Gabriel started to cry too, and he said, "Daddy, when's the table going to break?"  Of course just as he spoke it was completely silent & and everyone within 20 feet must have heard.  Then one second later came the great CRACK of the table breaking.  Perfect timing.


Dude, glad you dug TLTW&TW as much as you obviously did. I am told it's a great story and I expect to be seeing it soon, as Sarah, like you, grew up having it read to her. But I didn't, so I gotta remind you to PLEASE post a spoiler warning before giving away plot points like that. I'm not sure if that was a significant point or not, so if not, I apologize for taking you to task, but I have a feeling it might have been.

But Adrian's line about his brother was HILARIOUS. Out o' the mouths of babes....
Title: Narnia
Post by: ggould on December 12, 2005, 07:43:00 PM
Quote from: "urth"
I gotta remind you to PLEASE post a spoiler warning before giving away plot points like that. I'm not sure if that was a significant point or not, so if not, I apologize for taking you to task, but I have a feeling it might have been.

good point.  I never read these books as a child, but I have great memories of reading them to my kids, and look forward to seeing the movie too.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on December 12, 2005, 09:35:53 PM
I have NO recollection of the book but my Mom says I read it. I think I've blocked a lot out! I thought my kids might be too young for it but based upon your review, I'll make it a movie to see. I also have Brokeback on my list and no one to go with so that'll be a solo thang.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on December 12, 2005, 11:52:10 PM
I have an abstract memory of seeing an animated interp of TLTW&TW in the late '70s, couldn't say if I read the book, though I imagine it was read to me.  (Unrelated aside: Do any of you have any knowledge/memory of a children's book from the early '70s about a tall building where someone in the penthouse drops something and it frightens the person on the (99th?) floor to drop something, which in turn alarms the person on the (98th?) floor, and so on, perhaps with a principal character named Eleanor?  A piece of my childhood that I've strained to recover for years, and even Google can't help me.)  Anyway, planning to see Brokeback after the Chelsea queens have had their way with it, assuming the fundies don't campaign to burn all the theaters that are showing it.

"He's an emotional boy!"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 13, 2005, 08:45:32 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
We saw The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, kids loved it, parents loved it.


a second opinion from Time Magazine:

"Well, the beavers are cute. And that about exhausts the felicities of the Disney version of C.S. Lewis' allegorical Christian fantasy about the siblings who find a realm of wonder and peril in the back of a strange armoire. The child actors are mostly grating; the pacing is a thing of lurches and languors; and Swinton, usually an actress of molten power, tamps herself down as the villainous White Witch, so that she seems less a malefic force of nature than a frosty schoolmarm. Director Adamson, fresh from the Shrek megahits, should stick to animation; his live-action work is not in the least lively.

Disney is trying to lure the disparate audiences of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (kids) and The Passion of the Christ (Evangelicals). But on either level, Narnia fails. There's no fire, no passion and not much fun."

I'll see it anyway :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 14, 2005, 10:03:02 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
You never saw Monster's Ball?  If you did but forgot, Heath was Billy Bob's son.  That was the first time I realized he could actually act & was not just a pretty boy.



NEVER mention Halle Berry movies to the princess.  Nasty, unpleasant memories.


indeed! but it was a hot sex scene. even if it was filthy.

yes, i remember heath from that film. thanks!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 14, 2005, 10:39:33 AM
Ever the contrarian, Mick LaSalle HATES-HATES-HATES the otherwise-acclaimed new Kong:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/14/DDGR7G6V9V1.DTL
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 19, 2005, 10:37:15 PM
OK, this is a little weird... I saw Brokeback on Saturday. Thought it was pretty great; powerful and moving. And yet I didn't cry, tho' quite a few folks in the theater did.

But I did choke up a bit at the wonderful The Family Stone, which I loved. I'm a bit baffled by the mixed reviews it's getting. Underrated gem of the season, sez me.  Bonus: not one but TWO Jefferson Starship songs on the soundtrack!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on December 21, 2005, 09:58:11 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
OK, this is a little weird... I saw Brokeback on Saturday. Thought it was pretty great; powerful and moving. And yet I didn't cry, tho' quite a few folks in the theater did.


Saw it tonight, on a date with an actor who just returned from a touring production of The Producers.  "Powerful" is indeed the best word to describe it in every way -- Ang Lee did his job well.  My only gripes were (1) Jake's mustache in his later life was so cheesy as to be unbelievable, though I'm quite aware of how many guys wore them like that at that time; and (2) the background/setting music choices were uninspired.  Lee missed an opportunity to reflect the passing of time (evolving trends, the simple fact of "what year is it now?") with the music, La Ronstadt's "It's So Easy" being the only contempo indicator.  Yes, the music is that important to me even when I'm out on a movie date.

Much for me to process -- there were some behaviors and concepts that hit a little close to home for me -- so I'll leave it at that for now.  I think Heath's accolades are fully warranted (he did a magma job embodying his age through the years) and can see now why he's getting Oscar buzz and Jake isn't.  Their ways of relating to each other verbally and physically struck me as very natural, though I've heard a couple critics argue otherwise.  I do think you need to have lived in a rural environment to really get their motivations.  And Lee's vista shots are nothing short of admirable and breathtaking.

Damn, reviewing movies is hard.  I'll stick to CDs and the occasional play.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 22, 2005, 07:25:53 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
OK, this is a little weird... I saw Brokeback on Saturday. Thought it was pretty great; powerful and moving. And yet I didn't cry, tho' quite a few folks in the theater did.


Saw it tonight, on a date with an actor who just returned from a touring production of The Producers.  "Powerful" is indeed the best word to describe it in every way -- Ang Lee did his job well.  My only gripes were (1) Jake's mustache in his later life was so cheesy as to be unbelievable, though I'm quite aware of how many guys wore them like that at that time; and (2) the background/setting music choices were uninspired.  Lee missed an opportunity to reflect the passing of time (evolving trends, the simple fact of "what year is it now?") with the music, La Ronstadt's "It's So Easy" being the only contempo indicator.  Yes, the music is that important to me even when I'm out on a movie date.

Much for me to process -- there were some behaviors and concepts that hit a little close to home for me -- so I'll leave it at that for now.  I think Heath's accolades are fully warranted (he did a magma job embodying his age through the years) and can see now why he's getting Oscar buzz and Jake isn't.  Their ways of relating to each other verbally and physically struck me as very natural, though I've heard a couple critics argue otherwise.  I do think you need to have lived in a rural environment to really get their motivations.  And Lee's vista shots are nothing short of admirable and breathtaking.

Damn, reviewing movies is hard.  I'll stick to CDs and the occasional play.


Agreed on some of the music choices -- I liked the background score but Steve Earle's "The Devil's Right Hand" (for one example) is from 1988 and therefore wouldn't've been on any jukebox in the early '80s, and mistakes like that drive me crazy.  But I thought the choice of Willie's version of "He Was a Friend of Mine" for the closing credits was inspired.

Apparently the Bernie Taupin song Emmylou Harris sings is ineligible for an Oscar because the entire song is not heard in the film.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on December 22, 2005, 10:24:34 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
But I thought the choice of Willie's version of "He Was a Friend of Mine" for the closing credits was inspired.


Right, right, right you are; thanks for reminding me.  Indeed, I said as much to Stuart as we were leaving.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 22, 2005, 10:44:45 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
But I thought the choice of Willie's version of "He Was a Friend of Mine" for the closing credits was inspired.


Right, right, right you are; thanks for reminding me.  Indeed, I said as much to Stuart as we were leaving.


Bunch of Dylan songs in North Country too. Bobby's workin' that catalog.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Anonymous on December 22, 2005, 11:51:29 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
But I thought the choice of Willie's version of "He Was a Friend of Mine" for the closing credits was inspired.


Right, right, right you are; thanks for reminding me.  Indeed, I said as much to Stuart as we were leaving.


Bunch of Dylan songs in North Country too. Bobby's workin' that catalog.


As Xgau would say, mortality's a bitch.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on December 26, 2005, 08:16:16 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
But I did choke up a bit at the wonderful The Family Stone, which I loved. I'm a bit baffled by the mixed reviews it's getting. Underrated gem of the season, sez me.  Bonus: not one but TWO Jefferson Starship songs on the soundtrack!


I saw it today, on a bit of a whim.  Sledgehammers on all sides.  The scene with Luke Wilson and Sarah Jessica Parker in the old-school bar with the 1975-centric jukebox was heaven for me.  Dermot Mulroney always has a SH effect on me -- he reminds me, looks-wise, a lot of my friend Victor, with whom I was falling in love just around the time I saw Point of No Return for the first time.  He's aged well, in a role that I have to assume was first offered to the younger Brendan Fraser.  And Claire Danes, in an underexplored role, has recaptured so much of her magic, and the longer hair flatters her.  Most perfect smile ever.  I'm still half-convinced that she and the girl who plays Donna on "That 70s Show" are the same person.  I'm glad I saw the film during the Christmas season but I wish I hadn't been alone and single in doing so.  (I'm casually dating someone right now but my heart's not in it in the slightest.)  The entire experience is filed under "if only I'd believe in miracles, I'd get by."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 26, 2005, 08:19:05 PM
Quote from: "Anonymous"
As Xgau would say, mortality's a bitch.


"Xgau"? Damn, now there's a War on Christgau!  Alert Bill O'Reilly!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 26, 2005, 08:55:53 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
But I did choke up a bit at the wonderful The Family Stone, which I loved. I'm a bit baffled by the mixed reviews it's getting. Underrated gem of the season, sez me.  Bonus: not one but TWO Jefferson Starship songs on the soundtrack!


I saw it today, on a bit of a whim.  Sledgehammers on all sides.  The scene with Luke Wilson and Sarah Jessica Parker in the old-school bar with the 1975-centric jukebox was heaven for me.  Dermot Mulroney always has a SH effect on me -- he reminds me, looks-wise, a lot of my friend Victor, with whom I was falling in love just around the time I saw Point of No Return for the first time.  He's aged well, in a role that I have to assume was first offered to the younger Brendan Fraser.  And Claire Danes, in an underexplored role, has recaptured so much of her magic, and the longer hair flatters her.  Most perfect smile ever.  I'm still half-convinced that she and the girl who plays Donna on "That 70s Show" are the same person.  I'm glad I saw the film during the Christmas season but I wish I hadn't been alone and single in doing so.  (I'm casually dating someone right now but my heart's not in it in the slightest.)  The entire experience is filed under "if only I'd believe in miracles, I'd get by."


Glad ya liked it, and I totally agree about Ms Danes -- I've always liked her but I just HATED Shopgirl. She's much better here.

And now, Mike's Xmas Weekend Movie Roundup...

King Kong: well, I didn't hate it the way Mick LaSalle did, but it's easily the most overrated movie of the season.  Great CGI work, and Naomi Watts is amazingly good, but no way it needed to be THREE F***ING HOURS. The first hour is loaded with bad, hokey dialogue; the second hour (on Skull Island) is exciting but all the effects sequences (dinosaurs, giant insects etc) go on too long.  OK, Mr Jackson, we get it -- you saw Jurassic Park and wanted to top it. I'm really amazed at how many intelligent critics have this on their 10-Best lists.

Narnia: On a sheer fantasy-movie level, I really enjoyed it.  It's beautifully filmed, Tilda Swinton rules, and the Britishness of it all covers a multitude of (you should pardon the expression) sins. But as an agnostic who's never read the books, the whole Aslan-as-Christ-figure thing seems a tad overwrought to me, and any "Christian allegory" that involves epic battles and bloodshed just creeps me out --  yes, I know, it was written during WWII and Lewis was talking about Fascism, but the fundies clearly think WE are the White Witch's minions (*shudder*).

Munich: Wow. Very powerful, and as underrated as Kong is overrated. Lots of crits have been lukewarm but I think it's terrific and really has something to say about the moral implications of revenge.

Memoirs of a Geisha: Not good. Soapy and dull. But Asian drag queens everywhere will want to own the DVD.   And here's a paradox for ya: this Oscar season, a gay Western love story was directed by a straight Asian man, and this story about Asian women is directed by a gay white man. Go figure.

Casanova: this was a relief after Geisha. It's enjoyable, well-played fluff, with the Catholic Church the butt of many jokes.  And Heath Ledger, playing the complete opposite of his Brokeback role, will definitely get points from the Academy.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 27, 2005, 07:40:21 AM
Almost forgot: Most Intriguing Movie Trailer I saw this weekend --

Kirsten Dunst IS Marie Antoinette! Written and directed by Sofia Coppola!  Co-starring Jason Schwartzman (and when I think Revolutionary France, I always think Jason Schwartzman, don't you?).

Anyway the trailer has no dialogue, just scenes from the film set to (of all things) New Order's "Age of Consent". Very strange. It's not coming out until next fall.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 27, 2005, 10:21:54 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"

Narnia: On a sheer fantasy-movie level, I really enjoyed it.  It's beautifully filmed, Tilda Swinton rules, and the Britishness of it all covers a multitude of (you should pardon the expression) sins. But as an agnostic who's never read the books, the whole Aslan-as-Christ-figure thing seems a tad overwrought to me, and any "Christian allegory" that involves epic battles and bloodshed just creeps me out --  yes, I know, it was written during WWII and Lewis was talking about Fascism, but the fundies clearly think WE are the White Witch's minions (*shudder*).


Yeah, well, the fundies didn't make the movie, and C.S. Lewis would have nothing to do with them if he were here today.  If anything he'd say Dr. Dobson & his ilk are the White Witch's minions, not us right-minded folk.  My dad is something of an expert on Lewis, and pretty much everything he wrote is on my dad's bookshelf.

This is a film where not having read the book is a real handicap.  But several negative reviewers, who so obviously didn't read the book, fail to admit such & it makes their reviews just a joke (imho). If they got the movie they imply should have been made, I guarantee it would have sucked horribly.

I agree about the amped up battle scene though, in the book that was fought by maybe a few hundred on each side, not tens of thousands, and in any case the battle was not described as it happended, but only after the fact by Peter talking to Aslan.

I think I'll treeat myself to a long lunch & see Munich today.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 27, 2005, 10:34:26 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"

Narnia: On a sheer fantasy-movie level, I really enjoyed it.  It's beautifully filmed, Tilda Swinton rules, and the Britishness of it all covers a multitude of (you should pardon the expression) sins. But as an agnostic who's never read the books, the whole Aslan-as-Christ-figure thing seems a tad overwrought to me, and any "Christian allegory" that involves epic battles and bloodshed just creeps me out --  yes, I know, it was written during WWII and Lewis was talking about Fascism, but the fundies clearly think WE are the White Witch's minions (*shudder*).


Yeah, well, the fundies didn't make the movie, and C.S. Lewis would have nothing to do with them if he were here today.  If anything he'd say Dr. Dobson & his ilk are the White Witch's minions, not us right-minded folk.  My dad is something of an expert on Lewis, and pretty much everything he wrote is on my dad's bookshelf.

This is a film where not having read the book is a real handicap.  But several negative reviewers, who so obviously didn't read the book, fail to admit such & it makes their reviews just a joke (imho). If they got the movie they imply should have been made, I guarantee it would have sucked horribly.

I agree about the amped up battle scene though, in the book that was fought by maybe a few hundred on each side, not tens of thousands, and in any case the battle was not described as it happended, but only after the fact by Peter talking to Aslan.

I think I'll treeat myself to a long lunch & see Munich today.


Well, I certainly hope you're right about Mr Lewis. But technically the fundies did have a hand in making the film, as it was co-financed by Walden Media, owned by a very conservative Christian gazillionaire.  Hope you like Munich as much as I did.
Title: C. S. Lewis
Post by: ggould on December 27, 2005, 10:55:01 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Narnia: On a sheer fantasy-movie level, I really enjoyed it.  It's beautifully filmed, Tilda Swinton rules, and the Britishness of it all covers a multitude of (you should pardon the expression) sins. But as an agnostic who's never read the books, the whole Aslan-as-Christ-figure thing seems a tad overwrought to me, and any "Christian allegory" that involves epic battles and bloodshed just creeps me out --  yes, I know, it was written during WWII and Lewis was talking about Fascism, but the fundies clearly think WE are the White Witch's minions (*shudder*).
Yeah, well, the fundies didn't make the movie, and C.S. Lewis would have nothing to do with them if he were here today.  If anything he'd say Dr. Dobson & his ilk are the White Witch's minions, not us right-minded folk.  My dad is something of an expert on Lewis, and pretty much everything he wrote is on my dad's bookshelf.

This is a film where not having read the book is a real handicap.  But several negative reviewers, who so obviously didn't read the book, fail to admit such & it makes their reviews just a joke (imho). If they got the movie they imply should have been made, I guarantee it would have sucked horribly.
Well, I certainly hope you're right about Mr Lewis. But technically the fundies did have a hand in making the film, as it was co-financed by Walden Media, owned by a very conservative Christian gazillionaire.  Hope you like Munich as much as I did.

You're both right, kind of.  I haven't seen the movie, but have read the books to my kids, and studied one of his "Christian Apologist" books (Mere Christianity) in my Adult Discussion class.  He was not a fundamentalist, but was an overt Christian, and I didn't particularly like his take on religion, but he was no Taliban.  Indeed, today's fundamentalists are trying to market this just like the Mel Gibson movie, hoping for some of the same vibe, but this looks like a different movie.  I guess I'll have to see it.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 28, 2005, 12:56:40 PM
more on Narnia and Christianity, from Jim Emerson, the editor of Roger Ebert's website:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051205/SCANNERS/51205001
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 28, 2005, 01:08:55 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
more on Narnia and Christianity, from Jim Emerson, the editor of Roger Ebert's website:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051205/SCANNERS/51205001


buried down at the bottom of that page is a quote from Lewis in 1959, which is a few years after the last of the 7 Narnia books was written:

"I don't say. 'Let us represent Christ as Aslan [the lion].' I say, 'Supposing there was a world like Narnia, and supposing, like ours, it needed redemption. Let us imagine what sort of Incarnation and Passion and Resurrection Christ would have there.'"

This illustrates one of several reasons that I don't think Clive Staples (Jack to his friends) Lewis would've had anything to do with our peculiarly American fundies:  The Fundies are too f*cking literal minded.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 28, 2005, 01:20:25 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
[This illustrates one of several reasons that I don't think Clive Staples (Jack to his friends) Lewis would've had anything to do with our peculiarly American fundies:  The Fundies are too f*cking literal minded.


AMEN, brotha!

When I was 7 or 8, our local PBS station (it wasn't even called PBS back then) showed a crudely animated film at Xmastime, which imagined how the Xmas story might happen on another planet -- there was this regimented society, and one guy who didn't "fit in" and was an outcast.  One night a blazing light appears in the sky. It begins to get closer and closer and everyone is terrified...  they assume it's the end of the world.  The blazing object crashes in the desert and people head out to the crash site. And there they find the outcast, holding a baby.

Now... that's based on a hazy memory of something I only saw once -- I've searched in vain but there's no trace of it. But I think of it every Xmas.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on January 01, 2006, 12:34:46 PM
Only one movie so far this weekend. Saw Cheaper by the Dozen 2. Funny. Enjoyed Steve Martin and Eugene Levy. Thought Carmen Electra was Kathy Ireland. Fun way to spend a bad weather day. Hoping to catch Brokeback today at 4 and maybe Family Stone or Syriana tomorrow.

I heard a good review about Mrs. Henderson Presents but I think it's only in SF. Still want to see Walk the Line but it's not at any convenient location or time. Might have to wait for DVD.
Title: Weekend Movies
Post by: ggould on January 01, 2006, 12:45:41 PM
we saw Narnia yesterday, and watched the DVD of Crash last night.  We had intended on seeing Harry Potter, but they were all sold out, and got tix to the digital screening of Narnia instead.  Very good movie, I can't see what all the Christian fuss is about.  It's way too allegorical for the fundies, but I guess they'll use any pretext for proseltyzing these days.

I hadn't seen Crash  before, and was somewhat interested due to Paul Haggis' involvement, one of the Due South directors.  Quite thoughtful, and made me think of all the racial shit at my high school.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on January 01, 2006, 10:09:21 PM
Got to Brokeback this afternoon. Got a little misty at two parts. I'm glad I saw it, felt really sad on the way home.

Such a big world with so much opportunity never realized by most.
Title: J.R.R. (John Ronald Reuel) Tolkien and C. S Lewis
Post by: ggould on January 02, 2006, 11:48:48 PM
I subscribe to the daily Writer's Almanac email, and today they are talking about Tolkien, and a little about C. S. Lewis.  I thought it was interesting, and might slightly inform our discussion of Narnia and Lord of the Rings:

It's the birthday of J.R.R. (John Ronald Reuel) Tolkien
http://mail.publicradio.org/site/R?i=awJK45aecX3az0hHrLMpXA.. , born in South Africa (1892). His family came back to England after his father died and his mother taught him Latin and converted him to Catholicism. She died when he was twelve and friends said he stayed a Catholic and continued to study languages in her memory.

He went on to philology, or the study of the derivation of languages,
at Oxford, and it was there that he met his friend C.S. Lewis. Lewis
later said, "At my first coming into the world, I had been warned
never to trust a [Catholic], and at my first coming into the English
Faculty, never to trust a philologist. Tolkien was both." Despite
Lewis' suspicion they took to one another right away and with a number
of other men formed The Inklings, a group of writers who met in a
local pub each week to talk about books and read aloud what they'd
been writing. Lewis and Tolkien often talked late into the night about
the idea that books could be "morally serious fantasy," dressing
correct theology in the clothing of a ripping good tale.

Tolkien's idea for a novel came from his love for language. He was
fluent in Classical Greek and Latin, Old Norse, Old English, medieval
Welsh and Anglo-Saxon and an ancient form of German called Gothic,
among other ancient European languages. He was so interested in the
structure of language that he decided to invent an entire language of
his own. He even invented a new alphabet to write in that language and
when he began writing Lord of the Rings, he gave that new language to
the Elves calling it "High Elvish." He later said, "I wrote Lord of
the Rings to provide a world for the language... I should have
preferred to write the entire book in Elvish."

Many critics now consider Lord of the Rings to be one of the greatest
fantasy novels ever written. It's the story of Bilbo Baggins, a lowly
hobbit who sets out on a quest to destroy a magic ring so that it
cannot fall into the hands of the evil Sauron.

It took Tolkien twelve years to write The Lord of the Rings, in part
because he was a great procrastinator and refused to take any time off
to work on the book. He was constantly stopping his writing in order
to research various details he wanted to include, such as the proper
way to stew a rabbit. He wrote to his editor more than once to say
that he wasn't sure he could finish the book, but after twelve years
he had finally done it. He wrote, "It is written... in my life-blood."

Tolkien wasn't sure anyone would want to read The Lord of the Rings
since it was hardly the children's book his editor had asked for. He
wrote, "My work has escaped from my control. I have produced a
monster... a complex, rather bitter and rather terrifying romance. I
now wonder whether many beyond my friends would read anything so
long."

The book was moderately successful when the first volume came out in
1954, but it didn't become a huge bestseller until the 1960's when
American college students fell in love with it and psychedelic rock
bands like Led Zeppelin began writing songs about it. Tolkein never
enjoyed having become a cult figure in his own lifetime. He tried to
live quietly for the rest of his life.

J.R.R. Tolkein said, "Literature stops in 1100. After that it's only
books."

He once said, "I am in fact, a hobbit in all but size. I like gardens,
trees and unmechanized farmlands. I smoke a pipe and like good plain
food (unrefrigerated), but detest French cooking. I am fond of
mushrooms (out of a field).... I go to bed late and get up late (when
possible). I do not travel much."
Title: Kong
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on January 03, 2006, 09:53:12 AM
So I saw King Kong Sunday.  I really enjoyed it, well beyond expectations.  It was a bit long, but I thought it moved well enough.  The special effects were awesome, and the girl (don't remember the actresses name) was a wonder.  She made the movie for me.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 03, 2006, 10:30:11 AM
mike and i saw mrs. henderson presents yesterday. a cute film. some great lines, and great tension between the dench and bob hoskins. nice story. i tried to go see good night and good luck afterwards, but it was sold out. all of the people meant to see brokeback at embarcadero bought tics since their first choice was sold out. so i rented and watched a mi madre le gusta las mujeres and far from heaven. the spanish film was quite entertaining, and we all know julianne moore rocks.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 03, 2006, 10:42:54 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
mike and i saw mrs. henderson presents yesterday. a cute film. some great lines, and great tension between the dench and bob hoskins. nice story. i tried to go see good night and good luck afterwards, but it was sold out. all of the people meant to see brokeback at embarcadero bought tics since their first choice was sold out. so i rented and watched a mi madre le gusta las mujeres and far from heaven. the spanish film was quite entertaining, and we all know julianne moore rocks.


Oh my, Far From Heaven. I went in expecting to not like it (I thought it would be really arch) and I LOVED it.  Mr Haysbert -- every time I see one of his Allstate commercials, I swoon.  Good hands indeed.
He played a similar role (saintly black man meets troubled white woman) opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in Love Field.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 03, 2006, 10:51:44 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
mike and i saw mrs. henderson presents yesterday. a cute film. some great lines, and great tension between the dench and bob hoskins. nice story. i tried to go see good night and good luck afterwards, but it was sold out. all of the people meant to see brokeback at embarcadero bought tics since their first choice was sold out. so i rented and watched a mi madre le gusta las mujeres and far from heaven. the spanish film was quite entertaining, and we all know julianne moore rocks.


Oh my, Far From Heaven. I went in expecting to not like it (I thought it would be really arch) and I LOVED it.  Mr Haysbert -- every time I see one of his Allstate commercials, I swoon.  Good hands indeed.
He played a similar role (saintly black man meets troubled white woman) opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in Love Field.


mmm...good hands, good voice. i've never seen love field, but he certainly met the pretty person requirement for waiting to exhale.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 03, 2006, 11:01:16 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
mike and i saw mrs. henderson presents yesterday. a cute film. some great lines, and great tension between the dench and bob hoskins. nice story. i tried to go see good night and good luck afterwards, but it was sold out. all of the people meant to see brokeback at embarcadero bought tics since their first choice was sold out. so i rented and watched a mi madre le gusta las mujeres and far from heaven. the spanish film was quite entertaining, and we all know julianne moore rocks.


Oh my, Far From Heaven. I went in expecting to not like it (I thought it would be really arch) and I LOVED it.  Mr Haysbert -- every time I see one of his Allstate commercials, I swoon.  Good hands indeed.
He played a similar role (saintly black man meets troubled white woman) opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in Love Field.


mmm...good hands, good voice. i've never seen love field, but he certainly met the pretty person requirement for waiting to exhale.


Coming soon: Freedomland, Julianne Moore with Samuel L Jackson!  "Buy my beer, bitch!"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on January 03, 2006, 11:20:00 AM
Also watched The 40 Year Old Virgin last night.  Woohoo!  That's good movie makin' right there!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Beej on January 03, 2006, 11:44:00 AM
Far From Heaven was a great film. The art direction was amazing as was the acting. Good script, too.

I'm so out-of-it, movie-wise. I need some time to see some flicks, dammit!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 03, 2006, 12:20:20 PM
Several notes:

Geoff, thanks for posting that bit on Tolkien, but who in his right mind gets into that much detail and then says that Bilbo is the main character in LotR who sets out to destroy the Ring?   :roll:

Rod, that's Naomi Watts.  You need to go watch Mulholland Drive & 21 Grams so you won't forget her name anymore.   :)

We planned to see Brokeback Mountain on New Year's Eve, but didn't realize that it was still in such limited release that we'd have to drive all over creation to get to it.  Hopefully it gets to the megaplex soon.

Last week I saw (& highly recommend) Munich.  Quite possibly Spielberg's best acheivement as a director.  A hard movie to say that you 'enjoyed', to say that would probably mean that you missed the point.  But many parts of it are stunning, and Michael Lonsdale (Hugo Drax in Moonraker) steals every scene he's in.  Also of note is that Eric (Incredibel Hulk) Bana can really act, and Ciaran Hinds, who plays Casear on HBO's Rome, is awesome.

Still hoping to see Syriana.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 03, 2006, 01:35:06 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Last week I saw (& highly recommend) Munich.  Quite possibly Spielberg's best acheivement as a director.  A hard movie to say that you 'enjoyed', to say that would probably mean that you missed the point.  But many parts of it are stunning, and Michael Lonsdale (Hugo Drax in Moonraker) steals every scene he's in.  Also of note is that Eric (Incredibel Hulk) Bana can really act, and Ciaran Hinds, who plays Casear on HBO's Rome, is awesome.

Still hoping to see Syriana.


Glad you liked Munich; if I made a 10-best list it'd be on it.

I'm wondering if you and the missus have seen (or indeed have any desire to see) Memoirs of a Geisha.

And I'll mention again (since I orig did it in a 10@10 thread) that I enjoyed Breakfast on Pluto, which has a soundtrack to make Gaz cream his jeans.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on January 03, 2006, 01:43:58 PM
I'm such a sap. All three movies I saw made me cry. Yesterday I made it to the Family Stone. A mother dying got to me. I was disappointed SJP remained in at the end. Why wasn't she just run off? Did she relocate to Berkeley with the brother or did he move back to town? I don't really care but it didn't make sense.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 03, 2006, 02:18:19 PM
Quote from: "Alicat"
I was disappointed SJP remained in at the end. Why wasn't she just run off? Did she relocate to Berkeley with the brother or did he move back to town? I don't really care but it didn't make sense.


She was redeemed by the love of a good man!  (just as Dermot Mulroney was redeemed by the love of Claire Danes.)  I think SJP moved to Berkeley and opened a successful chain of organic coffee roasteries :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 05, 2006, 08:04:01 AM
Jon Stewart to host the Oscars this year...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2006/01/05/entertainment/e073219S23.DTL
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 09, 2006, 11:33:35 AM
The Chicago Tribune's "15 Ways to Fix the Oscars":

Choosing Jon Stewart as host is a fine start to improve the ever-sagging Oscar telecast. But, hey, don't stop there. The Tempo Subcommittee To Preserve Awards Shows has 15 more suggestions:

1. No musical numbers. No, really. Seriously. Unless they're performed by the academy's accountants -- that might be entertaining.

2. Live voting on the best Oscar gown, with a show the next night crowning the winners and losers. It works for "American Idol" and "Dancing With the Stars." And all we really care about is the fashion anyway.

3. No more than 20 "Brokeback Mountain" jokes. We're eager to see what Stewart and his crew will do with the gay cowboy movie, but we're thinking some sort of quota might be healthy.

4. Move telecast to HBO. The more profanities, the better.

5. Skip the best song award; instead, nominees get bus tickets to Grammy Awards.

6. Install a trapdoor behind the podium for long-winded winners. The orchestra playing loudly just isn't working.

7. Shorten the show: Two hours tops. It notoriously runs more than three hours, sometimes four. So, at 1 hour, 59 minutes, the orchestra starts playing. Sixty seconds later, cut to commercial. If that doesn't leave enough time for best picture award, save it for next year.

8. Get Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell to present. They saved "SNL," didn't they?

9. Kathy Griffin has been kicked off the E! red-carpet broadcast in favor of Ryan Seacrest, which is just wrong on so many levels. How about putting Griffin inside the auditorium as a roving correspondent? Because egomaniac stars just think her pomposity-puncturing humor is sooooo funny.

10. Show audience shots that cover more than just the front rows. How many close-ups of Joaquin Phoenix and Charlize Theron will we need? Where's Johnny Knoxville sitting?

11. Have Prof. John Frink (scientist geek on "The Simpsons") announce the technical achievement awards.

12. The academy president doesn't need to talk. He just doesn't.

13. Eliminate scripted banter. What's the point of pairing Shirley MacLaine and Don Cheadle as presenters if they just read lame material from a teleprompter. Let them wing it and add some suspense to the evening.

14. Let Jon Stewart protege Stephen Colbert interview stars on the red carpet, presenting them with an ego that is way bigger than even the most overpaid actor's.

15. More cowbell!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 12, 2006, 07:38:35 AM
Saw The Matador last nite (Pierce Brosnan as a washed-up hit-man). Very entertaining. Any movie that plays the Jam's "Town Called Malice" over the opening credits is OK by me.  Of course, Asia's "Heat of the Moment" is on the sndtk too. Dude, it's Prog Brosnan!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 16, 2006, 09:43:30 AM
mike, i can't believe you didn't like the shipping news! easily one of my favorite movies.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 16, 2006, 09:48:02 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
mike, i can't believe you didn't like the shipping news! easily one of my favorite movies.


But can you imagine it with Travolta? Yikes!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 16, 2006, 10:01:18 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
mike, i can't believe you didn't like the shipping news! easily one of my favorite movies.


But can you imagine it with Travolta? Yikes!


a musical number would have ruined the film.

travolta opposite dench? appalling.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on January 16, 2006, 10:02:17 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
mike, i can't believe you didn't like the shipping news! easily one of my favorite movies.


I saw it sometime back.  Throughout I was thinking "I bet this was a really good book."  So, I liked it for what it was trying to do, but it didn't work completely as a movie.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 16, 2006, 10:04:15 AM
my recent views:

The Assasination of Richard Nixon (Sean Penn, creepy!!! why wasn't there more mention of Samuel Byck after 9/11?)
The Shipping News (one of my favorite films)
Red Eye (great Wes Craven film)
Broken Flowers (saw it in the theatre and really liked it; rented it, and really only liked the characters, not so much the story)
The Hours (watch again and again and again)
De-lovely (difficult to watch, but, oh! the music! And Ashley Judd!)
A Mi Madre le Gusta las Mujeres (Excellent!)
Elizabeth (a bit tedious, but Cate Blanchett rules)
Syriana (great! great! great!)
Mrs. Henderson Presents (a cute film; great electricity between Dench and Hoskins; do the wonders of Christopher Guest ever cease?)
Goodbye, Lenin! (a must-see!)
Hotel Rwanda (like any other movie of its kind you've seen, only this one stars Americans, Jean Reno speaks English, and Lumumba doesn't die at the end)
Kitchen Stories (just watch it, already!)
Ocean's Twelve (i stopped watching it after half an hour)
3 Women (what could be stranger than Shelley Duvall and Cissy Spacek?? a very odd film, but Duvall has some great lines)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 16, 2006, 10:13:40 AM
Agreed on all except Shipping ... and actually, I thought De-Lovely was horrendous despite Ms Judd. I've never seen 3 Women, amazingly.

So are you up for Albert Brooks this weekend?  I'm looking to do it Fri nite at the Empire, assuming it's in the big auditorium.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 16, 2006, 10:32:33 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Agreed on all except Shipping ... and actually, I thought De-Lovely was horrendous despite Ms Judd. I've never seen 3 Women, amazingly.

So are you up for Albert Brooks this weekend?  I'm looking to do it Fri nite at the Empire, assuming it's in the big auditorium.


yes, you're right. it was horrendous, even with ashley. at least she was pretty.

looking for comedy in the muslim world? no, thanks. i have a feeling it's going to be horrible. i don't think i even want to see it on video. you let me know what you think, though. i don't know what's in the theatre now that i'd want to see. anyhoo, i'm headed to tahoe this weekend for my first snowboarding expedition.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 16, 2006, 10:37:44 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Agreed on all except Shipping ... and actually, I thought De-Lovely was horrendous despite Ms Judd. I've never seen 3 Women, amazingly.

So are you up for Albert Brooks this weekend?  I'm looking to do it Fri nite at the Empire, assuming it's in the big auditorium.


yes, you're right. it was horrendous, even with ashley. at least she was pretty.

looking for comedy in the muslim world? no, thanks. i have a feeling it's going to be horrible. i don't think i even want to see it on video. you let me know what you think, though. i don't know what's in the theatre now that i'd want to see. anyhoo, i'm headed to tahoe this weekend for my first snowboarding expedition.


Break a leg! oh no, wait, that's the wrong thing to say.

I suspect you'll want to see Samuel L Jackson and Julianne Moore in Freedomland next month.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 16, 2006, 10:52:54 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Agreed on all except Shipping ... and actually, I thought De-Lovely was horrendous despite Ms Judd. I've never seen 3 Women, amazingly.

So are you up for Albert Brooks this weekend?  I'm looking to do it Fri nite at the Empire, assuming it's in the big auditorium.


yes, you're right. it was horrendous, even with ashley. at least she was pretty.

looking for comedy in the muslim world? no, thanks. i have a feeling it's going to be horrible. i don't think i even want to see it on video. you let me know what you think, though. i don't know what's in the theatre now that i'd want to see. anyhoo, i'm headed to tahoe this weekend for my first snowboarding expedition.


Break a leg! oh no, wait, that's the wrong thing to say.

I suspect you'll want to see Samuel L Jackson and Julianne Moore in Freedomland next month.


sho you right! :)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 17, 2006, 10:02:35 AM
For the straight male contingent (and poc), we present the Golden Globes Cavalcade of Cleavage:

http://www.defamer.com/hollywood/awards/the-golden-globes-an-enchanting-gay-horseback-ride-with-the-hollywood-foreign-press-148958.php

scroll down a bit and be amazed. Golden Globes indeed!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 17, 2006, 10:52:54 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
For the straight male contingent (and poc), we present the Golden Globes Cavalcade of Cleavage:

http://www.defamer.com/hollywood/awards/the-golden-globes-an-enchanting-gay-horseback-ride-with-the-hollywood-foreign-press-148958.php

scroll down a bit and be amazed. Golden Globes indeed!


why does melanie griffith keep "popping up" everywhere?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 17, 2006, 10:57:02 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
For the straight male contingent (and poc), we present the Golden Globes Cavalcade of Cleavage:

http://www.defamer.com/hollywood/awards/the-golden-globes-an-enchanting-gay-horseback-ride-with-the-hollywood-foreign-press-148958.php

scroll down a bit and be amazed. Golden Globes indeed!


why does melanie griffith keep "popping up" everywhere?


She has a sitcom on the WB and a well-paid publicist. :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 20, 2006, 11:04:16 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "urth"
Dude, you can't just leave us a tease like that, cuz you KNOW we're not all as hooked up as the Princess. If ya know something (or you've got good dish), spill it!


yes, spill! i don't know anything about it.


We sould probably move this to the gossip thread rather than besmirch poor Wlson Pickett's memorial. But here's the link:

http://socialitelife.com/mt/archives/is_eddie_murphy_gay.php

I smell a screenplay: Brokeback Hills Cop!


Okay, I moved it because I also want y'all to read Morford's column today: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/20/DDGJIGPDKE1.DTL&hw=morford&sn=002&sc=325
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 23, 2006, 09:32:13 AM
The Castro is bringing back Xanadu Friday nite, on a double bill with Roller Boogie!  And they're followed by a Midnite screening of Skatetown USA.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 23, 2006, 12:29:18 PM
Music documentaries to watch out for (they're all screening at Sundance this week):

Everyone Stares, a reputedly exhaustive, detailed history of the Police, directed by Stuart Copeland.

Heart of Gold, about (who else?) Neil Young, and directed by Jonathan Demme.

Awesome: I F---in' Shot That!, a Beastie Boys concert docu, the twist being that the footage was shot by 50 Beastie fans who were handed cameras and told to shoot to their hearts content.
 
Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man, self-explanatory.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 23, 2006, 10:01:32 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Heart of Gold, about (who else?) Neil Young, and directed by Jonathan Demme.


TANC: saw the trailer for this tonite before the Albert Brooks movie, and it looks great -- it's mostly a filmed concert, a sort of homecoming to Nashville for Neil, at the Ryman Auditorium.  Emmylou Harris looks fabulous. And it opens Feb 10th.  Club movie outing?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on January 23, 2006, 11:14:23 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Heart of Gold, about (who else?) Neil Young, and directed by Jonathan Demme.


Club movie outing?

Count me in.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on January 24, 2006, 12:00:40 AM
Quote from: "Alicat"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Heart of Gold, about (who else?) Neil Young, and directed by Jonathan Demme.


Club movie outing?

Count me in.


Me also.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 24, 2006, 07:58:00 AM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "Alicat"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Heart of Gold, about (who else?) Neil Young, and directed by Jonathan Demme.


Club movie outing?

Count me in.


Me also.


me, three.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 24, 2006, 07:59:54 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "Alicat"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Heart of Gold, about (who else?) Neil Young, and directed by Jonathan Demme.


Club movie outing?

Count me in.


Me also.


me, three.


Cool! think about what days/times are good for y'all.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Beej on January 24, 2006, 09:07:42 AM
Count me in, too!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 24, 2006, 11:49:16 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
The Castro is bringing back Xanadu Friday nite, on a double bill with Roller Boogie!  And they're followed by a Midnite screening of Skatetown USA.


i'm going with a crew of ladies. see you there?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 24, 2006, 12:27:17 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
The Castro is bringing back Xanadu Friday nite, on a double bill with Roller Boogie!  And they're followed by a Midnite screening of Skatetown USA.


i'm going with a crew of ladies. see you there?


trying to make up my mind, but probably.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on January 26, 2006, 09:25:19 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "Alicat"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Heart of Gold, about (who else?) Neil Young, and directed by Jonathan Demme.


Club movie outing?

Count me in.


Me also.


me, three.


Cool! think about what days/times are good for y'all.

I vote for a ditch work day. Daytime, weekday!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 26, 2006, 09:32:51 AM
Quote from: "Alicat"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "Alicat"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Heart of Gold, about (who else?) Neil Young, and directed by Jonathan Demme.


Club movie outing?

Count me in.


Me also.


me, three.


Cool! think about what days/times are good for y'all.

I vote for a ditch work day. Daytime, weekday!


Well ain't you a li'l devil. Sorry, I don't think I can pull that off.   :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on January 26, 2006, 09:39:45 AM
Early afternoon with drinks and dinner afterwards. Why not!?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 26, 2006, 02:23:08 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Alicat"

I vote for a ditch work day. Daytime, weekday!


Well ain't you a li'l devil. Sorry, I don't think I can pull that off.   :wink:


I just did that to see Match Point.  I got maybe 4/5 through and asked myself, is this really a Woody Allen film?  It was very, very good, but certainly the only one of his films that I've seen that lacked (afaict) any trademark Woody elements.  Scarlett, oh my.  Thanks for all the close ups Woody!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 26, 2006, 02:42:56 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Alicat"

I vote for a ditch work day. Daytime, weekday!


Well ain't you a li'l devil. Sorry, I don't think I can pull that off.   :wink:


I just did that to see Match Point.  I got maybe 4/5 through and asked myself, is this really a Woody Allen film?  It was very, very good, but certainly the only one of his films that I've seen that lacked (afaict) any trademark Woody elements.  Scarlett, oh my.  Thanks for all the close ups Woody!


It's his least Woodyish film, and I liked it a lot too. However I think the British setting and accents make it seem less Allen-esque than it would otherwise -- if you sat down and read the screenplay and imagined American actors, some of the dialogue would come across as "oh yeah, that's a Woody Allen line".  (In a way, it's Crimes & Misdemeanors without the comic relief.)  And it was indeed originally set in the Hamptons but he had trouble getting financing, until the BBC stepped in and then the idea of rewriting it as a London-set drama was born. And his next movie is British too -- a rom-com with Hugh Jackman, Ian (Deadwood) McShane and (again) Ms Johanssen. Woody says Scarlett is his new muse.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on January 26, 2006, 02:44:54 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
 It was very, very good, but certainly the only one of his films that I've seen that lacked (afaict) any trademark Woody elements.


Agreed, except for the bit with putting the shotgun together, which stood out for me as a very WA bit.  In essence, there's no Woody surrogate here, no neurotic mensch overthinking everything.  On the other hand, he did re-visit Crimes and Misdemeanors for plot points...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 26, 2006, 02:49:29 PM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "mshray"
 It was very, very good, but certainly the only one of his films that I've seen that lacked (afaict) any trademark Woody elements.


Agreed, except for the bit with putting the shotgun together, which stood out for me as a very WA bit.  In essence, there's no Woody surrogate here, no neurotic mensch overthinking everything.  On the other hand, he did re-visit Crimes and Misdemeanors for plot points...


C&M JINX!

I meant to say that it's the Allen film I've liked the most since Bullets Over B'way.  The only other one I've liked in the past dozen or so years was Sweet & Lowdown, mainly because of Sean Penn.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on January 26, 2006, 05:26:00 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
And it was indeed originally set in the Hamptons but he had trouble getting financing, until the BBC stepped in and then the idea of rewriting it as a London-set drama was born.


How does someone who just bought a $26 million townhouse* "have trouble getting financing"?  If he'd self-finance his films, he'd recoup a lot more fully.


* link: http://www.observer.com/therealestate/2006/01/woody-buys-259-m-townhouse.html
(we can't do "a href" tags here, argh.)
Title: tags
Post by: ggould on January 26, 2006, 07:43:54 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
(we can't do "a href" tags here, argh.)

does this work?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 27, 2006, 08:32:31 AM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "mshray"
 It was very, very good, but certainly the only one of his films that I've seen that lacked (afaict) any trademark Woody elements.


Agreed, except for the bit with putting the shotgun together, which stood out for me as a very WA bit.  In essence, there's no Woody surrogate here, no neurotic mensch overthinking everything.  On the other hand, he did re-visit Crimes and Misdemeanors for plot points...


See, I felt a Woody bit coming at that moment too, but felt like he slammed on the brakes, hard.  In fact I thought Woody did an excellent job of showing that the Chris character had virtually no neuroses at all.  I got the feeling Woody had been reading up on Nietsche & Ayn Rand lately.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 27, 2006, 08:53:47 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "mshray"
 It was very, very good, but certainly the only one of his films that I've seen that lacked (afaict) any trademark Woody elements.


Agreed, except for the bit with putting the shotgun together, which stood out for me as a very WA bit.  In essence, there's no Woody surrogate here, no neurotic mensch overthinking everything.  On the other hand, he did re-visit Crimes and Misdemeanors for plot points...


See, I felt a Woody bit coming at that moment too, but felt like he slammed on the brakes, hard.  In fact I thought Woody did an excellent job of showing that the Chris character had virtually no neuroses at all.  I got the feeling Woody had been reading up on Nietsche & Ayn Rand lately.


Now, if the shotgun had been made of soap and it had started to rain...
Title: Oscar Noms are In
Post by: mshray on January 31, 2006, 08:56:41 AM
http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2006/oscars

I have actually seen many more of the films this year than is usual for me.

F'rinstance last Fri it was really slow in my office, since my cow orker & I were the only people in the company who weren't on holiday for Chinese New Year.  So I said I was going home early.  Calle dmy wife & before I could say anything she said she was also getting out early & taking the kids to SFO to pick up her dad (flying in from Taiwan to usher in the Year of the Dog with us) & they'd all be having dinner in the city & come home late.  Okay, see you later honey.

So I checked to see if Capote was still playing somewhere because I wanted to see PSH's performance before the awards were announced.  Turned out to be playing at the Great Mall (my usual lunch getaway), and when I bought my ticket, Alexis, the very cute ticket gal told me, "This is actually a double-feature with Walk The Line, so if you want to stay for the 2nd movie you can."  So I got to see both presumptive winners of the "___ in a Leading Role" categories on the same day for super cheap without having expected to have either the freedom nor the opportunity to do so.

What I charmed life I lead occasionally.
Title: Re: Oscar Noms are In
Post by: RGMike on January 31, 2006, 09:30:26 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2006/oscars

I have actually seen many more of the films this year than is usual for me.

F'rinstance last Fri it was really slow in my office, since my cow orker & I were the only people in the company who weren't on holiday for Chinese New Year.  So I said I was going home early.  Calle dmy wife & before I could say anything she said she was also getting out early & taking the kids to SFO to pick up her dad (flying in from Taiwan to usher in the Year of the Dog with us) & they'd all be having dinner in the city & come home late.  Okay, see you later honey.

So I checked to see if Capote was still playing somewhere because I wanted to see PSH's performance before the awards were announced.  Turned out to be playing at the Great Mall (my usual lunch getaway), and when I bought my ticket, Alexis, the very cute ticket gal told me, "This is actually a double-feature with Walk The Line, so if you want to stay for the 2nd movie you can."  So I got to see both presumptive winners of the "___ in a Leading Role" categories on the same day for super cheap without having expected to have either the freedom nor the opportunity to do so.

What I charmed life I lead occasionally.


Wow, great double bill!  And yeah, both Reese and PSH should win handily. But I'm thrilled that Munich got Pic & Director noms.  Though I'd've liked to've seen History of Violence get a few more.
Title: Re: Oscar Noms are In
Post by: mshray on January 31, 2006, 09:47:43 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2006/oscars


Quick hit reactions on the noms:
 
Can't think of anyone right off who got snubbed in the Leading Actor/-tress categories, unless someone deserved it more than Keira Knightley.  But having not seen her in Pride & Prejudice yet, I'm not suggesting it myself.  Maybe Maria Bello in A History of Violence.  I'd have liked to see Viggo get a nom for that as well, but the Lead Actor category is so very strong this year.  

I suppose the strong Lead Actor field is why Jake Gyllenhall was put forward for a Supporting nom, but does it really make any sense logically?  I sure thought that movie had two lead actors.

Catherine Keener fully deserves a Supporting Actress nom, but she absolutely deserves this year's Billy Bob Thornton award for Best  Performances in Wildly Different Roles in the Same Year (see also 40 Year Old Virgin & The Ballad of Jack & Rose, as well as a highly competent turn in an underwritten part in The Interpreter).

Terrence Howard (The Promising Relative New Comer in a Role No One Saw Coming) might have won if:
A) black actors hadn't swept the awards last year (sorry but the Academy does behave this way) and
B) he weren't up against both The Actor's Actor in The Defining Role of His Career (Hoffman) and The Movie Star in a Breakthrough He-Can-Really-Act Role (Ledger).  But one of those two always wins. For comparison to Howard, think Adrian Brodie a couple years ago up against 4 other nominees who were already Oscar-winners.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on January 31, 2006, 09:51:16 AM
Anyone notice that George Clooney is nominated for two films in three different categories? Best original screenplay and best director for Good Night and Good Luck, and best supporting actor for Syriana. Don't know if he's got a chance in any of those categories, but still, today's not a bad day for George.
Title: Re: Oscar Noms are In
Post by: mshray on January 31, 2006, 09:54:13 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Though I'd've liked to've seen History of Violence get a few more.


Agreed, see my other comments, to which I'd add that I can't really argue that Cronenberg & AHOV got snubbed, as the other 5 films are SOO good, but sometimes they should just go ahead and let there be 6 nominees.  

And speaking of the number of nominees, what's up with there only being 3 Original Songs nominated?  The Academy has never been shy about nominating crappy songs before, surely they could field a 4th & 5th nominated song from somewhere.  Of course I'm sure this is just a function of trying to keep the Awards Show itself from running 5 hours, not a reflection on the number of good songs (or lack thereof).
Title: Re: Oscar Noms are In
Post by: RGMike on January 31, 2006, 10:09:09 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
what's up with there only being 3 Original Songs nominated?  The Academy has never been shy about nominating crappy songs before, surely they could field a 4th & 5th nominated song from somewhere.  Of course I'm sure this is just a function of trying to keep the Awards Show itself from running 5 hours, not a reflection on the number of good songs.


per OscarWatch.com:

From the Academy Awards rules regarding original song:
"3. In the Original Song category, Music Branch members shall meet to screen clips of the eligible songs and vote on the achievements. Following the screening of the clips, voting shall be conducted as follows:

Nominations will be determined by an averaged point system of voting using 10, 9.5, 9, 8.5, 8, 7.5, 7, 6.5 or 6. Only those songs receiving an average score of 8.25 or more shall be eligible for nomination. There may not be more than five nor fewer than three nominations"

Translation: the eligible songs this year really DID suck.  Now, I'm glad to see Terrence Howard recognized for Hustle & Flow; he was good even tho' I strongly disliked the film. But BEST SONG? "It's Hard Out here For A Pimp" is awful, even as rap. One of the problems I had with the music in H&F is that we're supposed to think it's great, but it's like a Chappelle's Show parody of Dirty South -- I kept expecting Chappelle's "Li'l Jon" to show up at any minute.

ETA: from Erik Childress at eFilmCritic.com...

"For the first time maybe ever – a pimp-turned-rapper will compete against Dolly Parton in a music category. And they were worried about the South Park song in 1999. Try these lyrics:

You know it's hard out here for a pimp (you ain't knowin)
When he tryin to get this money for the rent (you ain't knowin)
For the Cadillacs and gas money spent (you ain't knowin)
Because a whole lot of bitches talkin shit (you ain't knowin)
”
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 31, 2006, 12:42:59 PM
Flash-forward to the 2007 Oscars?  I just came across this tidbit on imdb.com while looking for something else:

Mary J Blige will be starring in a Nina Simone biopic!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 31, 2006, 01:38:41 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Flash-forward to the 2007 Oscars?  I just came across this tidbit on imdb.com while looking for something else:

Mary J Blige will be starring in a Nina Simone biopic!


old news...i thought i posted that here already. oh well. it's upsetting, i think. can i suspend my disbelief? dunno. at least it isn't alicia keys.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 31, 2006, 02:01:07 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Flash-forward to the 2007 Oscars?  I just came across this tidbit on imdb.com while looking for something else:

Mary J Blige will be starring in a Nina Simone biopic!


old news...i thought i posted that here already. oh well. it's upsetting, i think. can i suspend my disbelief? dunno. at least it isn't alicia keys.


Or Halle Berry lip-synching :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 31, 2006, 03:58:27 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Flash-forward to the 2007 Oscars?  I just came across this tidbit on imdb.com while looking for something else:

Mary J Blige will be starring in a Nina Simone biopic!


old news...i thought i posted that here already. oh well. it's upsetting, i think. can i suspend my disbelief? dunno. at least it isn't alicia keys.


Or Halle Berry lip-synching :wink:


egads, no!
it's an odd role to fill. i think joan armatrading would have been a better pic, though.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 03, 2006, 01:29:36 PM
Horrors! Dame Judi Dench snubbed!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060201/ap_en_mo/people_judi_dench

I know somebody who doesn't think The Dench is too old...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 04, 2006, 01:17:58 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Horrors! Dame Judi Dench snubbed!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060201/ap_en_mo/people_judi_dench

I know somebody who doesn't think The Dench is too old...


don't know how accurate that is, since the view had angela lansbury on last week. but, of course, she appeared with emma thompson.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 04, 2006, 01:29:14 PM
from imdb.com:

Herzog Helped Phoenix from Car Wreckage

Oscar-nominee Joaquin Phoenix was rescued from his car wreck last week by German cult director Werner Herzog. The 31-year-old Walk The Line star overturned his car on a canyon road above Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood after his brakes failed and he collided with another vehicle. Phoenix was saved because he was wearing his seat-belt, but has revealed he was helped from the wreckage by the 63-year-old, who has a home nearby. The actor says, "I remember this knocking on the passenger window. There was this German voice saying, 'Just relax.' There's the airbag, I can't see and I'm saying, 'I'm fine. I am relaxed. Finally, I rolled down the window and this head pops inside. And he said, 'No, you're not.' And suddenly I said to myself, 'That's Werner Herzog' There's something so calming and beautiful about Werner Herzog's voice. I felt completely fine and safe. I climbed out. I got out of the car and I said, 'Thank you,' and he was gone."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 04, 2006, 01:36:02 PM
my votes (the last two were blind picks):
Ballot
Best Picture   Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Best Actor   Heath Ledger  for Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Best Supporting Actor   Matt Dillon  for Crash (2004)
Best Actress   Judi Dench  for Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)
Best Supporting Actress   Catherine Keener  for Capote (2005)
Best Director   Ang Lee  for Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Best Adapted Screenplay   Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Best Original Screenplay   Crash (2004)
Best Animated Feature   Corpse Bride (2005)
Best Foreign Language Film   Sophie Scholl - Die letzten Tage (2005)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 06, 2006, 09:49:00 AM
Ballot
Best Picture Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Best Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman  for Capote (2005)
Best Supporting Actor William Hurt  for A History of Violence (2005)
Best Actress Reese Witherspoon  for Walk the Line (2005)
Best Supporting Actress Catherine Keener  for Capote (2005)
Best Director Ang Lee  for Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Best Adapted Screenplay Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Best Original Screenplay Crash (2004)
Best Animated Feature Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
Best Foreign Language Film Sophie Scholl - Die letzten Tage (2005)

I too am just guessing on the last one, but W&G should beat out Corpse Bride after winning the Annies last Saturday.  I liked both in the theater & have them on DVD already.

POC, are you predicting or saying your preferences?  I am predicting, but if I were saying my preferences I would probably only switch the Adapted Screnplay award to A History of Violence.  Maybe I'd give the nod to Rachel Weisz for Supporting Actress as well.
 

(the rest of y'all can play by going to IMDb)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 07, 2006, 09:13:37 AM
Best Picture: Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Best Actor: Heath Ledger  for Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Best Supporting Actor: Matt Dillon  for Crash (2004)
Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon  for Walk the Line (2005)
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Adams  for Junebug (2005)
Best Director: Ang Lee  for Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Best Adapted Screenplay: Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Best Original Screenplay: The Squid and the Whale (2005)
Best Animated Feature: Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

I can't honestly pick a Foreign Film, since I've only seen one ("Paradise Now").
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on February 07, 2006, 09:32:24 AM
I can't play; I only saw three movies in theaters last year: Brokeback Mountain, The Family Stone, . . . and The Fantastic Four.  :/
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 10, 2006, 10:36:32 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
POC, are you predicting or saying your preferences?


those are my preferences. i would have selected reese over dame judi, but she's too young for my demographic.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 10, 2006, 11:13:53 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "mshray"
POC, are you predicting or saying your preferences?


those are my preferences. i would have selected reese over dame judi, but she's too young for my demographic.


Reese is older than Scarlett, does that mean....?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 10, 2006, 11:25:56 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "mshray"
POC, are you predicting or saying your preferences?


those are my preferences. i would have selected reese over dame judi, but she's too young for my demographic.


Reese is older than Scarlett, does that mean....?


her road to becoming a dame will be a bit longer.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 17, 2006, 07:35:03 PM
Have y'all seen those commercials for UltraViolet?  Didn't they already make that movie and call it Aeon Flux?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 02, 2006, 08:07:42 AM
Saw a pretty amazing film last nite. CSA: Confederate States of America, a "mockumentary", sort of a parody of Ken Burns-style docus. The premise is that the South won the Civil War, and we get the history of the country from then to now.  Made by a black university professor, it'd be even better if he'd had a bigger budget, but quite astounding even so. Complete with fake commercials for stuff like "electronic slave shackles" and Confederate Insurance.  Worth checking out; it's at the Roxie but will be on pay-per-view very soon as part of Comcast's new deal with IFC films.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 02, 2006, 08:59:57 AM
Now, I barely remember the Oscar-nominated song from Crash, but here's the woman who wrote/performs it:

(http://www.artistdirect.com/Images/Sources/AMGCOVERS/music/cover200/drg000/g061/g06159utdmf.jpg)

her name's Kathleen "Bird" York and she's also an actress, most recently on West Wing. She also played Naomi Judd (!) in a TV movie a decade ago.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 02, 2006, 09:00:38 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Have y'all seen those commercials for UltraViolet?  Didn't they already make that movie and call it Aeon Flux?


Hot Babe in Black Leather II

Apropos, really, as the central theme in Aeon Flux was cloning.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 04, 2006, 12:13:46 PM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Have y'all seen those commercials for UltraViolet?  Didn't they already make that movie and call it Aeon Flux?


Hot Babe in Black Leather II

Apropos, really, as the central theme in Aeon Flux was cloning.


From Peter Hartlaub's review in today's Chron:

"Ultraviolet is a movie to be enjoyed only by science fiction movie completists and middle school boys with extreme cases of Attention Deficit Disorder.

The plotline accomplishes the difficult task of being both complicated and repetitive. Leather-clad Violet (Jovovich, wearing Cher's haircut from the 1965 "Baby Don't Go" tour) is an apparently indestructible soldier engaging in a futuristic battle between humans and her vampire-like race of superpeople called Hemophages. The human bad guys are led by the evil Daxus (Nick Chinlund), who for some unexplained reason has tiny salt shakers shoved up his nostrils for the entire movie.

Violet must defend a mysterious boy named Six from Daxus' minions, most of whom are dressed like they know how to kick butt, then stand like idiots and let themselves get decapitated. Except this is a PG-13 movie, so you don't really see any bloody heads roll, except from blurry far-away angles.

Ultraviolet must have cost a few bucks. The amount of special effects in this film makes The Fifth Element look like Grizzly Man by comparison. In addition, writer and director Kurt Wimmer appears to have gone to the expense of building a time machine, so he could go back to 1985 and get a young Wil Wheaton to play Six. (The makers of Ultraviolet credit an actor named Cameron Bright, but judging solely by looks, I'm sticking to my theory.)

...

The drama ends, confusingly, with a flaming sword battle that takes place partially in the dark, and appears to have equal influences from Highlander and that annual Yule Log that appears every Christmas on KICU-Action 36.

The Yule Log was way more entertaining."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 05, 2006, 06:34:13 PM
"Dame Judi Dench took my eye out in a bar fight!"

(best Oscar line of the night, so far)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 05, 2006, 06:58:21 PM
What's up with this whole "DVDs Are Bad You Must Go To The Cinema If You Want Our Great Product" reiteration that's harshing my vibe?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 05, 2006, 07:05:23 PM
I wish it had never been called to my attention that Lily Tomlin looks like Ace Frehley.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 05, 2006, 07:26:20 PM
*SHRIEK*

DOLLY DENIED!!!

No rag on Three 6 Mafia, but how I would have loved to see Dolly on that stage.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 05, 2006, 07:31:05 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
*SHRIEK*

DOLLY DENIED!!!

No rag on Three 6 Mafia, but how I would have loved to see Dolly on that stage.


Oh, I'll be happy to (doo-)rag on Three 6 Mafia -- one of the more preposterous Best Song nominees in history, IMHO. Credit to ABC, tho', for not censoring "a whole lotta bitches talkin' shit".

Dolly looked fab anyway.

SHHH! it's the "In Memoriam" montage... who'll win this year's Applause-O-Meter?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 05, 2006, 08:04:45 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Credit to ABC, tho', for not censoring "a whole lotta bitches talkin' shit".


That's because they actually sang the line as "a whole lotta witches jumpin' ship."

So Pryor won the posthumous applause award; I thought it was gonna be Shelley Winters.  Bizarrely, runner-up was that guy with the droopy eyes.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 05, 2006, 08:09:38 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Credit to ABC, tho', for not censoring "a whole lotta bitches talkin' shit".


That's because they actually sang the line as "a whole lotta witches jumpin' ship."


I thought I heard both versions on alternating verses, but I had read earlier this week that ABC had given them permission to do it uncensored.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 05, 2006, 08:13:09 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
What's up with this whole "DVDs Are Bad You Must Go To The Cinema If You Want Our Great Product" reiteration that's harshing my vibe?


It's their one night of the year to flog Hollywood -- and movies ARE meant to be seen on a big screen. So I'm not surprised.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 05, 2006, 08:25:11 PM
Oscar spreads the love - Crash wins Best Picture, Ang Lee wins Best Director.

comments to follow
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 05, 2006, 08:28:38 PM
OMG! Crash pulls the Best Pic upset!

Leaving it and BBM with 3 awards each.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 05, 2006, 08:30:32 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Oscar spreads the love - Crash wins Best Picture, Ang Lee wins Best Director.

comments to follow


and Jon Stewart in a non-presence disappointment.  ('course, I missed the first hour, maybe he had his claws snipped early?)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 05, 2006, 08:38:40 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "mshray"
Oscar spreads the love - Crash wins Best Picture, Ang Lee wins Best Director.

comments to follow


and Jon Stewart in a non-presence disappointment.  ('course, I missed the first hour, maybe he had his claws snipped early?)


I'm not sure what you were expecting. I think he was trying to be dignified and low-key. His nastiest joke (the Baldwin Bros. one) got a smattering of boos. He saw what Chris Rock got last year for being "edgy".

The pre-taped bits (the opening and the "Best Actress" campaign commercials) were pretty clever, I thought.

in any case, here's Ben Karlin, Stewart's exec producer and co-writer:

"The Oscar show is not the place for any kind of revolutionary act. We don't want to do something that feels cheap, like we totally gave up on doing something that makes us laugh, but if we're doing material that's political in nature, we want to make sure it's filtered through the world of movies, not just political for the sake of being political. We're trying to find that balance. It's all about being able to beat yourself up in a pure way."

Meanwhile, defamer.com's Oscar nite blog is mighty funny.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 05, 2006, 09:07:15 PM
BTW, Sat afternoon I saw a terrific docu called Street Fight, about 2 guys who ran for mayor of Newark NJ in 2002 (and who apparently are running against each other again this year).  I didn't even realize it was one of the 5 Best Docu Oscar nominees until tonite.  That means I've seen 4 out of 5,  a record for me, I think -- and the 5th one (Darwin's Nightmare) is opening within the month.  Still think Grizzly Man got shafted; not surprised the penguins won.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 06, 2006, 08:40:22 AM
snoozer of an oscars. agreed - the best bits were the pre-taped parts ("REESE!"). the streep was gorgeous, as always. i was a little worried that 3com mafia's light show would send poor bobby altman into a seizure. i can't believe that song was nominated, much less that it won. ugh. it's not even a "real" song! :) i mean, it was written by a character in the movie, and wouldn't otherwise be considered for airplay on the real radio (the one that exists offscreen). ugh. just ugh.

dolly would have been much cuter accepting her award, though i doubt she would have been so excited! at least i can say that about 3com. they were genuinely happy!!! that was nice.

poor, poor lauren bacall.

just as the nominees were being announced for best pic, i secretly hoped crash would win (even though i'd been rooting for BM). something about seeing sandra bullock reminded me of what a great overall film it was.

and WOW - so great for mr. hoffman. even though i was rooting for HL. quite happy with both (upset, for me) wins.

what's up with the shelley winters memorial clip being longer than the anne bancroft one? hissboo.

and would that all aceeptance speeches be as moving and as cognizant of the clock as gavin hood's (not reese witherspoon's, who, by the way, is a "real woman").
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 06, 2006, 08:50:07 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i was a little worried that 3com mafia's light show would send poor bobby altman into a seizure. i can't believe that song was nominated, much less that it won. ugh. it's not even a "real" song! :) i mean, it was written by a character in the movie, and wouldn't otherwise be considered for airplay on the real radio (the one that exists offscreen). ugh. just ugh.


THANK you! One of the problems I had with Hustle & Flow was that the rap numbers came across (to me, anyway) like Chapelle's Show parodies of "dirty South". I kept expecting Chapelle's version of "Li'l Jon" to walk onscreen at any moment.  And yet the film presents the songs unironically, as if we're supposed to think they're great.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 06, 2006, 08:54:18 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i was a little worried that 3com mafia's light show would send poor bobby altman into a seizure. i can't believe that song was nominated, much less that it won. ugh. it's not even a "real" song! :) i mean, it was written by a character in the movie, and wouldn't otherwise be considered for airplay on the real radio (the one that exists offscreen). ugh. just ugh.


THANK you! One of the problems I had with Hustle & Flow was that the rap numbers came across (to me, anyway) like Chapelle's Show parodies of "dirty South". I kept expecting Chapelle's version of "Li'l Jon" to walk onscreen at any moment.  And yet the film presents the songs unironically, as if we're supposed to think they're great.


yes, "parody" is the word i've been seeking. i keep calling it a "cute" film.

during the "these are people who died, died!" montage, i couldn't stop singing, "robert wise, robert wise" to the tune of "edelweiss." of course, it began with "rachel weisz."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 06, 2006, 09:36:14 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"

dolly would have been much cuter accepting her award, though i doubt she would have been so excited! at least i can say that about 3com. they were genuinely happy!!! that was nice.

poor, poor lauren bacall.



Since none of the songs did a thing for me, I didn't care who won the award.  Like, whatever.

Agreed on LB.  Very painful to watch.

As for Best Picture, Crash was okay, but I thought it had problems.  Too "fabricated" in it's story line, it had to work too hard to loop all the story lines back on themselves.  I thought Brokeback was much more seamless in how it told it's story.  I'm a "story guy," so that's just my opinion.

Didn't see any of the other BP candidates...

Yay for phillip seymore hoffman.  I haven't seen Capote yet, but Hoffman has been terrific in every movie I've seen him in, so it's a good thing...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 06, 2006, 09:55:28 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"

and would that all aceeptance speeches be as moving and as cognizant of the clock as gavin hood's


Princess, did you know to shout back "Awethu!" when he yelled out "Amandla!" after getting his co-stars on camera?  I did & my wife, kids & mother-in-law all looked at me like I was nuts.  Had to call my dad right away to confirm that they did, and they had.  So I wasn't totally alone.

I also thought that Bancroft got slighted, that Bacall was deeply unfortunate to come across like that, that Rachel Weisz is even awesomer when she's pregnant, & that the taped bits (especially the non-gay cowboys one) were the funniest things Stewart did.

My top 3 onstage moments:

Gavin Hood's acceptance
the Tomlin/Streep into for Altman
Clooney's acceptance
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 06, 2006, 09:59:39 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"

and would that all aceeptance speeches be as moving and as cognizant of the clock as gavin hood's


Princess, did you know to shout back "Awethu!" when he yelled out "Amandla!" after getting his co-stars on camera?  I did & my wife, kids & mother-in-law all looked at me like I was nuts.  Had to call my dad right away to confirm that they did, and they had.  So I wasn't totally alone.


yes, the neville brothers taught me that phrase. :)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 06, 2006, 10:00:37 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
OMG! Crash pulls the Best Pic upset!

Leaving it and BBM with 3 awards each.


Actually there was a four-way tie in the awards count, as King Kong & Memoirs of a Geisha each also got 3 Oscars in the lesser categories.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 06, 2006, 10:02:17 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"

and would that all aceeptance speeches be as moving and as cognizant of the clock as gavin hood's


Princess, did you know to shout back "Awethu!" when he yelled out "Amandla!" after getting his co-stars on camera?  I did & my wife, kids & mother-in-law all looked at me like I was nuts.  Had to call my dad right away to confirm that they did, and they had.  So I wasn't totally alone.


yes, the neville brothers taught me that phrase. :)


Awethu Franklin is my fave singer.  And how 'bout Latifah's cleavage.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 06, 2006, 10:03:35 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"

and would that all aceeptance speeches be as moving and as cognizant of the clock as gavin hood's


Princess, did you know to shout back "Awethu!" when he yelled out "Amandla!" after getting his co-stars on camera?  I did & my wife, kids & mother-in-law all looked at me like I was nuts.  Had to call my dad right away to confirm that they did, and they had.  So I wasn't totally alone.


yes, the neville brothers taught me that phrase. :)


Awethu Franklin is my fave singer.  And how 'bout Latifah's cleavage.


yeah, that was nice. i was hoping she was raising the roof for dolly, though. that would have been classic! "and the oscar goes to....my girl, my dawg...dolly p in the house!"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 06, 2006, 10:09:05 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"

and would that all aceeptance speeches be as moving and as cognizant of the clock as gavin hood's


Princess, did you know to shout back "Awethu!" when he yelled out "Amandla!" after getting his co-stars on camera?  I did & my wife, kids & mother-in-law all looked at me like I was nuts.  Had to call my dad right away to confirm that they did, and they had.  So I wasn't totally alone.


yes, the neville brothers taught me that phrase. :)


Awethu Franklin is my fave singer.  And how 'bout Latifah's cleavage.


Heh heh, that would be funnier if "awethu' were pronuonced the way it looks, but it's from the Xhose language & it is correctly said like 'away-too'.

Just in case not everyone knows, amandla awethu means "power is ours", and in anti-apartheid rallies the speaker would shout "Amandla!" & the crowd yells back "Awethu!"  Then they might sing "Nkosi Sikele Africa" which for my money is far & away the most beautiful National Anthem anywhere.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 06, 2006, 10:24:46 AM
movies i watched last week:

in good company - much better than i expected. laugh-out-loud funny as ebert might say. or is it roper? dennis quaid can be good )in a jeff daniels sort of way) when he wants to be.

house of sand and fog - my! my! my! stellar perfs on the parts of the behranis. i hated the ending, but that's the way the story goes, i guess.

short cuts - i love the characters and the dialogue, but i just don't like bobby altman. too long-winded. watch "the anniversary party" for a shorter version of the same story.

christiane f. - a german film about a young girl who falls into drugs and prostitution. bowie in concert! and the entire soundtrack is bowie.

gorky park - let's not talk about it. i couldn't believe the entire movie was about sable.

ararat - excellent! excellent! a bit challenging (read: slow) at parts. but christopher plummer is wonderful. and the weaving of stories was quite tactfully done...

101 reykjavik - hilarious movie about a boy and the women in his life. full of icelandic humour.

on deck for today: i'm gonna git you sucka.  :)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 07, 2006, 09:27:32 AM
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy...

I got up Saturday morning and started flipping through the channels.  Ended up on "Rudy," on HBO.  Sean Astin seems to be everywhere these days, but that may be because I'm overly influenced by 24 right now.  Anyway, my roommate comes down a while later.  He's never seen "Rudy."

It's great when a movie can make a 54 year old frat boy cry....
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 07, 2006, 09:44:46 AM
Quote from: "Rod"
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy...

I got up Saturday morning and started flipping through the channels.  Ended up on "Rudy," on HBO.  Sean Astin seems to be everywhere these days, but that may be because I'm overly influenced by 24 right now.  Anyway, my roommate comes down a while later.  He's never seen "Rudy."

It's great when a movie can make a 54 year old frat boy cry....


Ah loves me some Sean Astin.  He's gotta know he's been in both the most homoerotic sports movie ever and the most homoerotic fantasy trilogy ever.  And speaking of, Mark Morford's take on the BBM "snub":

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=3&entry_id=3331
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 07, 2006, 09:49:15 AM
i watched network yesterday. how amazing to watch today! what of arabs and u.s ports?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 07, 2006, 09:55:02 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i watched network yesterday. how amazing to watch today! what of arabs and u.s ports?


"I want counterculture... I want anti-establishment!" Faye D. ROCKS!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 07, 2006, 11:06:12 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Rod"
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy...

I got up Saturday morning and started flipping through the channels.  Ended up on "Rudy," on HBO.  Sean Astin seems to be everywhere these days, but that may be because I'm overly influenced by 24 right now.  Anyway, my roommate comes down a while later.  He's never seen "Rudy."

It's great when a movie can make a 54 year old frat boy cry....


Ah loves me some Sean Astin.  He's gotta know he's been in both the most homoerotic sports movie ever and the most homoerotic fantasy trilogy ever.  And speaking of, Mark Morford's take on the BBM "snub":

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=3&entry_id=3331


I also landed on 50 First Dates for a while last Saturday (talk about your lost weekends!).  There was Sean Astin again, hilarious as Drew Barrymore's roided up brother.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 07, 2006, 01:33:16 PM
i'm wathcing all the president's men, and it occurs to me: george clooney is the new robert redford!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 07, 2006, 02:39:13 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i'm wathcing all the president's men, and it occurs to me: george clooney is the new robert redford!


Oh Me Oh My Yes.

(http://www.cinematical.com/images/2005/09/clooney.jpg)

BTW, you're missing Lulu on VIP.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 07, 2006, 04:37:55 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i'm wathcing all the president's men, and it occurs to me: george clooney is the new robert redford!


Oh Me Oh My Yes.

(http://www.cinematical.com/images/2005/09/clooney.jpg)

BTW, you're missing Lulu on VIP.


well, it wasn't so much for looks as for funding of political films. but, sure, he's a lookah, too!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 07, 2006, 09:05:35 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Rod"
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy...

I got up Saturday morning and started flipping through the channels.  Ended up on "Rudy," on HBO.  Sean Astin seems to be everywhere these days, but that may be because I'm overly influenced by 24 right now.  Anyway, my roommate comes down a while later.  He's never seen "Rudy."

It's great when a movie can make a 54 year old frat boy cry....


Ah loves me some Sean Astin.  He's gotta know he's been in both the most homoerotic sports movie ever and the most homoerotic fantasy trilogy ever.  And speaking of, Mark Morford's take on the BBM "snub":

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=3&entry_id=3331


I loved Rudy, but I wouldn't so much call it homoerotic.  That signifier must, of course, go to School Ties, in which a then unknown Brendan Fraser played a Jewish student-athlete at a Catholic prep school with a then unknown Matt Damon and a then unknown Chris O'Donnell as two of his teammates/classmates.

There is a lengthy scene with Brendan, Matt, and Chris in the shower together.  Brendan and Matt fight.  I need say no more.`
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 07, 2006, 09:18:23 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
I loved Rudy, but I wouldn't so much call it homoerotic.  


Understand that I say this knowing that the real-life Rudy is married with children, but the whole subtext of the movie is: this little guy who wants -- yearns -- to be surrounded by big guys. It's, like, his dream. Hello?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 08, 2006, 11:44:56 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"

I loved Rudy, but I wouldn't so much call it homoerotic.  That signifier must, of course, go to School Ties, in which a then unknown Brendan Fraser played a Jewish student-athlete at a Catholic prep school with a then unknown Matt Damon and a then unknown Chris O'Donnell as two of his teammates/classmates.

There is a lengthy scene with Brendan, Matt, and Chris in the shower together.  Brendan and Matt fight.  I need say no more.`


And don't forget that Ben Affleck's character is named Chesty Smith.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on March 08, 2006, 07:55:17 PM
Question about a TV movie. A few months back I saw a TV movie called Knights of the South Bronx. I want a copy of it. As far as I can tell it is only a TV movie. Any suggestions about how I can tell when/where it might play so I can tape it? Are TV movies available anywhere on disc?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 08, 2006, 10:55:01 PM
Quote from: "Alicat"
Question about a TV movie. A few months back I saw a TV movie called Knights of the South Bronx. I want a copy of it. As far as I can tell it is only a TV movie. Any suggestions about how I can tell when/where it might play so I can tape it? Are TV movies available anywhere on disc?


Per IMDB, it's not available commercially, and there's nothing on tvshowsondvd.com (really--I'm not making that up). I'd check the website of whatever network it was on to see if it's coming up for airing again. Or drop Tim whatsisface from the Chron a note.

Or post something on craigslist to see if you can find someone who did tape it to copy it for you.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 09, 2006, 01:52:49 PM
The REAL reason "Crash" beat BBM...

http://www.nickstarr.com/2006/03/07/oscar-gate/
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 10, 2006, 10:21:29 AM
i'm going to the 2pm sunday matinee of this. anyone care to join?

March 11–12, 2006
ED WOOD FILM FESTIVAL
Featuring Plan 9 From Outer Space NEWLY RESTORED—AND NOW IN COLOR!
Starring Bela Lugosi, Vampira, Tor Johnson and Dudley Manlove.
Sa: 7p WORLD COLOR PREMIERE Su: 2p, 4p, 6p, 8p

Come to the Castro for the biggest movie event of the year—the World Color Premiere of director Ed Wood’s utterly preposterous 1959 masterpiece of poorly executed film-making—PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE. The most extensive restoration to date and in color for the first time, Ed Wood’s unintentionally hilarious cult classic of aliens who attempt to conquer Earth by reanimating the dead has been hailed as the “worst movie ever made.” With string-powered flying saucers, laughable dialogue, shrewd alien logic and “priceless” special effects, the aliens’ invasion plan can’t go wrong. (Hint: It does.)

In addition to PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, the film festival also includes never-before-seen Ed Wood home movies (see Ed model his famous angora sweater and fishnet stockings!), rare Ed Wood commercials and Plans 1-8, narrated by Mystery Science Theater 3000’s Mike Nelson, and much more.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 10, 2006, 10:25:01 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i'm going to the 2pm sunday matinee of this. anyone care to join?

March 11–12, 2006
ED WOOD FILM FESTIVAL
Featuring Plan 9 From Outer Space NEWLY RESTORED—AND NOW IN COLOR!
Starring Bela Lugosi, Vampira, Tor Johnson and Dudley Manlove.
Sa: 7p WORLD COLOR PREMIERE Su: 2p, 4p, 6p, 8p

Come to the Castro for the biggest movie event of the year—the World Color Premiere of director Ed Wood’s utterly preposterous 1959 masterpiece of poorly executed film-making—PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE. The most extensive restoration to date and in color for the first time, Ed Wood’s unintentionally hilarious cult classic of aliens who attempt to conquer Earth by reanimating the dead has been hailed as the “worst movie ever made.” With string-powered flying saucers, laughable dialogue, shrewd alien logic and “priceless” special effects, the aliens’ invasion plan can’t go wrong. (Hint: It does.)

In addition to PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, the film festival also includes never-before-seen Ed Wood home movies (see Ed model his famous angora sweater and fishnet stockings!), rare Ed Wood commercials and Plans 1-8, narrated by Mystery Science Theater 3000’s Mike Nelson, and much more.


"in color for the first time"? meaning, colorized with computers, Ted Turner style?  Or did they find a lost color version in the vault?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 10, 2006, 12:23:04 PM
BTW, princess (and anyone else): have you seen the commercials for Inside Man, the new Spike Lee thriller starring Denzel and Jodie F.?  Woo Hoo!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 11, 2006, 03:54:17 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
BTW, princess (and anyone else): have you seen the commercials for Inside Man, the new Spike Lee thriller starring Denzel and Jodie F.?  Woo Hoo!


yes. yes. woof!!! i wonder when it opens?????
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 11, 2006, 10:35:26 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
BTW, princess (and anyone else): have you seen the commercials for Inside Man, the new Spike Lee thriller starring Denzel and Jodie F.?  Woo Hoo!


yes. yes. woof!!! i wonder when it opens?????


Friday March 24th. Spike has made some of his best recent movies when he's left the writing (or at least the source material) to someone else. (See: Clockers, 25th Hour.) So I'm psyched for this one.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 12, 2006, 05:27:42 PM
So I'm sitting here gearing up for the return of The Sopranos and I catch the last half-hour of Chronicles of Riddick on HBO. The Diesel and the Dench together at last!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 13, 2006, 09:52:40 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
So I'm sitting here gearing up for the return of The Sopranos and I catch the last half-hour of Chronicles of Riddick on HBO. The Diesel and the Dench together at last!


a match made in heaven, i'm sure. someday my dench will come!

i recently watched a great norwegian film entitled, "elling." a must-see!! two thumbs up - way up! would be a great double-bill with "kitchen stories" (also norwegian).
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 14, 2006, 01:17:25 PM
Natalie Portman IS Sinead O'Connnor!

(http://newsfeed.tcm.ie/images/people/natalieportmanbaldPA.jpg)

Oh, wait, it's that V for Vendetta movie, not a Sinead biopic. Or maybe a remake of GI Jane...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 15, 2006, 07:44:48 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
BTW, princess (and anyone else): have you seen the commercials for Inside Man, the new Spike Lee thriller starring Denzel and Jodie F.?  Woo Hoo!


yes. yes. woof!!! i wonder when it opens?????


Friday March 24th. Spike has made some of his best recent movies when he's left the writing (or at least the source material) to someone else. (See: Clockers, 25th Hour.) So I'm psyched for this one.


an early rave:

http://emanuellevy.com/article.php?articleID=1818
Title: do you see the similarity?
Post by: ggould on March 15, 2006, 10:20:10 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
it's that V for Vendetta movie, not a Sinead biopic. Or maybe a remake of GI Jane...

The guy with the mask makes me think of Hexadecimal from Reboot:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e1/ReBoot_Hexadecimal_1.jpg)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 16, 2006, 10:06:35 AM
recent watches:

i heart huckabees - a bit difficult because of the whiny mr. schwartzman (i almost retched during the doggie-style with huppert scene), but natural-born comedians tomlin, hoffman, and wahlberg make the film bearable.

heaven - ribisi and blanchett in a so-so love/action film. but they are both  such great chameleons - you never know who they're going to be onscreen (and in ribisi's case, sometimes, you can't even tell it's him!). plus they both speak italian. hot!

bubble - soderbergh as solonz as soderbergh. brevity is beautiful.

the man with the golden arm - kim novak, what a beaut with a penchant for helping addicts. watch as sinatra suffers the shortest heroin withdrawal known to man! if you rent the dvd version, be certain to watch the trailers - hilarious!

good night and good luck - beautifully shot and recorded. gosh, those voices were so silky!! editing, so-so. story, interesting. flow, not so good. but superb acting, to be sure.

a history of violence - william hurt as a gangster. who doesn't want that? hot sex scenes with viggo and maria bello (should be, "bella!"). the title of the film is key to the understanding of the film.

in cold blood - too long. but quite a chilling tale (for the time) based on the capote novel. robert blake stars as an investigator. best prophetic line from one of the villains mentions something about millionaires never having to hang for their crimes.

glengarry glen ross - what do i need to say? poor shelly.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 16, 2006, 10:16:54 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
recent watches:

i heart huckabees - a bit difficult because of the whiny mr. schwartzman (i almost retched during the doggie-style with huppert scene), but natural-born comedians tomlin, hoffman, and wahlberg make the film bearable.



Marky Mark is by far the best thing in that film, which I found a complete mess.  He's got a gift for comedy -- sign him up for that long-gestating film of Dreyfuss Affair, about the 2 ballplayers who fall in love.  Maybe Dennis Haysbert for the other guy? Mmmmm... I think I have to go now...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 16, 2006, 10:26:40 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
recent watches:

i heart huckabees - a bit difficult because of the whiny mr. schwartzman (i almost retched during the doggie-style with huppert scene), but natural-born comedians tomlin, hoffman, and wahlberg make the film bearable.



Marky Mark is by far the best thing in that film, which I found a complete mess.  He's got a gift for comedy -- sign him up for that long-gestating film of Dreyfuss Affair, about the 2 ballplayers who fall in love.  Maybe Dennis Haysbert for the other guy? Mmmmm... I think I have to go now...


lawdy, miss clawdy!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 16, 2006, 10:53:12 AM
Putting (bigger) fannies in the seats? From one of my fave movie-biz websites, hollywood-elsewhere.com:

Quote
MCN columnist Gary Dretzka's report about bigger theatre seats and implied American obesity levels doesn't just raise intriguing questions -- it could serve as the starting point for a comedy skit. Dretzka wrote from Showest that "representatives of seat manufacturers confirmed [during the festival] that the width of the average chair has expanded from around 18-20 inches, to 22-24 inches. Since volume is important to exhibitors, it's logical to think that this adjustment was made necessary for reasons other than pampering their customers' rear ends." But how did this obviously major business decision (think of the revenue downscalings due to fewer seats per theatre) come to pass? Presumably theatre owners were getting complaints from their tuba-sized customers about the seats being too small, but how many (are there statistics?) and for how long a time? At precisely what point did the Jabba-sizing of America reach red-alert proportions as far as theatre seats were concerned, leaving exhibitors backed against the wall with no choice but to invest and accomodate?
Title: Re: do you see the similarity?
Post by: RGMike on March 17, 2006, 10:07:19 PM
Quote from: "ggould"
Quote from: "RGMike"
it's that V for Vendetta movie, not a Sinead biopic. Or maybe a remake of GI Jane...

The guy with the mask makes me think of Hexadecimal from Reboot:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e1/ReBoot_Hexadecimal_1.jpg)


V For Vendetta RAWKS!

Saw it. Loved it. SEE IT!  Wow... and again, WOW.
Title: The Haggis Halo
Post by: ggould on March 19, 2006, 05:32:27 PM
I probably have pointed this out before, but just in case, here goes:  Paul Haggis has won the best picture two years in a row, and Paul was one of the main writers on my beloved series, Due South.  Is there a connection?  
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/duesouth/images/dsbanner1.jpg)
Title: Re: The Haggis Halo
Post by: RGMike on March 19, 2006, 08:55:47 PM
Quote from: "ggould"
I probably have pointed this out before, but just in case, here goes:  Paul Haggis has won the best picture two years in a row, and Paul was one of the main writers on my beloved series, Due South.  Is there a connection?  
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/duesouth/images/dsbanner1.jpg)


Technically, he has written the BP 2 years in a row, but he lost the Adapted Screenplay Oscar last year to Sideways. But don't get too cocky -- he also wrote for Facts of Life.  :wink:

Of course, FOL also gave George Clooney his start, speaking of coincidences.
Title: Re: do you see the similarity?
Post by: mshray on March 20, 2006, 08:53:38 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"


V For Vendetta RAWKS!

Saw it. Loved it. SEE IT!  Wow... and again, WOW.


Me too.  I feel sorry for Alan Moore. I can understand after what happened with the two previous movie versions of his graphic novels that he basically hates Hollywood, but I think he did himself a big disfavor by taking his name off of this movie.  It just seemed weird at the end to see in the credits: 'Based on the graphic novel illustrated by David Lloyd', and not see 'written by...'

I thought it was as faithful as one could expect, and most importantly it just works.  Plus it has already cracked the IMDb Top 250.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 20, 2006, 01:09:03 PM
Surprisingly, the long-awaited Brian Jones biopic, Stoned is opening Friday at the Lumiere with little publicity and less buzz.  And what buzz there is, is pretty bad: "a cliche-ridden romp thru the sex-n-drugs '60s", apparently. Jones takes his first LSD trip to the strains of JA's "White Rabbit", etc.  What a shame. I had been looking forward to seeing it.
Title: Life, the Universe, and Everything
Post by: Gazoo on March 20, 2006, 07:46:20 PM
It's not new, but I finally saw for the first time the film version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- on the Greyhound (er, Peter Pan) bus ride home from Boston, of all places.  Rico had good taste.

Big fan of the books, so I approached the movie warily.  Knew the guy from The Office but knew nothing of Mos Def as an actor (and little as a rapper, even), and had no idea if the lyricality of Adams's language would translate to visuals.

Maybe the narrator segments were a cop-out as far as that goes, but at least they looked cute.  Especially the angry people who hadn't been invited to the party upstairs.  And I loved all the keys in their roles, except for Zaphod Beeblebrox: I wanted something looking like Andy Sturmer of Jellyfish, and I got something that looked like Dog the Bounty Hunter.  But the best thing I can say about the movie is that it makes me really eager to go back and re-read the books again.
Title: Re: Life, the Universe, and Everything
Post by: RGMike on March 20, 2006, 10:20:37 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
It's not new, but I finally saw for the first time the film version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- on the Greyhound (er, Peter Pan) bus ride home from Boston, of all places.  Rico had good taste.

Big fan of the books, so I approached the movie warily.  Knew the guy from The Office but knew nothing of Mos Def as an actor (and little as a rapper, even), and had no idea if the lyricality of Adams's language would translate to visuals.

Maybe the narrator segments were a cop-out as far as that goes, but at least they looked cute.  Especially the angry people who hadn't been invited to the party upstairs.  And I loved all the keys in their roles, except for Zaphod Beeblebrox: I wanted something looking like Andy Sturmer of Jellyfish, and I got something that looked like Dog the Bounty Hunter.  But the best thing I can say about the movie is that it makes me really eager to go back and re-read the books again.


I thought Sam Rockwell was doing a wicked Tom Cruise parody, actually. And Mos Def is mos def a terrific actor -- been great in everything I've seen him do.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 21, 2006, 07:36:07 AM
hey, mike, want to catch the inside man this weekend? either friday evening or sunday matinee?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 21, 2006, 07:38:44 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
hey, mike, want to catch the inside man this weekend? either friday evening or sunday matinee?


You read my mind, baby!

(http://www.nymetro.com/movies/csphotos/05098601.jpg)

I was thinking Fri after work but evening works too.  I'll monitor Fandango for the showtimes.

Last nite I saw Find Me Guilty -- Vin Diesel can act!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 21, 2006, 09:54:56 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
hey, mike, want to catch the inside man this weekend? either friday evening or sunday matinee?


You read my mind, baby!

(http://www.nymetro.com/movies/csphotos/05098601.jpg)

I was thinking Fri after work but evening works too.  I'll monitor Fandango for the showtimes.

Last nite I saw Find Me Guilty -- Vin Diesel can act!


i'll be at the whiskies of the world convention until 5-ish on friday, so any time after that works for me!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 21, 2006, 10:05:37 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
[i'll be at the whiskies of the world convention until 5-ish on friday


Sounds like a fun gig!  Is it at Moscone?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 21, 2006, 10:11:36 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
[i'll be at the whiskies of the world convention until 5-ish on friday


Sounds like a fun gig!  Is it at Moscone?


The 2006 Speakers Seminars/Seated tastings will be held Friday, March 24th, 2006 at the Hotel Monaco, 501 Geary Street from 1pm-5 pm

All speakers will also be in attendance to meet and greet at the Saturday Night Main tasting!

Simon Brooking
Laphroaig

The Great Whisky-Whiskey Debate!
with Richard Paterson and Fred Noe

Ian Millar
Wm Grant & Sons
Balvenie & Glenfiddich Rare Bottlings

Gray Ottley
Director of Distilled
Resources, Inc.
Blue Ice Vodka

Ewan Gunn
John Dewars & Sons

Dan Tullio
Canadian Club Heritage brands

Jim Murray
Internationally Acclaimed Whisky Writer and Nose

John Glaser
Founder and Master Blender
Compass Box Whiskies

Dave Robertson
Master Blender
The Easy Drinking Whisky Company

Steve Beal
Master Brand Ambassador
The Classic Malts

Jimmy Russell
Master Distiller
Russells Reserve

Lincoln Henderson
Master Distiller
Yamazaki Single Malt
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 21, 2006, 10:18:10 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i'll be at the whiskies of the world convention until 5-ish on friday, so any time after that works for me!


For half a second I imagined this being a cat-food sampler . . .
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 21, 2006, 10:21:33 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"


Last nite I saw Find Me Guilty -- Vin Diesel can act!


I always thought so, it's just that he started doing action flicks.  He was very good in Boiler Room, with Giovanni Ribisi.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 21, 2006, 10:29:25 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i'll be at the whiskies of the world convention until 5-ish on friday, so any time after that works for me!


For half a second I imagined this being a cat-food sampler . . .


Whiskas of the World, unite!  Throw off your flea collars!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 21, 2006, 10:37:06 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i'll be at the whiskies of the world convention until 5-ish on friday, so any time after that works for me!


For half a second I imagined this being a cat-food sampler . . .


Whiskas of the World, unite!  Throw off your flea collars!


don't tempt the cats to unite and take over. you see what happened in egypt.

i bet they do have a whiskas of the world convention for cats, though. i can see the little uppity furballs thumbing their noses at the thought of juiceless canned tuna.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 21, 2006, 10:43:08 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i'll be at the whiskies of the world convention until 5-ish on friday, so any time after that works for me!


For half a second I imagined this being a cat-food sampler . . .


Whiskas of the World, unite!  Throw off your flea collars!


don't tempt the cats to unite and take over. you see what happened in egypt.

i bet they do have a whiskas of the world convention for cats, though. i can see the little uppity furballs thumbing their noses at the thought of juiceless canned tuna.


Dat's whiskity-wack!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 22, 2006, 05:51:53 PM
crash, an interesting perspective (http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Mar06/Jensen-Wosnitzer21.htm)

had a hard time reading past the second paragraph. racism existed long before white people existed. remember caste systems? and if robert squared is positing that the modern world didn't exist until the white man came to power - a racist comment by its very nature -  then they are committing a fundamental error warned of in grade school, and later by Aristotle: circular argument (racism exists because of white men who created racism because racism exists...).

the color of racism is not white - to believe so would be to let everyone off the hook except whites, a move that would hardly be considered just.

hell, maybe i'm biased. i loved the film. the article sounds like a couple of white guys trying to make themselves feel better after beating themselves up for feeling so good after watching the film. unless jensen and wosnitzer aren't white names (see? i'm racist, too!!!)
Title: the color of racism
Post by: ggould on March 22, 2006, 07:52:25 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
crash, an interesting perspective (http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Mar06/Jensen-Wosnitzer21.htm)

had a hard time reading past the second paragraph. racism existed long before white people existed. remember caste systems? and if robert squared is positing that the modern world didn't exist until the white man came to power - a racist comment by its very nature -  then they are committing a fundamental error warned of in grade school, and later by Aristotle: circular argument (racism exists because of white men who created racism because racism exists...).

the color of racism is not white - to believe so would be to let everyone off the hook except whites, a move that would hardly be considered just.

hell, maybe i'm biased. i loved the film. the article sounds like a couple of white guys trying to make themselves feel better after beating themselves up for feeling so good after watching the film. unless jensen and wosnitzer aren't white names (see? i'm racist, too!!!)

I'm having a hard time in my 9th grade science class, where there are NO white kids, and almost all the kids are pretty racist.  The irony and pain of being a big white man, and scolding black kids who use the n-word is inescapable.  But too many people of many races have struggled and died, been beaten and lynched, for me to look the other way.  Just because one kid says "my momma calls me that!" doesn't make it right in the classroom.  I have many priveleges in life being a white male, but my opinions are kind of suspect whenever the subject is race or gender, but what the hey...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 23, 2006, 08:04:26 AM
Inside Man update for the princess (and ayone else who might care to join us Friday evening):  Both Metreon and AMC Van Ness have 7pm shows (the shows before that are too early to mesh w/poc's sked). So whichever location is more convenient to your whiskey-slingin' gig is fine with me (I'm thinking Van Ness might be better 'cause you'd just have to hop on the 38 Geary -- and there's a swell Thai restaurant around the corner from the theater, which beats the Metreon Food Court.)  So think on it.

Denzel & Jodie & Clive -- Oh My!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 23, 2006, 08:37:53 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
(I'm thinking Van Ness might be better 'cause you'd just have to hop on the 38 Geary -- and there's a swell Thai restaurant around the corner from the theater, which beats the Metreon Food Court.)


You should eat at Tommy's Joynt!  I regretted not making it there during my recent visit.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 23, 2006, 08:40:23 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
(I'm thinking Van Ness might be better 'cause you'd just have to hop on the 38 Geary -- and there's a swell Thai restaurant around the corner from the theater, which beats the Metreon Food Court.)


You should eat at Tommy's Joynt!  I regretted not making it there during my recent visit.


I'm not a big fan of buffalo sandwiches :wink:
Title: Re: the color of racism
Post by: Gazoo on March 23, 2006, 08:49:20 AM
Quote from: "ggould"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
crash, an interesting perspective (http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Mar06/Jensen-Wosnitzer21.htm)

had a hard time reading past the second paragraph. racism existed long before white people existed. remember caste systems? and if robert squared is positing that the modern world didn't exist until the white man came to power - a racist comment by its very nature -  then they are committing a fundamental error warned of in grade school, and later by Aristotle: circular argument (racism exists because of white men who created racism because racism exists...).

the color of racism is not white - to believe so would be to let everyone off the hook except whites, a move that would hardly be considered just.

hell, maybe i'm biased. i loved the film. the article sounds like a couple of white guys trying to make themselves feel better after beating themselves up for feeling so good after watching the film. unless jensen and wosnitzer aren't white names (see? i'm racist, too!!!)

I'm having a hard time in my 9th grade science class, where there are NO white kids, and almost all the kids are pretty racist.  The irony and pain of being a big white man, and scolding black kids who use the n-word is inescapable.  But too many people of many races have struggled and died, been beaten and lynched, for me to look the other way.  Just because one kid says "my momma calls me that!" doesn't make it right in the classroom.  I have many priveleges in life being a white male, but my opinions are kind of suspect whenever the subject is race or gender, but what the hey...


I sympathize with your plight.  Your job, which they don't recognize, is to prepare them for a bigger world where that kind of language isn't part of the everyday.  "My momma calls me that" -- is that kid's mother living the kind of life s/he wants to live when s/he's her age, is the uncomfortable question that has to be confronted.  Anyone who insists upon crass and crude language that is likely to offend is going to encounter ceilings prematurely.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 23, 2006, 10:22:23 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Inside Man update for the princess (and ayone else who might care to join us Friday evening):  Both Metreon and AMC Van Ness have 7pm shows (the shows before that are too early to mesh w/poc's sked). So whichever location is more convenient to your whiskey-slingin' gig is fine with me (I'm thinking Van Ness might be better 'cause you'd just have to hop on the 38 Geary -- and there's a swell Thai restaurant around the corner from the theater, which beats the Metreon Food Court.)  So think on it.

Denzel & Jodie & Clive -- Oh My!


i'll be on the bike, so i think the metreon will be better. it would take me awhile to make it up the hill to van ness in rush-hour traffic. "hey (i'm no_ bike messenger..."

surely there are food options outside the metreon?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 23, 2006, 11:00:21 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Inside Man update for the princess (and ayone else who might care to join us Friday evening):  Both Metreon and AMC Van Ness have 7pm shows (the shows before that are too early to mesh w/poc's sked). So whichever location is more convenient to your whiskey-slingin' gig is fine with me (I'm thinking Van Ness might be better 'cause you'd just have to hop on the 38 Geary -- and there's a swell Thai restaurant around the corner from the theater, which beats the Metreon Food Court.)  So think on it.

Denzel & Jodie & Clive -- Oh My!


i'll be on the bike, so i think the metreon will be better. it would take me awhile to make it up the hill to van ness in rush-hour traffic. "hey (i'm no_ bike messenger..."

surely there are food options outside the metreon?


Metreon it is. -- meet at the box office area at 5:30?  There's always Mels across the street and I'll scout the area for something more intersting.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 23, 2006, 11:08:15 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Inside Man update for the princess (and ayone else who might care to join us Friday evening):  Both Metreon and AMC Van Ness have 7pm shows (the shows before that are too early to mesh w/poc's sked). So whichever location is more convenient to your whiskey-slingin' gig is fine with me (I'm thinking Van Ness might be better 'cause you'd just have to hop on the 38 Geary -- and there's a swell Thai restaurant around the corner from the theater, which beats the Metreon Food Court.)  So think on it.

Denzel & Jodie & Clive -- Oh My!


i'll be on the bike, so i think the metreon will be better. it would take me awhile to make it up the hill to van ness in rush-hour traffic. "hey (i'm no_ bike messenger..."

surely there are food options outside the metreon?


Metreon it is. -- meet at the box office area at 5:30?  There's always Mels across the street and I'll scout the area for something more intersting.


sounds like a plan!!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 23, 2006, 11:56:56 AM
and for those of you planning NEXT weekend's moviegoing, here's Newsweek on the Sharon Stone-starring Basic Instinct 2:

"If you expect an erotic thriller, you may be sorely disappointed. But if you expect soft-core camp, you will be rewarded with a showstopper nearly in the league of the weirdly mesmerizing Showgirls. Stone prowls, purrs and struts through every scene, delivering a performance so over-the-top that she elevates a bad movie into a must-see diva extravaganza"  :shock:  :shock:  :shock:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 23, 2006, 12:38:38 PM
From a British (Empire.com) review of Inside Man:

"As for Jodie Foster, well, she’s having a field day as one of the best unscrupulous bitches we’ve seen on the big screen since Linda Fiorentino said yes to The Last Seduction."

WOO HOO!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 23, 2006, 02:44:00 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
There's always Mels across the street and I'll scout the area for something more intersting.


There's also a Denny's in that 'hood on Mission, and if you don't mind the aesthetics, Tu Lan at 6th & Mission is some of the best Vietnamese in the city.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 23, 2006, 03:02:37 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
There's always Mels across the street and I'll scout the area for something more intersting.


There's also a Denny's in that 'hood on Mission, and if you don't mind the aesthetics, Tu Lan at 6th & Mission is some of the best Vietnamese in the city.


I had been trying to block Denny's from my mind... :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 23, 2006, 03:03:48 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
There's always Mels across the street and I'll scout the area for something more intersting.


There's also a Denny's in that 'hood on Mission, and if you don't mind the aesthetics, Tu Lan at 6th & Mission is some of the best Vietnamese in the city.


yes, let's do vietnamese!?!?!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 23, 2006, 03:35:52 PM
By now you may have heard of the upcoming Samuel L Jackson flick with the brilliantly preposterous title Snakes on a Plane (and you can surely imagine Sam L. J. saying "get these muthafuckin' snakes off the plane!").  Anyway check this out from my fave inside-movieland site:

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/

it's a blog, read the story while it still at the top of the list.  Can't wait til' August!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 23, 2006, 04:13:53 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
By now you may have heard of the upcoming Samuel L Jackson flick with the brilliantly preposterous title Snakes on a Plane (and you can surely imagine Sam L. J. saying "get these muthafuckin' snakes off the plane!").  Anyway check this out from my fave inside-movieland site:

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/

it's a blog, read the story while it still at the top of the list.  Can't wait til' August!


I can't believe the word-of-mouth this thing is getting. Its opening weekend is gonna be HUGE.

That said, this circulated on an email list here at work:

Quote
A new precedent from the Snakes On A Plane saga. The studio is adding re-shoots and new material to make the movie satisfy enthusiastic fan speculation.
 
"The [fan trailer] uses a Jackson sound-alike shouting, 'I want these motherf____ snakes off the mother____ plane!' Soon, the growing legion of fans added their voices as they demanded that that phrase also appear in the movie. Apparently, the studio got the hint. When Ellis assembled Jackson and others for the recent shoot, the filmmakers added more gore, more death, more nudity, more snakes and more death scenes. And they shot a scene where Jackson does utter the line that fans have demanded."
 
Complete story at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060323/en_nm/snakes_dc


More nudity? There was nudity to start with? With the snakes? On the plane?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 23, 2006, 08:24:18 PM
Quote from: "urth"
More nudity? There was nudity to start with? With the snakes? On the plane?


apparently the nudity is in the scene where the guy and his girlfriend join the, er, "Mile High Club"... and a snake bites him in the balls.   OUCH!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 23, 2006, 10:51:20 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "urth"
More nudity? There was nudity to start with? With the snakes? On the plane?


apparently the nudity is in the scene where the guy and his girlfriend join the, er, "Mile High Club"... and a snake bites him in the balls.   OUCH!


"late in summer is when it comes out..baby sna-a-a-akes!"


ok, if this turns out to be one of those, "the snakes really were on the plane, hidden in the nose of the aircraft, but no one believed eugene levy when he tried to tell them, and then harrison ford had to pretend he was incapacitated, but he was really wearing the gorilla suit (standing next to the real gorilla), and lithgow thinks he sees shatner's career dancing on the wing of the plane," i'm going to puke. and there better not be any damn langoliers, either.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Beej on March 24, 2006, 10:28:24 AM
Link to trailer for Snakes On a (Muthafucking) Plane:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CSudn9n0d_k
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 24, 2006, 12:43:51 PM
I think I mentioned recently that, with the Loews/AMC merger, AMC would have to sell both the Kabuki and the 1000 Van Ness. Looks like Robert Redford's Sundance Cinemas is buying the Kabuki:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/24/BAGE0HTIGT1.DTL
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 27, 2006, 09:13:26 AM
Hey didja all see Inside Man yet?  Awesome flick, should be the first entry in the 2006 Best Original Screenplay category.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 27, 2006, 09:17:48 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Hey didja all see Inside Man yet?  Awesome flick, should be the first entry in the 2006 Best Original Screenplay category.


Yes -- the princess & I saw it Friday. Terrific.  Nice to see Spike get a big payday.

And speaking of screenplays (the adapted kind), I saw Thank You For Smoking Sat nite. Hilarious. I read the book ten or so years ago, and Jason Reitman (Ivan's kid) did a fine job.  Perfect casting all the way around.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 27, 2006, 10:59:02 AM
More Snakes on a Plane hilarity: go to the site,

http://www.snakesonablog.com/

and as I write this the link to "early auditions" is near the top of the page. Just f---ing hilarious.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Beej on March 27, 2006, 11:07:50 AM
AOL gets onboard the Snakes On a Plane flight to super-internet-buzzdom...

http://movies.aol.com/news/articles?id=20060324145809990001

(yeah, ok- that was weak. But there are MUTHERFUCKIN. SNAKES. ON. MY. PLANE!)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 28, 2006, 11:03:02 AM
For Gaz (and all "Match game" fans): a docu about... Charles Nelson Reilly!  Coming later this year to a DVD player near you.  This from hollywood-elsewhere.com:

"Charles Nelson Reilly: three words that, provided you know who he is, cause an instant reaction. Isn't he that funny guy from "The Match Game"? Isn't he that guy from "The Ghost & Mrs. Muir"? "Isn't he that funny guy from TV"?

All of the above are accurate, but they don't nearly crack the surface of this deeply complicated, fascinating figure of American cinema, stage, and art. To say he's a cultural icon is an understatement.

People can poke fun or impersonate him all they want in an effort to trivialize him, but his resume and life story beg to differ. For some time starting in 1999, Reilly performed a one-man, three hour plus show about the story of his life. He toured the country, from performance halls to universities, telling stories with tragic and surprising content.

Reilly took over the Uta Hagen acting program. He nearly died in a circus fire as a child. He was told by the President of NBC that "we don't put queers on TV" (boy was he wrong). For years, and even still today, he's brushed off as a schtick comedian. In the film, he performs Hamlet at over 70 better than many men of any age I've seen deliver the same speech.

This "concert doc" captures an edited-down, 90 minutes or so of absolutely riveting performance from one of the most under-appreciated actors of his or any generation of the 20th century."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 28, 2006, 11:48:52 AM
I'm all over that.  He also had one of the most riveting guest appearances on The X-Files back in the day, for which (iirc) he won an Emmy.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 28, 2006, 12:01:44 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
He nearly died in a circus fire as a child.


 "I remember when I was a very little girl, our house caught on fire.
I'll never forget the look on my father's face as he gathered me up in his arms
and raced through the burning building out to the pavement.
I stood there shivering in my pajamas and watched the whole world go up in flames.
And when it was all over I said to myself,
'Is that all there is to a fire?'"

PS: While I mightily respect the mighty mighty CNR, that press release reeks of faint desperation.  Dude, he's not THAT important to the cultural landscape.  But I'll take him ("to block!") over the Real Rip Taylor.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 28, 2006, 12:30:23 PM
finally saw freeway. wow! wow! leads were great, of course. and the dialogue was awesome. but how about brittany murphy and alanna ubach?!?!?!?!?! woah....... i've never seen brittany in another movie, but i recognise her as a blonde. she does the voice for luanne on king of the hill. and alanna....t.a.l.e.n.t.

best lines:

"look who got beat with the ugly stick!"
"did you kill all them girls, bob?"
"yeah? well i get claustrophobic sucking strange dick!"
"i'm dying in here!" "yeah? well hurry it up!"
"chola alert" "how many?" "three. but you only have to worry about one."
"i'm ready to order...chicken soup. and a fucking straw!"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 28, 2006, 12:43:31 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
finally saw freeway. wow! wow! leads were great, of course. and the dialogue was awesome. but how about brittany murphy and alanna ubach?!?!?!?!?! woah....... i've never seen brittany in another movie, but i recognise her as a blonde. she does the voice for luanne on king of the hill. and alanna....t.a.l.e.n.t.

best lines:

"look who got beat with the ugly stick!"
"did you kill all them girls, bob?"
"yeah? well i get claustrophobic sucking strange dick!"
"i'm dying in here!" "yeah? well hurry it up!"
"chola alert" "how many?" "three. but you only have to worry about one."
"i'm ready to order...chicken soup. and a fucking straw!"


and of course, Reese -- and that was way before Election, much less the Legally Blonde pics.  She rules. And Michael T Weiss as her stepdaddy -- yowsah!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 28, 2006, 12:46:21 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
finally saw freeway. wow! wow! leads were great, of course. and the dialogue was awesome. but how about brittany murphy and alanna ubach?!?!?!?!?! woah....... i've never seen brittany in another movie, but i recognise her as a blonde. she does the voice for luanne on king of the hill. and alanna....t.a.l.e.n.t.

best lines:

"look who got beat with the ugly stick!"
"did you kill all them girls, bob?"
"yeah? well i get claustrophobic sucking strange dick!"
"i'm dying in here!" "yeah? well hurry it up!"
"chola alert" "how many?" "three. but you only have to worry about one."
"i'm ready to order...chicken soup. and a fucking straw!"


and of course, Reese -- and that was way before Election, much less the Legally Blonde pics.  She rules. And Michael T Weiss as her stepdaddy -- yowsah!


yeah - that guy! jared's hot!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 28, 2006, 12:48:12 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
While I mightily respect the mighty mighty CNR, that press release reeks of faint desperation.  Dude, he's not THAT important to the cultural landscape.  But I'll take him ("to block!") over the Real Rip Taylor.


actually... not a press release. That's a review in H'wood Elsewhere's "Arthouse Cowboy" column. I'm spacing on the guy's name, but he saw the docu @ SXSW.  He also raved about Altman's new Prairie Home Companion -- particularly the performance in it by The Streep.
Title: The Inside Man
Post by: ggould on March 31, 2006, 10:18:54 PM
we saw the 6:30 show, and really dug it.  The print seemed to be getting worn out; it woulda looked better in high-def.  Music was great, plot was great.  What was really good, without giving anything away, is how after the movie's over, you ask questions about "what happened to this?" and "what happened to that?"  The backstory makes it seem really real.
Title: inside man music
Post by: ggould on March 31, 2006, 11:16:04 PM
I really dug the song at the end of the movie, but on iTunes, you have to buy the whole album to get the song.  Everyone is complaining that they'd buy the single...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 03, 2006, 11:43:13 AM
Coming Soon:  "When Do We Eat?", a wacky comedy about a Seder gone awry when son slips dad a hit of Ecstasy. (Kosher Ecstasy, presumably...)  And hilarity ensues! OY!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0392908/

Maybe Matisyahu is on the soundtrack?  The tagline on the poster: "Sex, Drugs, and Matzoh Ball Soup!"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on April 05, 2006, 10:31:07 AM
gimme that whine! (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4878368.stm).

i saw the trailer. it's distressing. it's supposed to be. that's the point.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Beej on April 05, 2006, 11:02:36 AM
More Snakes Onna Plane-inspired internet nuttiness:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/deadjediclub/rlc3-30.png

And this one- which just slays me:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/deadjediclub/sexdnn.jpg
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 05, 2006, 11:05:06 AM
Quote from: "Beej"
And this one- which just slays me:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/deadjediclub/sexdnn.jpg


that's genius.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on April 10, 2006, 12:56:00 PM
did you see the film yesterday, mike? i had a late night at work on saturday, and didn't wake up until close to noon. oops!!!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 10, 2006, 01:55:30 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
did you see the film yesterday, mike? i had a late night at work on saturday, and didn't wake up until close to noon. oops!!!


I was worried!

saw it (Friends With Money)... funny, enjoyable, not terribly deep.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on April 10, 2006, 11:05:37 PM
"I'll change you from a rooster to a hen with one shot."

go Dolly! Haven't seen 9-5 in a while. It was preceded by Working Girl.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on April 11, 2006, 08:59:35 AM
Watched Fever Pitch (Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon) Sunday night on HBO, another Americanized Nick Hornsby offering, directed by the Farrely Bros.  Decent enough little comedy.  

The reason I mention it, however, was a montage scene set to J. Geils "Whammer Jammer," which surprised the hell out of me.  They played the entire song as the Fallon character got ready for the start of baseball season.

Woo Hoo!  That's ONE THOUSAND baby!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 11, 2006, 01:26:33 PM
for those (like the princess) who loves them some Catherine Keener:

http://www.oscarwatch.com/moveabletype/archives/articles/stephen_holt/index.html#000768

I still say KT Tunstall looks like Keener's younger sis.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on April 11, 2006, 07:03:46 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
for those (like the princess) who loves them some Catherine Keener:

http://www.oscarwatch.com/moveabletype/archives/articles/stephen_holt/index.html#000768

I still say KT Tunstall looks like Keener's younger sis.


gosh, she's hot. and how timely i turned stanwyck this morning. ;)
Title: 3000 posts!
Post by: ggould on April 11, 2006, 07:21:16 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
for those (like the princess) who loves them some Catherine Keener:

http://www.oscarwatch.com/moveabletype/archives/articles/stephen_holt/index.html#000768

I still say KT Tunstall looks like Keener's younger sis.
gosh, she's hot. and how timely i turned stanwyck this morning. ;)

POC hits 3K!
Title: Re: 3000 posts!
Post by: RGMike on April 11, 2006, 07:40:07 PM
Quote from: "ggould"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
for those (like the princess) who loves them some Catherine Keener:

http://www.oscarwatch.com/moveabletype/archives/articles/stephen_holt/index.html#000768

I still say KT Tunstall looks like Keener's younger sis.
gosh, she's hot. and how timely i turned stanwyck this morning. ;)
POC hits 3K!

She's always been heavy duty in my book. :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 11, 2006, 07:55:21 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
for those (like the princess) who loves them some Catherine Keener:


gosh, she's hot.


KEENER(http://cincinnati.com/freetime/movies/mcgurk/img/lovelyandamazing.jpg) TUNSTALL(http://www.adressa.no/multimedia/archive/00619/tunstall2_619541f.jpg)
SEPARATED AT BIRTH?

somebody suggested a remake/update of The Thin Man with Keener and Aaron Eckhardt.  Yowsah!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on April 12, 2006, 08:03:12 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
for those (like the princess) who loves them some Catherine Keener:

http://www.oscarwatch.com/moveabletype/archives/articles/stephen_holt/index.html#000768

I still say KT Tunstall looks like Keener's younger sis.


Count me in that group.  Keener is HOT.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 22, 2006, 10:34:32 PM
Technically a TV-movie, but... I just watched part 1 of HBO's Elizabeth I with Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons.  Great stuff. Just give Ms. Mirren the Emmy right now and be done with it.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on April 25, 2006, 10:50:44 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Technically a TV-movie, but... I just watched part 1 of HBO's Elizabeth I with Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons.  Great stuff. Just give Ms. Mirren the Emmy right now and be done with it.


Was part 2 as good?  I missed it last night.  I watched part 1, and though I agree with everything you say, I was having trouble maintaining interest.  Personal problem.

However, I had no such problem with Sunday's "Sopranos."  A wonderful episode.  I won't spoil it now for those of you who wait for the repeats during the week, but the guest spots from Sir Ben Kingsley and Lauren Bacall (playing themselves) were brilliant and hilarious.  Bacall's performance was especially welcome considering her less than flattering Oscar appearance.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 25, 2006, 11:21:06 AM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Technically a TV-movie, but... I just watched part 1 of HBO's Elizabeth I with Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons.  Great stuff. Just give Ms. Mirren the Emmy right now and be done with it.


Was part 2 as good?  I missed it last night.  I watched part 1, and though I agree with everything you say, I was having trouble maintaining interest.  Personal problem.



Yes, quite good, even without Jeremy Irons.  But I had read a review that said the young actor playing Essex looked like Kirk (Growing Pains) Cameron and he really did, which was a tad annoying.

And yes the Sopranos has been f---ing brilliant this season.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 25, 2006, 11:56:09 AM
From Hollywood-Elsewhere.com:

"RV is no Benchwarmers, I can tell you that! What's shocking to me is that there have been about 12 pictures that haven't been advance-screened for the press this year. Silent Hill, I think, was the 12th. And so this is the trend so far...they're not screening lots of films for the obvious reason...and they turn around and screen RV? What were they thinking? The critics are going to hate it. This film is not funny. The people in the cheap seats -- people they brought in on the hope they would probably laugh more than the critics -- were laughing here and there, but nobody was laughing in the critics' section There were long periods where there were no laughs anywhere...no laughs at all. There's one good riff in the entire movie when Robin's son is being taunted and he makes fun of 'hood rap with the taunters. Poor Robin Williams has inherited Chevy Chase's career, and it's like the poor guy is in a straightjacket. It's definitely a family picture, and that poster image of the RV teetering on the mountaintop...they actually have that scene. And there's one with vicious racoons invading the RV. And one with a septic tank that explodes and lands all over Williams and he's covered in shit. Look back on the last 15 years and I think Sonnenfeld's peak was Get Shorty, and after that the Men in Black films. On the credits there's a guy whose title was "consultant to Barry Sonnenfeld." What was his consulting about? To tell Sonnenfeld that this crap is funny?"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on April 25, 2006, 12:13:57 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Poor Robin Williams has inherited Chevy Chase's career


LOL!

I saw an add on the side of the bus this morning for RV, and I was thinking back on the TV spots I've seen, and was wondering if it were possible that even Robin Williams could be funny in this flick.  Guess not.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 03, 2006, 11:07:57 AM
It's finally happening -- a live-action Jetsons movie:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117942431?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2564

Now, 20 years ago I suggested Steve Martin as George, Bette Midler as Jane, and -- a MUST! -- Danny DeVito as Mr Spacely.  So now it's 2006 -- I'm guessing Martin and DeVito could still be in, but Hollywood being what it is, Midler would be considered too old.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on May 03, 2006, 11:23:41 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
It's finally happening -- a live-action Jetsons movie:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117942431?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2564

Now, 20 years ago I suggested Steve Martin as George, Bette Midler as Jane, and -- a MUST! -- Danny DeVito as Mr Spacely.  So now it's 2006 -- I'm guessing Martin and DeVito could still be in, but Hollywood being what it is, Midler would be considered too old.


Devito is certainly a ringer for the Spacely role, but not sure if Steve Martin will get to play George. I'm thinking more along the lines of Will Farrell. And as far as Jane--I dunno. Nicole Kidman?

The kids--maybe Lindsay Lohan and the kid from Malcolm in the Middle. Just tossing out names here. A rare slow morning at the office.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 03, 2006, 11:56:41 AM
Quote from: "urth"
Quote from: "RGMike"
It's finally happening -- a live-action Jetsons movie:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117942431?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2564

Now, 20 years ago I suggested Steve Martin as George, Bette Midler as Jane, and -- a MUST! -- Danny DeVito as Mr Spacely.  So now it's 2006 -- I'm guessing Martin and DeVito could still be in, but Hollywood being what it is, Midler would be considered too old.


Devito is certainly a ringer for the Spacely role, but not sure if Steve Martin will get to play George. I'm thinking more along the lines of Will Farrell. And as far as Jane--I dunno. Nicole Kidman?

The kids--maybe Lindsay Lohan and the kid from Malcolm in the Middle. Just tossing out names here. A rare slow morning at the office.


Indeed, you're right on if they decide to "go younger". Ferrel & Kidman, together again. Because, y'know, Bewitched was such a blockbuster :roll:

Yikes, Lindsay Lohan as daughter Judy.  That makes me think that, if it were Steve Martin as George (or, god help us, Tim Allen), Jamie Lee Curtis would make a great Jane.

"Jane! Stop this crazy thing!"  I gotta bring that Jetsons dance mix to the next gathering...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on May 03, 2006, 12:09:00 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "urth"
Quote from: "RGMike"
It's finally happening -- a live-action Jetsons movie:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117942431?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2564

Now, 20 years ago I suggested Steve Martin as George, Bette Midler as Jane, and -- a MUST! -- Danny DeVito as Mr Spacely.  So now it's 2006 -- I'm guessing Martin and DeVito could still be in, but Hollywood being what it is, Midler would be considered too old.


Devito is certainly a ringer for the Spacely role, but not sure if Steve Martin will get to play George. I'm thinking more along the lines of Will Farrell. And as far as Jane--I dunno. Nicole Kidman?

The kids--maybe Lindsay Lohan and the kid from Malcolm in the Middle. Just tossing out names here. A rare slow morning at the office.


Indeed, you're right on if they decide to "go younger". Ferrel & Kidman, together again. Because, y'know, Bewitched was such a blockbuster :roll:

Yikes, Lindsay Lohan as daughter Judy.  That makes me think that, if it were Steve Martin as George (or, god help us, Tim Allen), Jamie Lee Curtis would make a great Jane.

"Jane! Stop this crazy thing!"  I gotta bring that Jetsons dance mix to the next gathering...


This is a bit out of the box, but I wouldn't mind seeing Rob Corddry (of the Daily Show) as George Jetson.  And just because I never get to see her in anything, Martha Plimpton as Jane His Wife.  Daughter Judy should be the tall gal from That '70s Show, and His Boy Elroy is indeed best given to one of the Malcolm kids.  Is Rosie the Robot gonna be CGI'd or should we cast her too?  (I'm suggesting Elton John for the role.)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 03, 2006, 12:30:31 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
This is a bit out of the box, but I wouldn't mind seeing Rob Corddry (of the Daily Show) as George Jetson.  And just because I never get to see her in anything, Martha Plimpton as Jane His Wife.  Daughter Judy should be the tall gal from That '70s Show, and His Boy Elroy is indeed best given to one of the Malcolm kids.  Is Rosie the Robot gonna be CGI'd or should we cast her too?  (I'm suggesting Elton John for the role.)


Corddry is an inspired choice. Plimpton: never happen. And I guarantee you Rosie the Robot = Rosie O'Donnell.

"hey theah, RoyBoy!"

But who will do the cover version of "Eep! Opp! Orp! Ah-Ah! (That Means I Love You)"?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on May 03, 2006, 10:23:11 PM
I don't want to see the Jetsons as real people. I like my fantasy cartoon world. Yes I own the Jetsons on DVD and enjoy them frequently.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 04, 2006, 07:58:13 AM
(1) Hollywood wags are referring to DaVinci Code, directed by Ron Howard, as "Opie's Dei".

(2) the actor who plays  Mark Bingham in United 93 is named Cheyenne Jackson.  If your real name is Cheyenne, what can you possibly do for a drag name?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 04, 2006, 09:28:33 AM
Quote from: "Alicat"
I don't want to see the Jetsons as real people. I like my fantasy cartoon world. Yes I own the Jetsons on DVD and enjoy them frequently.


Yay!  Thanks for saying that.  This whole live-action discussion was disturbing me deeply.  

And I don't even own the cartoon DVD.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 04, 2006, 09:39:47 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "Alicat"
I don't want to see the Jetsons as real people. I like my fantasy cartoon world. Yes I own the Jetsons on DVD and enjoy them frequently.


Yay!  Thanks for saying that.  This whole live-action discussion was disturbing me deeply.  


it's just a parlor game, bub. It's not like we take it seriously.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 04, 2006, 10:26:41 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "Alicat"
I don't want to see the Jetsons as real people. I like my fantasy cartoon world. Yes I own the Jetsons on DVD and enjoy them frequently.


Yay!  Thanks for saying that.  This whole live-action discussion was disturbing me deeply.  


it's just a parlor game, bub. It's not like we take it seriously.


No disrespect Mike, but I wasn't talking about you guys, I was talking about the f*ckers in Hollywood.  

Unless maybe you're gonna get a co-producer credit?  Then I'm talking about YOU man!

 :wink:  :wink:  :wink:  :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on May 04, 2006, 09:40:22 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
(1) Hollywood wags are referring to DaVinci Code, directed by Ron Howard, as "Opie's Dei".

(2) the actor who plays  Mark Bingham in United 93 is named Cheyenne Jackson.  If your real name is Cheyenne, what can you possibly do for a drag name?


Opie's Dei, too perfect. I finally got around to reading the book a few months ago and loved it. I have Angels and Demons now but no time to get started.

re: Cheyenne; it was one of my choices for a daughter's name but I was vetoed. I like it.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 16, 2006, 08:00:39 AM
I saw Poseidon yesterday. Don't bother -- cheezy but not in a good way. Of course it does have Fergie from the Black-Eyed Peas showing off her "humps". She sings a song that's much worse than "The Morning After".
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 16, 2006, 09:59:55 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
I saw Poseidon yesterday. Don't bother -- cheezy but not in a good way. Of course it does have Fergie from the Black-Eyed Peas showing off her "humps". She sings a song that's much worse than "The Morning After".


Do you get to see her die horribly?!?!?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 16, 2006, 10:05:56 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"
I saw Poseidon yesterday. Don't bother -- cheezy but not in a good way. Of course it does have Fergie from the Black-Eyed Peas showing off her "humps". She sings a song that's much worse than "The Morning After".


Do you get to see her die horribly?!?!?


No -- we were spared that scene -- she gets a tender embrace with Captain Andre Braugher (a great thespian wasted) and then cut back to the plot. Bu we know she dies.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on May 17, 2006, 04:36:28 AM
Quote from: "Alicat"
Quote from: "RGMike"
(1) Hollywood wags are referring to DaVinci Code, directed by Ron Howard, as "Opie's Dei".

(2) the actor who plays  Mark Bingham in United 93 is named Cheyenne Jackson.  If your real name is Cheyenne, what can you possibly do for a drag name?


Opie's Dei, too perfect.


ha!!!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on May 27, 2006, 09:49:08 PM
Made it to Over the Hedge today. Kids enjoyed it. Good animation. I had a hard time keeping my eyes open at times. There were a few lines that made me chuckle but that was it. Madagascar was better.
Title: Good Night and Good Luck
Post by: ggould on May 27, 2006, 10:19:31 PM
Netflix envelope been sittin' here for at least a month, finally checked it out.  Pretty darn good, I liked the relaxed pacing.  Way too relevant to current events though.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 27, 2006, 10:28:01 PM
Quote from: "Alicat"
Made it to Over the Hedge today. Kids enjoyed it. Good animation. I had a hard time keeping my eyes open at times. There were a few lines that made me chuckle but that was it. Madagascar was better.


I'm doing a doubleheader of X-Men 3 and Over the Hedge on Monday.  Did DaVinci Fri nite.  High-toned crap.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on May 27, 2006, 11:55:44 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Alicat"
Made it to Over the Hedge today. Kids enjoyed it. Good animation. I had a hard time keeping my eyes open at times. There were a few lines that made me chuckle but that was it. Madagascar was better.


I'm doing a doubleheader of X-Men 3 and Over the Hedge on Monday.  Did DaVinci Fri nite.  High-toned crap.

Did you like the book and the movie didn't measure up?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 28, 2006, 12:05:14 PM
Quote from: "Alicat"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Alicat"
Made it to Over the Hedge today. Kids enjoyed it. Good animation. I had a hard time keeping my eyes open at times. There were a few lines that made me chuckle but that was it. Madagascar was better.


I'm doing a doubleheader of X-Men 3 and Over the Hedge on Monday.  Did DaVinci Fri nite.  High-toned crap.

Did you like the book and the movie didn't measure up?


Never read the book, but I already knew the plot and most of the "surprises". It's just not very well-written and Hanks is completely flat -- I've never seen him be so uninteresting. Thank god for Ian McKellen.

Pre-show, they showed the trailer for the new James Bond, with Daniel Craig. Rrrrrowr!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 29, 2006, 07:50:17 PM
So... X-Men 3: very entertaining, and that whole Golden Gate Bridge thing is pretty nifty.  Much was made of the fact that it's a different director this time,  but aside from some bad writing in spots,  it works, and at 105 minutes, it's downright lean. MAKE SURE TO STAY THRU THE END CREDITS.

And Over the Hedge was a lot of fun -- thanks Mark for the tip, the Ben Folds songs were nice, and yes that was him doing a cover of "Lost in the Supermarket".  Great voice work by all, but especially Steve Carell, who (to go back a few posts) would make an ideal George Jetson.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 06, 2006, 08:10:28 AM
Saw The Break-Up yesterday, and it's a lot better than the reviews indicate.  There's some very funny stuff in it, but also some dark stuff that they didn't put in the trailer because they're selling it as a boffo comedy.

But the surprise -- in a small role as Aniston's best friend's husband is Peter "Ralphie from A Christmas Story" Billingsley. He's in his mid-30s now, I guess. He also co-produced the film.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 06, 2006, 08:20:44 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Saw The Break-Up yesterday, and it's a lot better than the reviews indicate.  There's some very funny stuff in it, but also some dark stuff that they didn't put in the trailer because they're selling it as a boffo comedy.

But the surprise -- in a small role as Aniston's best friend's husband is Peter "Ralphie from A Christmas Story" Billingsley. He's in his mid-30s now, I guess. He also co-produced the film.


That's cool, just might have to go see it now.  Did you notice that Vince Vaughn's dad is played by...


...Vince Vaughn's dad?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 06, 2006, 08:26:41 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Saw The Break-Up yesterday, and it's a lot better than the reviews indicate.  There's some very funny stuff in it, but also some dark stuff that they didn't put in the trailer because they're selling it as a boffo comedy.

But the surprise -- in a small role as Aniston's best friend's husband is Peter "Ralphie from A Christmas Story" Billingsley. He's in his mid-30s now, I guess. He also co-produced the film.


That's cool, just might have to go see it now.  Did you notice that Vince Vaughn's dad is played by...

...Vince Vaughn's dad?


I did not know that.

There's a subplot involving Aniston's brother, who sings with an all-male (read: gay) a cappella group called the "Tone Rangers". and they do hilarious versions of "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "Boogie Nights", and a rather sweet rendition (over the close credits) of "Rainbow Connection".
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 09, 2006, 07:22:40 AM
TANC: Fallen Angel, a new docu about Gram Parsons, is playing this week at the Roxie.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on June 09, 2006, 07:42:43 AM
I just saw the Al Gore film, An Inconvenient Truth, last night.  Much of his information was very powerful, particularly the visual representations of drying-up lakes and glaciers.  But too much of it was about Al: His backstory, his child's near-death, his run for the roses.  I didn't think any of that added to the essential story; and moreover, the presidential-run recap came off as sour grapes.  Hey, I agree, he got shafted, and the environment has suffered as a direct result, but we could have drawn those dots without footage of Tom Brokaw taking Florida away from Gore.  His dwelling as much as he did on that angle ensures that no right-wingers will see this film and get its core message.

Still and all, I suppose that if this film was part of a trial balloon for his political comeback, it worked, gauging by all the buzz about him making a run.  He'd certainly stand a better chance of winning than Howard Dean (too fractious for Middle America) or Hillary Clinton (too female for Middle America).
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 13, 2006, 10:19:24 AM
Saw 2 flicks this past weekend, Cars (with the whole fambly of course) & A Prairie Home Companion (by myself).

Both recommendable. APHC is of course directed by Bob Altman, who I never miss; as the son of a midwestern Lutheran minister who has been a fan of the show from the beginning, I was really compelled to go. Garrison Keillor plays himself, as do a number of regular musicians & crew from the show.  Woody Harrelson & John C. Reilly are very funny as Dusty & Lefty (billing themselves as 'The Old Trailhands'), Meryl Streep & Lilly Tomlin are the remaining sisters in what was once a quartet, and Streep's daughter is played by a surprisingly effective Lindsay Lohan.  Kevin Kline, Virginia Madsen & Tommy Lee Jones also appear, but thier sub-plot is impossible to describe without spoilers.  It was this element though that led me to comment to my dad that, to me at least, this felt much more like a Woody Allen movie than an Altman movie.

Cars is, I think, a very good movie, but some reviews are lukewarm & the one linked on the KBCO page is downright hostile.  A very typical story arc, in fact the plot is lifted almost in one piece from Doc Hollywood, which was itself highly derivative.  But the richness & detail of the animation is worth price of admission by itself, especially if you've ever been anywhere along the old Route 66.  There are literally hundreds of visual references in the background.  There is also one particular joke that evokes a bigger laugh than in any previous Pixar film, you'll know it when you hear it.  And, finally, as in every previous Pixar film, John (Cliff Clavin) Ratzenberger has a role (as Mack the truck that hauls Lightning McQueen).  Over the closing credits his character and others are shown watching movies at a drive-in.  The movies are all remakes of earlier Pixar films fit into this Cars-are-People universe, and both the clips of the movies & Ratzenberger's comments are ROTFL funny.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 13, 2006, 10:30:54 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Saw 2 flicks this past weekend, Cars (with the whole fambly of course) & A Prairie Home Companion (by myself).


I thought PHC was a bit too much whimsy for me. But then I'm not a big fan of "magical realism" and find it especially doesn't work when attempted by Americans.  Not to spoil your spoilers, but the whole Virginia Madsen subplot did not work for me.  A collection of moments and bits, many of which are wonderful (the musical numbers) and others of which are embarassingly lame.

What do you think of the often-leveled accusation that Keillor's schtick is just elitism masquerading as down-home populism?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 13, 2006, 10:50:26 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Saw 2 flicks this past weekend


BTW, did they show the trailer for the new Woody Allen with Scarlett Johansson?  I've seen it twice now, and I think it looks pretty awful.  Woody should not be in the same frame with any beautiful young woman. Period.

It's called Scoop and it looks like a retread of Curse of the Jade Scorpion, with Scarlett in place of Helen Hunt. Yeesh.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 13, 2006, 12:21:27 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"

What do you think of the often-leveled accusation that Keillor's schtick is just elitism masquerading as down-home populism?


I think only an elitist critic would say that!  No self-respecting Lutheran of either Swedish or German stock would ever level that accusation, particularly not if they're from Minnesota.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 14, 2006, 04:34:20 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Cars is, I think, a very good movie, but some reviews are lukewarm & the one linked on the KBCO page is downright hostile.  A very typical story arc, in fact the plot is lifted almost in one piece from Doc Hollywood, which was itself highly derivative.  But the richness & detail of the animation is worth price of admission by itself, especially if you've ever been anywhere along the old Route 66.  There are literally hundreds of visual references in the background.  There is also one particular joke that evokes a bigger laugh than in any previous Pixar film, you'll know it when you hear it.  And, finally, as in every previous Pixar film, John (Cliff Clavin) Ratzenberger has a role (as Mack the truck that hauls Lightning McQueen).  Over the closing credits his character and others are shown watching movies at a drive-in.  The movies are all remakes of earlier Pixar films fit into this Cars-are-People universe, and both the clips of the movies & Ratzenberger's comments are ROTFL funny.


With an unexpected free afternoon (and knowing that if I stayed home I'd probably sleep), I caught Cars and completely agree with your comments. I'm actually baffled by the hostile reviews (the NY Times gave it a semi-pan too). Guess it's overdue Pixar/Disney backlash.  But the animation is indeed spectacular. And that "Our Town" song (written by Randy Newman, sung by James Taylor) is an Oscar shoo-in.  I even dug the countrified cover of "Life Is a Highway" by (god help us) Rascall Flatts.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 23, 2006, 12:22:34 PM
OK now I KNOW Mick LaSalle is insane:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/23/DDGENJI4UT1.DTL&type=movies

"One of the best American films of the year"???  Click???!!!???

sadly, I can't link to the Wall Street Journal, which called it "an abomination".
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 23, 2006, 04:09:28 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
OK now I KNOW Mick LaSalle is insane:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/23/DDGENJI4UT1.DTL&type=movies

"One of the best American films of the year"???  Click???!!!???

sadly, I can't link to the Wall Street Journal, which called it "an abomination".


This might be worse than his position on Catwoman.

Here are the mini-blurbs that Yahoo has from the assorted critics:

Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Eleanor Ringel Gillespie C-
"Only Walken, as is his want, free-floats over the film's inconsistencies and clumsy schmaltz."

Boston Globe - Ty Burr B-
"...sweet at heart..."

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert C
"It's not just sad, it's brutal."

Chicago Tribune - Michael Phillips C-
"...a crass mixture of groin-kicking and tear-jerking..."

E! Online C+
"Believe it or not, the gross out jokes won't leave a bad taste in the mouth; the gushy life lessons will."

filmcritic.com - David Levine D+
"Surely Frank Capra is rolling over in his grave at the worthless gimmick that's needed to retell his classic story."

New York Post - Lou Lumenick C-
"Rarely have I wanted to fast-forward through a movie as much as Click..."

New York Times - Manohla Dargis D+
"...the director Frank Coraci struggles to push the character toward the kind of age-appropriate complexity lost on Mr. Sandler..."
   
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers D
"...Sandler has a sappy side that makes me puke. I damn near choked on Click."

San Francisco Chronicle - Mick LaSalle A
"...one of the best American films of the year so far."

Seattle Post-Intelligencer - William Arnold D
"...it's so devoid of anything close to wit, subtlety or sophistication that it stands as damning evidence that Hollywood has surrendered wholesale to stupidity and crassness."

USA Today - Claudia Puig C
"...outright rip-off of It's a Wonderful Life and every other movie about the value of family over a self-absorbed, super-charged work ethic."
Title: hmmm...
Post by: ggould on June 23, 2006, 08:56:00 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"
OK now I KNOW Mick LaSalle is insane:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/23/DDGENJI4UT1.DTL&type=movies

"One of the best American films of the year"???  Click???!!!???

sadly, I can't link to the Wall Street Journal, which called it "an abomination".
This might be worse than his position on Catwoman.

Here are the mini-blurbs that Yahoo has from the assorted critics:

Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Eleanor Ringel Gillespie C-
"Only Walken, as is his want, free-floats over the film's inconsistencies and clumsy schmaltz."

Boston Globe - Ty Burr B-
"...sweet at heart..."

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert C
"It's not just sad, it's brutal."

Chicago Tribune - Michael Phillips C-
"...a crass mixture of groin-kicking and tear-jerking..."

E! Online C+
"Believe it or not, the gross out jokes won't leave a bad taste in the mouth; the gushy life lessons will."

filmcritic.com - David Levine D+
"Surely Frank Capra is rolling over in his grave at the worthless gimmick that's needed to retell his classic story."

New York Post - Lou Lumenick C-
"Rarely have I wanted to fast-forward through a movie as much as Click..."

New York Times - Manohla Dargis D+
"...the director Frank Coraci struggles to push the character toward the kind of age-appropriate complexity lost on Mr. Sandler..."
   
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers D
"...Sandler has a sappy side that makes me puke. I damn near choked on Click."

San Francisco Chronicle - Mick LaSalle A
"...one of the best American films of the year so far."

Seattle Post-Intelligencer - William Arnold D
"...it's so devoid of anything close to wit, subtlety or sophistication that it stands as damning evidence that Hollywood has surrendered wholesale to stupidity and crassness."

USA Today - Claudia Puig C
"...outright rip-off of It's a Wonderful Life and every other movie about the value of family over a self-absorbed, super-charged work ethic."

Well, I have not seen the film, but for some reason really liked Mick LaSalle's review.  Sandler was on the Daily Show last night (just watched the 8PM rerun) and I'm inclined to give it a spin.  I do think they are selling it on Sandler's infantile reputation (the bouncing boobs scene in the trailer) since, let's face it, he's a big star.  He sells tickets.  I am willing to risk it, and let you all know about it.  Unfortunately, I'm a sap for certain plot lines, so it may still be a stinker even if I like it!
Title: Re: hmmm...
Post by: RGMike on June 23, 2006, 09:50:18 PM
Quote from: "ggould"
Well, I have not seen the film, but for some reason really liked Mick LaSalle's review.  Sandler was on the Daily Show last night (just watched the 8PM rerun) and I'm inclined to give it a spin.  I do think they are selling it on Sandler's infantile reputation (the bouncing boobs scene in the trailer) since, let's face it, he's a big star.  He sells tickets.  I am willing to risk it, and let you all know about it.  Unfortunately, I'm a sap for certain plot lines, so it may still be a stinker even if I like it!


It seems to be rather similar to Bruce Almighty (and in fact was penned by the same screenwriters -- DUH!). And there's a sequel to BA in the pipeline too, Evan Almighty starring Steve Carell.

LaSalle does seem to get a charge out of being contrarian, and that's fine, but over 15 years of reading him it's obvious that, for someone who has written several books and fancies himself an historian, he gets a lot of basic movie facts wrong as well.

I posted a link to his Click review on hollywood-elsewhere.com and the LaSalle haters came out of the woodwork and started going on about what an idiot they think he is.
Title: Re: hmmm...
Post by: mshray on June 24, 2006, 10:43:10 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"

I posted a link to his Click review on hollywood-elsewhere.com and the LaSalle haters came out of the woodwork and started going on about what an idiot they think he is.


Pop that link in here, I'll gladly read the postings of a bunch of LaSalle haters.
Title: Re: hmmm...
Post by: RGMike on June 24, 2006, 11:11:55 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"

I posted a link to his Click review on hollywood-elsewhere.com and the LaSalle haters came out of the woodwork and started going on about what an idiot they think he is.


Pop that link in here, I'll gladly read the postings of a bunch of LaSalle haters.


Check out the Spinal Tap joke too...

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/archives/2006/06/click_slam.php
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 26, 2006, 08:24:39 AM
quote of the day, from Anthony Lane's review of Superman Returns in the New Yorker:

"If Superman is such a paragon, how come he wants to save a species so universally dumb that not a single member of it recognizes him when he puts on a pair of glasses?"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 27, 2006, 09:39:14 PM
Take the "which James Bond are you?" Quiz:

http://www.seabreezecomputers.com/bond/

(I'm Daniel Craig, aka "the new guy")
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on June 27, 2006, 10:00:52 PM
And I'm...

<BR>You are Timothy Dalton
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on June 27, 2006, 10:12:34 PM
You are Pierce Brosnan
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on June 28, 2006, 03:20:33 AM
"You are Daniel Craig"

at least i'm still a sexy womanizer.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 28, 2006, 07:01:59 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
"You are Daniel Craig"

at least i'm still a sexy womanizer.


I guess that "hairy chest" question tripped you up...
Title: bond
Post by: ggould on June 28, 2006, 07:43:02 AM
Your results:
You are George Lazenby














George Lazenby
41%
Pierce Brosnan
40%
Timothy Dalton
35%
Daniel Craig
34%
Sean Connery
26%
Roger Moore
18%
The second actor to play 007 in the movies was good looking and charming.  He was also able to make time to fall in love while saving the world.


Click here to take the James Bond Personality Test

Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 30, 2006, 02:28:17 PM
The Devil Wears Prada is AWESOME, especially considering how utterly formulaic the plot is.  

I mean seriously, see if you can fill in the blanks:  Young midwestern girl arrives in NYC and gets big break in the upper echelons of the ____ world.  Struggling to fit in she gets mentored by the kindly _____.  As she begins to adapt to her new life, her old friends begin to wonder if she _____, and her boyfriend _____.  At the same time she attracts the attention of the suave _____.  Suddenly one day she must choose between _____ & _____.  She makes her choice but comes to realize that she _____ after all, so she _____.

That being said, you won't really care about the plot.  The movie is very funny, Anne Hathaway is really good, and Stanley Tucci (who I love) steals every scene he's in.  Unless of course he's up against Meryl, who flat out blazes onscreen.  She is incandescent.  

Give her her 3rd Oscar right now & be done with it.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 30, 2006, 03:06:56 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
The Devil Wears Prada is AWESOME...


That's the best review it's gotten anywhere.

Just about everyone loves The Streep; the movie less so.

The director, David Frankel, has most recently done Entourage and Sex & the City eps, but 11 years ago he made Miami Rhapsody, the best faux-Woody Allen movie you will ever see (Edward Burns, eat yer heart out!). It starred Sarah Jessica Parker as as sort of forerunner of Carrie Bradshaw.  Worth checking out.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 30, 2006, 03:27:29 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
The Devil Wears Prada is AWESOME...


That's the best review it's gotten anywhere.

Just about everyone loves The Streep; the movie less so.

The director, David Frankel, has most recently done Entourage and Sex & the City eps, but 11 years ago he made Miami Rhapsody, the best faux-Woody Allen movie you will ever see (Edward Burns, eat yer heart out!). It starred Sarah Jessica Parker as as sort of forerunner of Carrie Bradshaw.  Worth checking out.


It's awesome because Streep is awesome, like I said the plot has treadmarks on it a mile wide.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 01, 2006, 09:38:14 PM
I don't remember which thread the original mention was in, but that movie Twenty Bucks that someone referenced recently is showing on Starz cable channel minutes from now.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 03, 2006, 10:58:17 AM
So, any thoughts on Superman?

I liked most of it as a movie, but Superman is just not a good superhero for me.  He is either supremely powerful or, when exposed to Kryptonite, supremely weak, and as in the plot of almost every other Superman movie, they get this all out of whack so that it doesn't make sense anymore.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 03, 2006, 08:35:00 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
The Devil Wears Prada is AWESOME, especially considering how utterly formulaic the plot is.  

I mean seriously, see if you can fill in the blanks:  Young midwestern girl arrives in NYC and gets big break in the upper echelons of the ____ world.  Struggling to fit in she gets mentored by the kindly _____.  As she begins to adapt to her new life, her old friends begin to wonder if she _____, and her boyfriend _____.  At the same time she attracts the attention of the suave _____.  Suddenly one day she must choose between _____ & _____.  She makes her choice but comes to realize that she _____ after all, so she _____.

That being said, you won't really care about the plot.  The movie is very funny, Anne Hathaway is really good, and Stanley Tucci (who I love) steals every scene he's in.  Unless of course he's up against Meryl, who flat out blazes onscreen.  She is incandescent.  

Give her her 3rd Oscar right now & be done with it.


Saw it this afternoon, and indeed The Streep is the major reason to pay 10 bucks to see this movie. She's fab (and I can't WAIT to see her play Martha Mitchell). Tucci is also wonderful, as is the young British woman who plays Streep's other assistant (if you've never seen My Summer of Love, rent it).  But the script is utter horseshit, that typical crisis-of-conscience, am-I-betraying-my-roots stuff that American audiences love because they believe there's no middle ground in anything. I can't stand Adrian Grenier (Hathaway's boyfriend) on Entourage either, he's a total blank for me, but his character is on her case for being a sellout and he's... an aspiring chef in Manhattan??? Oh, no... no ass-kissing involved that THAT profession! Jeez.

Nicely directed, with maybe a few too many musical montages (it's obvious David Frankel has worked on Sex & the City) and maybe THE most-obvious use of a song in ages -- U2's "City of Blinding Light", during a Paris-at-night montage.

The guy who runs Hollywood-Elsewhere.com asked recently: If you met a young woman, a recent Northwestern grad and a Journalism major, and she had never heard of VOGUE magazine...  wouldn't you think she was, like, retarded or something?  I had a hard time getting that question out of my head for most of the movie.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 10, 2006, 09:52:48 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
So, any thoughts on Superman?

I liked most of it as a movie, but Superman is just not a good superhero for me.  He is either supremely powerful or, when exposed to Kryptonite, supremely weak, and as in the plot of almost every other Superman movie, they get this all out of whack so that it doesn't make sense anymore.


Just came from seeing it and really enjoyed it, especially the 3-D stuff; it's a bit long but still worth the 15 bucks it cost to see it in IMAX. Yes, the whole Superman-and-Kryptonite thing is pretty silly if you think about it -- the villain always gets his hands on some K -- but either you go with it or you don't.  Overall, I thought Singer did a nice job.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 19, 2006, 10:12:16 PM
I just saw the first official commercial for Snakes on a Plane.  Sam Jackson RULES!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 20, 2006, 01:33:53 PM
Check this out -- Helen Mirren and Cuba Gooding Jr as incestuous stepmom-and-stepson hitmen. Wha???

http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0629,lim,73892,20.html

despite/because of that review, methinks I've gotta see this one.

"And then there's the Macy Gray approach. As Vickie's friend Niesha, a sloppy, slurring banshee who exits the movie much too soon, Gray delivers a kamikaze performance that will be studied by drag queens for years to come. "
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 20, 2006, 07:33:32 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
a sloppy, slurring banshee


You didn't have your fill of these in all your years living in NYC?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on July 21, 2006, 09:23:22 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Check this out -- Helen Mirren and Cuba Gooding Jr as incestuous stepmom-and-stepson hitmen. Wha???


i can't even read the review. this is one i HAVE to see cold, just because of what you wrote. i don't even know if i'm ready to see cuba and helen that close...but i certainly couldn't see it after reading it. who the hell thought of that? don't answer that question. talk about bizarre. at least i'm not the only one who would sleep with helen mirren.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 21, 2006, 09:47:13 AM
This could have gone in a few different threads.  Summoning the Princess for on-the-record response!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,204910,00.html

You, Me and Steely Dan

Is the new comedy “You, Me and Dupree” ripped from the lyrics of Steely Dan’s song, “Cousin Dupree”?

The guys who comprise the Dan — Walter Becker and Donald Fagen — apparently think so. They’ve posted a letter on their Web site to actor Luke Wilson, brother of “Dupree” star Owen Wilson, in which they lay out their claim and ask for an apology.

“Cousin Dupree” appeared on the group’s 2001 Grammy award-winning comeback album, “Two Against Nature.” The lyrics are about a young ne’er do well musician who returns home to find his even younger female cousin all grown up. The narrator lusts after her in a very unfamilial way. The song features a great line about “the dreary architecture of my soul.”

In “You, Me and Dupree” — written by novice Mike LeSieur and directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, a young man (played by Owen Wilson) — is fired from his job and loses his place to live because he attends the wedding of his best friend (Matt Dillon). The friend and his wife (Kate Hudson) take him in, and the two men bond a lot while the wife is left out in the cold. The friend’s character name is Randy Dupree, hence the Steely Dan connection.

The duo’s letter to Luke Wilson — titled “Hey Luke" — is typed on stationery from the Residential Suites at Longworth, the hotel where Becker and Fagen are staying this week on their summer concert tour.

After identifying themselves as the Grammy-winning creators of such hits as “RIkki Don’t Lose That Number” and “Reelin’ in the Years” (among others), the pair gets to the point.

“What we suspect may have happened is this,” Becker and Fagen write in the letter. “Some hack writer or producer or whatever they call themselves in Malibu or Los Feliz apparently heard our Grammy-winning song, ‘Cousin Dupree,’ on the radio and thought, hey man, this is a cool idea for a character in a movie or something.”

“OK, so the “cousin” idea was no doubt eliminated so as not to offend the fundamentalist ticket buyers in the flyovers. Nevertheless, they like, took our character, this real dog sleeping on the couch and all and put him the middle of some hokey “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” rip off story and then, when it came time to change the character’s name or whatever so people wouldn’t know what a rip the whole thing was, they didn’t even bother to think up a new [bleeping] name for the guy!"

They warn Luke Wilson that their brother Owen “has gotten himself mixed up with some pretty bad Hollywood schlockmeisters and that he may be doing, like, permanent damage to his good creds and whatever reputation for coolness he may still have — let’s face it, ‘Bottle Rocket’ was a ways back already.”

My personal favorite part of the letter reads as follows: “And Luke, think of yourself, man. Do you really want to go down as the brother of the Zal Yanovsky of the 21st century?”

(Hilarious since almost no one but Dennis Miller is likely to get the reference to the former member of the Lovin' Spoonful who died in 2002 at age 58. But I’m not even sure this is who they mean. The guys may be thinking of creepy “Red Shoes Diary” actor-director Zalman King, whom Owen actually resembles.)

The only redress Becker and Fagen suggest for now is that Owen Wilson come to one of their California concerts and apologize to the group’s fans.

In exchange, they offer to load him up with Steely Dan merchandise. There’s also a veiled threat of sending a large Russian who resembles a Navy SEAL and knows nothing of the Wilsons’ work to make things right if Owen declines Steely Dan’s invitation.

Stay tuned...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on July 21, 2006, 09:51:47 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
This could have gone in a few different threads.  Summoning the Princess for on-the-record response!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,204910,00.html

You, Me and Steely Dan

Is the new comedy “You, Me and Dupree” ripped from the lyrics of Steely Dan’s song, “Cousin Dupree”?

The guys who comprise the Dan — Walter Becker and Donald Fagen — apparently think so. They’ve posted a letter on their Web site to actor Luke Wilson, brother of “Dupree” star Owen Wilson, in which they lay out their claim and ask for an apology.

“Cousin Dupree” appeared on the group’s 2001 Grammy award-winning comeback album, “Two Against Nature.” The lyrics are about a young ne’er do well musician who returns home to find his even younger female cousin all grown up. The narrator lusts after her in a very unfamilial way. The song features a great line about “the dreary architecture of my soul.”

In “You, Me and Dupree” — written by novice Mike LeSieur and directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, a young man (played by Owen Wilson) — is fired from his job and loses his place to live because he attends the wedding of his best friend (Matt Dillon). The friend and his wife (Kate Hudson) take him in, and the two men bond a lot while the wife is left out in the cold. The friend’s character name is Randy Dupree, hence the Steely Dan connection.

The duo’s letter to Luke Wilson — titled “Hey Luke" — is typed on stationery from the Residential Suites at Longworth, the hotel where Becker and Fagen are staying this week on their summer concert tour.

After identifying themselves as the Grammy-winning creators of such hits as “RIkki Don’t Lose That Number” and “Reelin’ in the Years” (among others), the pair gets to the point.

“What we suspect may have happened is this,” Becker and Fagen write in the letter. “Some hack writer or producer or whatever they call themselves in Malibu or Los Feliz apparently heard our Grammy-winning song, ‘Cousin Dupree,’ on the radio and thought, hey man, this is a cool idea for a character in a movie or something.”

“OK, so the “cousin” idea was no doubt eliminated so as not to offend the fundamentalist ticket buyers in the flyovers. Nevertheless, they like, took our character, this real dog sleeping on the couch and all and put him the middle of some hokey “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” rip off story and then, when it came time to change the character’s name or whatever so people wouldn’t know what a rip the whole thing was, they didn’t even bother to think up a new [bleeping] name for the guy!"

They warn Luke Wilson that their brother Owen “has gotten himself mixed up with some pretty bad Hollywood schlockmeisters and that he may be doing, like, permanent damage to his good creds and whatever reputation for coolness he may still have — let’s face it, ‘Bottle Rocket’ was a ways back already.”

My personal favorite part of the letter reads as follows: “And Luke, think of yourself, man. Do you really want to go down as the brother of the Zal Yanovsky of the 21st century?”

(Hilarious since almost no one but Dennis Miller is likely to get the reference to the former member of the Lovin' Spoonful who died in 2002 at age 58. But I’m not even sure this is who they mean. The guys may be thinking of creepy “Red Shoes Diary” actor-director Zalman King, whom Owen actually resembles.)

The only redress Becker and Fagen suggest for now is that Owen Wilson come to one of their California concerts and apologize to the group’s fans.

In exchange, they offer to load him up with Steely Dan merchandise. There’s also a veiled threat of sending a large Russian who resembles a Navy SEAL and knows nothing of the Wilsons’ work to make things right if Owen declines Steely Dan’s invitation.

Stay tuned...


yes, i'd read the letter. but since i am out of the loop re: most hollywood films, i didn't bother searching further. still the boys receive points for acknowledging the "writing" community of los feliz.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 21, 2006, 09:52:00 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
This could have gone in a few different threads.  Summoning the Princess for on-the-record response!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,204910,00.html

You, Me and Steely Dan



that is bleepin' hilarious (and probably a LOT funnier than the movie itself).
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 21, 2006, 10:36:39 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
This could have gone in a few different threads.  Summoning the Princess for on-the-record response!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,204910,00.html

You, Me and Steely Dan



that is bleepin' hilarious (and probably a LOT funnier than the movie itself).


this is my favorite line: "so as not to offend the fundamentalist ticket buyers in the flyovers"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 23, 2006, 05:32:27 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
this is my favorite line: "so as not to offend the fundamentalist ticket buyers in the flyovers"


I thought of that comment last nite. Watched part of Something's Gotta Give on TBS -- the same channel that runs watered-down-but-still-pretty-racy eps of Sex & the City in primetime, including the word "penis" -- and they changed Diane Keaton's "goddamn"s to "damn"s.  I remember that being done, like, 25 years ago; I assumed it had gone the way of the dodo.

And today (in air-conditioned comfort) I saw Monster House, which totally rocked. A lot like an animated version of some of the better kidflicks of the '80s (think Goonies). But see the 3-D version if you go. They even let us keep the glasses!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on July 23, 2006, 11:02:43 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
this is my favorite line: "so as not to offend the fundamentalist ticket buyers in the flyovers"


I thought of that comment last nite. Watched part of Something's Gotta Give on TBS -- the same channel that runs watered-down-but-still-pretty-racy eps of Sex & the City in primetime, including the word "penis" -- and they changed Diane Keaton's "goddamn"s to "damn"s.  I remember that being done, like, 25 years ago; I assumed it had gone the way of the dodo.

And today (in air-conditioned comfort) I saw Monster House, which totally rocked. A lot like an animated version of some of the better kidflicks of the '80s (think Goonies). But see the 3-D version if you go. They even let us keep the glasses!

I saw Monster House too. I guess it plays well in the summer but wouldn't it have been better if released before Halloween?
3D? Not at my theater! That would totally rock. I liked it at the end when the people who were eaten by the house came back. People in the theater started to get up and exit but then stayed standing in the aisles to watch.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 24, 2006, 07:38:08 AM
Quote from: "Alicat"

I saw Monster House too. I guess it plays well in the summer but wouldn't it have been better if released before Halloween?


Apparently the market place is so overloaded with animation between now & Xmas, that Columbia decided to release it now and then put the DVD out for Halloween. Speaking of which, they showed the trailer for the re-release of Nightmare Before Xmas in 3-D. Woo Hoo!
Title: Brokeback Piano
Post by: urth on July 25, 2006, 12:30:45 PM
Nicolas Cage is....Liberace?!?

http://www.cinematical.com/2006/07/25/nicolas-cage-as-liberace/
Title: Re: Brokeback Piano
Post by: princessofcairo on July 25, 2006, 12:37:30 PM
Quote from: "urth"
Nicolas Cage is....Liberace?!?

http://www.cinematical.com/2006/07/25/nicolas-cage-as-liberace/


no!no!no!no!no!no!no!no!

god, no!

liberace is (after freddie) my favorite queen. and one of my favorite pianists. and a downright awesome performer. and, oh, i should be using the past tense. anyhoo, i don't want nicolas cage to jerry lee the shit out of him!
Title: Re: Brokeback Piano
Post by: RGMike on July 25, 2006, 12:42:32 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "urth"
Nicolas Cage is....Liberace?!?

http://www.cinematical.com/2006/07/25/nicolas-cage-as-liberace/


no!no!no!no!no!no!no!no!

god, no!

liberace is (after freddie) my favorite queen. and one of my favorite pianists. and a downright awesome performer. and, oh, i should be using the past tense. anyhoo, i don't want nicolas cage to jerry lee the shit out of him!


5 or 6 years ago, Robin Williams was supposed to play him but I guess that fell thru.  Now if it were Philip Seymour Hoffman...
Title: Re: Brokeback Piano
Post by: Gazoo on July 25, 2006, 12:52:12 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "urth"
Nicolas Cage is....Liberace?!?

http://www.cinematical.com/2006/07/25/nicolas-cage-as-liberace/


no!no!no!no!no!no!no!no!

god, no!

liberace is (after freddie) my favorite queen. and one of my favorite pianists. and a downright awesome performer. and, oh, i should be using the past tense. anyhoo, i don't want nicolas cage to jerry lee the shit out of him!


5 or 6 years ago, Robin Williams was supposed to play him but I guess that fell thru.  Now if it were Philip Seymour Hoffman...

It really should be Kerr Smith:
(http://actressmmm.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/kerrarr1.jpg)

(http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/d/d2/180px-Kerr.jpg)

(http://cruel-kindness.net/other/color-7.png)
Title: Re: Brokeback Piano
Post by: princessofcairo on July 25, 2006, 12:52:42 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "urth"
Nicolas Cage is....Liberace?!?

http://www.cinematical.com/2006/07/25/nicolas-cage-as-liberace/


no!no!no!no!no!no!no!no!

god, no!

liberace is (after freddie) my favorite queen. and one of my favorite pianists. and a downright awesome performer. and, oh, i should be using the past tense. anyhoo, i don't want nicolas cage to jerry lee the shit out of him!


5 or 6 years ago, Robin Williams was supposed to play him but I guess that fell thru.  Now if it were Philip Seymour Hoffman...


now, you're talking.
Title: Re: Brokeback Piano
Post by: RGMike on July 25, 2006, 01:07:16 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "urth"
Nicolas Cage is....Liberace?!?

http://www.cinematical.com/2006/07/25/nicolas-cage-as-liberace/


no!no!no!no!no!no!no!no!

god, no!

liberace is (after freddie) my favorite queen. and one of my favorite pianists. and a downright awesome performer. and, oh, i should be using the past tense. anyhoo, i don't want nicolas cage to jerry lee the shit out of him!


5 or 6 years ago, Robin Williams was supposed to play him but I guess that fell thru.  Now if it were Philip Seymour Hoffman...


now, you're talking.


BTW, in light of your "Brokeback Piano" comment: Jake Gyllenhaal is apprently going to play Lance Armstrong in a biopic.  No word on whether Sheryl Crow will play herself.  Suggested title: Brokeback MountainBike
Title: Re: Brokeback Piano
Post by: princessofcairo on July 25, 2006, 01:15:07 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "urth"
Nicolas Cage is....Liberace?!?

http://www.cinematical.com/2006/07/25/nicolas-cage-as-liberace/


no!no!no!no!no!no!no!no!

god, no!

liberace is (after freddie) my favorite queen. and one of my favorite pianists. and a downright awesome performer. and, oh, i should be using the past tense. anyhoo, i don't want nicolas cage to jerry lee the shit out of him!


5 or 6 years ago, Robin Williams was supposed to play him but I guess that fell thru.  Now if it were Philip Seymour Hoffman...


now, you're talking.


BTW, in light of your "Brokeback Piano" comment: Jake Gyllenhaal is apprently going to play Lance Armstrong in a biopic.  No word on whether Sheryl Crow will play herself.  Suggested title: Brokeback MountainBike


did you make that up?
Title: Re: Brokeback Piano
Post by: RGMike on July 25, 2006, 01:31:19 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "urth"
Nicolas Cage is....Liberace?!?

http://www.cinematical.com/2006/07/25/nicolas-cage-as-liberace/


no!no!no!no!no!no!no!no!

god, no!

liberace is (after freddie) my favorite queen. and one of my favorite pianists. and a downright awesome performer. and, oh, i should be using the past tense. anyhoo, i don't want nicolas cage to jerry lee the shit out of him!


5 or 6 years ago, Robin Williams was supposed to play him but I guess that fell thru.  Now if it were Philip Seymour Hoffman...


now, you're talking.


BTW, in light of your "Brokeback Piano" comment: Jake Gyllenhaal is apprently going to play Lance Armstrong in a biopic.  No word on whether Sheryl Crow will play herself.  Suggested title: Brokeback MountainBike


did you make that up?


actually, it was suggested on hollywood-elsewhere, along with Brokeballs Mountain.  But the movie itself is for real; Sony is developing it.
Title: Re: Brokeback Piano
Post by: RGMike on July 25, 2006, 09:38:21 PM
Quote from: "urth"
Nicolas Cage is....Liberace?!?

http://www.cinematical.com/2006/07/25/nicolas-cage-as-liberace/


Here's another version of the story featuring a cool PhotoShopped Cage's-head-on-Liberace's-body pic.

http://www.tmz.com/2006/07/24/brokeback-piano-nicolas-cage-to-play-liberace/

The guy from hollywood-elsewhere seems to think this is great casting, but he's not too keen on the screenwriters, whose main claim-to-fame is Scary Movie :roll:  One comment I saw said "What's next? 'The Waylon Flowers and Madame Story'"?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 28, 2006, 11:07:37 AM
well, after a few lean weekends, there's actually a couple flicks I plan to see in the next 2-3 days.

Tonite it's Scoop, the new Woody. I have no expectations, the reviews are generally not good (so of course Mick LaSalle sez it's fall-on-the-floor-funny), and that trailer just looked horrible IMHO. But hey, Scarlet Jo gets nekkid with Huge JackMan, and those are 2 bodies that make it worth 8 or 10 bucks for me.

Also: Miami Vice, only because it's Michael Mann, and that Helen Mirren/Cuba Gooding campfest Shadowboxer which sounds like a (unintentional) hoot.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 28, 2006, 11:24:31 AM
Sam Jackson sez: "Come Fly With Me (and My Snakes)":

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/archives/2006/07/sinatra_snakes.php
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 28, 2006, 01:20:00 PM
check out this trailer for Scorsese's The Departed. DAMN!

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/mf/frame?theme=minfo&lid=qtv-100-p.1451526-169450,qtv-300-p.1451527-169450,qtv-700-p.1451528-169450,wmv-56-p.1451529-169450,wmv-100-p.1451530-169450,wmv-300-p.1451531-169450,wmv-700-p.1451532-169450,qtv-56-p.1451525-169450,qtv-28-p.1451525-169450,wmv-28-p.1451529-169450&id=1808745378&f=1808745378&mspid=1809733336&type=t

it's a remake of a very good Hong Kong film called Infernal Affairs. Can't figure out who's doing that cover version of Floyd's "Comfortably Numb", tho'...
Title: pf cover
Post by: ggould on July 28, 2006, 02:00:08 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Can't figure out who's doing that cover version of Floyd's "Comfortably Numb", tho'...

Sounds like Van Morrison.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on July 28, 2006, 02:01:18 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
check out this trailer for Scorsese's The Departed. DAMN!

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/mf/frame?theme=minfo&lid=qtv-100-p.1451526-169450,qtv-300-p.1451527-169450,qtv-700-p.1451528-169450,wmv-56-p.1451529-169450,wmv-100-p.1451530-169450,wmv-300-p.1451531-169450,wmv-700-p.1451532-169450,qtv-56-p.1451525-169450,qtv-28-p.1451525-169450,wmv-28-p.1451529-169450&id=1808745378&f=1808745378&mspid=1809733336&type=t

it's a remake of a very good Hong Kong film called Infernal Affairs. Can't figure out who's doing that cover version of Floyd's "Comfortably Numb", tho'...


The hell with the trailer--that's the longest goddamn URL I've ever seen.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 28, 2006, 02:04:44 PM
Quote from: "urth"
The hell with the trailer--that's the longest goddamn URL I've ever seen.


Indeed.  For purposes of board formatting, I'd urge that long URLs be replaced with text: instead of {url}http://long-ass-address{/url}, use {url=http://long-ass-address}INSERT DESCRIPTIVE TEXT{/url}.

I'd also urge for the posting of Hugh Jackman pics from the new Woody, but that's just my obsession du jour . . .
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 28, 2006, 03:06:14 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
This could have gone in a few different threads.  Summoning the Princess for on-the-record response!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,204910,00.html

You, Me and Steely Dan

Is the new comedy “You, Me and Dupree” ripped from the lyrics of Steely Dan’s song, “Cousin Dupree”?



Apparently Owen Wilson, tongue planted firmly in cheeck, has responded.

In a statement released by his spokeswoman, Wilson said: ''I have never heard the song `Cousin Dupree' and I don't even know who this gentleman, Mr. Steely Dan, is. I hope this helps to clear things up and I can get back to concentrating on my new movie, `HEY 19.'''
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 28, 2006, 03:33:17 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
well, after a few lean weekends, there's actually a couple flicks I plan to see in the next 2-3 days.

Tonite it's Scoop, the new Woody. I have no expectations, the reviews are generally not good (so of course Mick LaSalle sez it's fall-on-the-floor-funny), and that trailer just looked horrible IMHO. But hey, Scarlet Jo gets nekkid with Huge JackMan, and those are 2 bodies that make it worth 8 or 10 bucks for me.
 


I forsook the KRSH Soul Patrol for a long-lunch matinee of Scoop.  Haven't checked the KRSH thread to see if it was really worth it, but Mike & any other self-described Woody Allen fans, you'll definitely like the flick.  Similar in style to Curse of the Jade Scorpion, but a lot funnier without resorting to slapstick and without any 'cringe' moments (Woody 'plays' Scarlett's dad, not lover).  Not quite to the level of Bullets Over Broadway, more like a refreshing afternoon tea than a great 4 course meal.  What I found myself enjoying the most is that Woody really gets to trot out his old stand-up persona, and he hasn't done that in a loooooong time.  For the most part he's light-hearted & quite funny, but even when he isn't, as a fan I could forgive him the swing-and-a-miss.  I also found myself enjoying the film on a whole separate level, because it is clearly a bookend with Match Point.

Scarlett proves that she has excellent comedic chops (at times anyway) & isn't afraid to not take herself seriously.  But her performance is rather uneven, even considering that she plays sort of a dual role and half the time is supposed to come across as a college girl trying to be an actress.  Unfortunately Hugh Jackman is woefully underused.  Then again, since the whole plot revolves around the viewer (along with Scarlett's & Woody's characters) not being sure what his character is really up to, Woody the writer/director can say that it was deliberate.  Still, it has to be a shame to think that a pretty damn good actor got to use more of his craft as a superhero in a film with the number III appended to it than he did as the leading man in a Film by Woody Allen.  Lastly, Scarlett & Hugh meet in a pool, and although they do become lovers (as the trailer indicates), if you're looking for a skin-thrill you'd better get it while they're both in their swimsuits.  Not that Scarlett looks anything less than outstanding in a bright red speedo, but you see less of her in the bedroom.  Likewise for Hugh.  But then again I only paid $6.75 at the Shoreline 16.  For 8 or 10 bucks I might have felt ripped off on that account.

A solid 3 to 3 1/2 stars for me, not quite the wattage in the star performances as The Devil Wears Prada, but not as deeply flawed either.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 28, 2006, 03:37:12 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
This could have gone in a few different threads.  Summoning the Princess for on-the-record response!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,204910,00.html

You, Me and Steely Dan

Is the new comedy “You, Me and Dupree” ripped from the lyrics of Steely Dan’s song, “Cousin Dupree”?



Apparently Owen Wilson, tongue planted firmly in cheeck, has responded.

In a statement released by his spokeswoman, Wilson said: ''I have never heard the song `Cousin Dupree' and I don't even know who this gentleman, Mr. Steely Dan, is. I hope this helps to clear things up and I can get back to concentrating on my new movie, `HEY 19.'''


I begin to like Owen more & more.  That's perfect.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on July 28, 2006, 04:03:57 PM
he heh. Good one.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 28, 2006, 09:38:57 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
I forsook the KRSH Soul Patrol for a long-lunch matinee of Scoop.  Haven't checked the KRSH thread to see if it was really worth it, but Mike & any other self-described Woody Allen fans, you'll definitely like the flick.  


Well... I wouldn't say it was a chore to sit thru but I thought it was very VERY minor Woody.  "And I say that with all due respect." :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 03, 2006, 07:33:00 AM
streep and the waves (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5241460.stm)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 03, 2006, 07:36:06 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
streep and the waves (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5241460.stm)


that's 2 Katrina docus coming out almost simultaneously -- Spike Lee has a lengthy one  (I think it's 4 hours) that's coming out soon, tho' it may be an HBO thang.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 03, 2006, 04:34:49 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
streep and the waves (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5241460.stm)


that's 2 Katrina docus coming out almost simultaneously -- Spike Lee has a lengthy one  (I think it's 4 hours) that's coming out soon, tho' it may be an HBO thang.


ooh! think we'll get another ice cube scene? to clarify, that's a sex scene with ice cubes, not a scene featuring the 2nd hottest west coast rapper.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 03, 2006, 09:39:32 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
streep and the waves (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5241460.stm)


that's 2 Katrina docus coming out almost simultaneously -- Spike Lee has a lengthy one  (I think it's 4 hours) that's coming out soon, tho' it may be an HBO thang.


ooh! think we'll get another ice cube scene? to clarify, that's a sex scene with ice cubes, not a scene featuring the 2nd hottest west coast rapper.


so, a sex scene with Ice Cube and ice cubes would be... Ice Cube cubed?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on August 03, 2006, 09:41:38 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
streep and the waves (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5241460.stm)


that's 2 Katrina docus coming out almost simultaneously -- Spike Lee has a lengthy one  (I think it's 4 hours) that's coming out soon, tho' it may be an HBO thang.


ooh! think we'll get another ice cube scene? to clarify, that's a sex scene with ice cubes, not a scene featuring the 2nd hottest west coast rapper.


so, a sex scene with Ice Cube and ice cubes would be... Ice Cube cubed?


Ice iced, baby.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 03, 2006, 09:45:28 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
streep and the waves (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5241460.stm)


that's 2 Katrina docus coming out almost simultaneously -- Spike Lee has a lengthy one  (I think it's 4 hours) that's coming out soon, tho' it may be an HBO thang.


ooh! think we'll get another ice cube scene? to clarify, that's a sex scene with ice cubes, not a scene featuring the 2nd hottest west coast rapper.


so, a sex scene with Ice Cube and ice cubes would be... Ice Cube cubed?


Ice iced, baby.


Word to yo' mutha!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 04, 2006, 08:49:55 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
streep and the waves (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5241460.stm)


that's 2 Katrina docus coming out almost simultaneously -- Spike Lee has a lengthy one  (I think it's 4 hours) that's coming out soon, tho' it may be an HBO thang.


ooh! think we'll get another ice cube scene? to clarify, that's a sex scene with ice cubes, not a scene featuring the 2nd hottest west coast rapper.


so, a sex scene with Ice Cube and ice cubes would be... Ice Cube cubed?


he's way too square for that.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 04, 2006, 08:57:25 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"

so, a sex scene with Ice Cube and ice cubes would be... Ice Cube cubed?


he's way too square for that.


he's so square, but baby I don't care!

(http://img.stopklatka.pl/filmowcy/01700/01751/0.jpg)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 07, 2006, 09:34:01 PM
Talladega Nights is freakin' HILARIOUS. Highly recommended. Ferrell's great, of course, but it made me see Sascha Baron Cohen in a new light, since I think "Ali G" is one of the UNfunniest characters, like, ever.

Hip soundtrack too -- you might expect a NASCAR comedy to have Toby Keith and the like, but Ferrell and his director opt for Steve Earle.  Not to mention the Best Use of Pat Benatar in a Movie since "Invincible" was in Legend of Billie Jean.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on August 08, 2006, 08:40:49 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Hip soundtrack too -- you might expect a NASCAR comedy to have Toby Keith and the like, but Ferrell and his director opt for Steve Earle.  


This is a HUGE surprise.  I was definitely assuming a soundtrack for the flyovers.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 10, 2006, 11:08:40 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
it made me see Sascha Baron Cohen in a new light, since I think "Ali G" is one of the UNfunniest characters, like, ever.


His voice character in Madagascar was also freakin' hilarious, as the King of the Lemurs.  I have never seen more than a few seconds of his Ali G. persona, but that's because I agreed with your assessment instantaneously.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 18, 2006, 08:43:08 AM
best review I've seen (so far) of Snakes on a Plane:

http://movingpictureblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/snakes-on-blog.html

"This plane's going down faster than a Thai whore" ROTFL!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 22, 2006, 03:52:34 PM
Snakes in a theater:

http://www.local6.com/news/9717727/detail.html

"i'm sick and tired of these muthaf---in' Snakes on a Plane tie-ins!"
Title: Osama bin reptilian?
Post by: ggould on August 22, 2006, 04:09:20 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Snakes in a theater:

http://www.local6.com/news/9717727/detail.html

"i'm sick and tired of these muthaf---in' Snakes on a Plane tie-ins!"

how freakin' sick!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 24, 2006, 07:40:03 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
best review I've seen (so far) of Snakes on a Plane:

http://movingpictureblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/snakes-on-blog.html

"This plane's going down faster than a Thai whore" ROTFL!


So Mike,  didja see it yet?

Saw it today (following Ali's advice from this morning) and found it thoroughly enjoyable.  In some ways very comparable to Speed, with the peril confined for most of the movie to a small space, much deeper than usual development of the minor characters, homage paid to several time-honored action/horror cliches, and 4 or 5 emotional gutchecks sprinkled throughout.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 24, 2006, 09:56:46 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"
best review I've seen (so far) of Snakes on a Plane:

http://movingpictureblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/snakes-on-blog.html

"This plane's going down faster than a Thai whore" ROTFL!


So Mike,  didja see it yet?

Saw it today (following Ali's advice from this morning) and found it thoroughly enjoyable.  In some ways very comparable to Speed, with the peril confined for most of the movie to a small space, much deeper than usual development of the minor characters, homage paid to several time-honored action/horror cliches, and 4 or 5 emotional gutchecks sprinkled throughout.


I'm seeing it Fri afternoon.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 25, 2006, 10:04:48 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"
best review I've seen (so far) of Snakes on a Plane:

http://movingpictureblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/snakes-on-blog.html

"This plane's going down faster than a Thai whore" ROTFL!


So Mike,  didja see it yet?

Saw it today (following Ali's advice from this morning) and found it thoroughly enjoyable.  In some ways very comparable to Speed, with the peril confined for most of the movie to a small space, much deeper than usual development of the minor characters, homage paid to several time-honored action/horror cliches, and 4 or 5 emotional gutchecks sprinkled throughout.


Well... I can't honestly say I had a good time. Oh it has it's moments, and Sam Jackson is solid as always, but really, it was cheesy but not in a good way. From the opening credits that looked like they were left over from an ep of Magnum PI to the animation-enhanced serpents, it really (as many have said) looked like a Sci-Fi Channel quickie. On the other hand, when have you ever seen actors named "Flex" and "Sunny" get billing in the same movie?

Speaking of Speed, have you seen the promos for Crank? It's basically Speed-meets-D.O.A.  Now if you wanna see something really great, I recommend The Illusionist. Magic in turn-of-the-century Vienna with Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and (in the Scarlett Johansson-was-apparently-unavailable role) Jessica Beil.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on August 28, 2006, 08:03:04 AM
Invincible, the story of Vince Papale playing for the Eagles in the late '70s, was an utter treat.  Wahlberg allows the story to be able Papale instead of about Wahlberg -- no small feat in the modern school of acting -- and the tale itself is the sort of heroic journey of which Joseph Campbell would be proud, in which the hero leaves home so that he can return with something promising for those who cannot out.  (And they got the mid-decade Philly details just right, my friend Eddie assures me.)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 28, 2006, 08:05:48 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Invincible, the story of Vince Papale playing for the Eagles in the late '70s, was an utter treat.  Wahlberg allows the story to be able Papale instead of about Wahlberg -- no small feat in the modern school of acting -- and the tale itself is the sort of heroic journey of which Joseph Campbell would be proud, in which the hero leaves home so that he can return with something promising for those who cannot out.  (And they got the mid-decade Philly details just right, my friend Eddie assures me.)


It's def on my must-see list. I think Wahlberg is quite underrated as an actor, and so is Kinnear for that matter.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 28, 2006, 01:26:44 PM
I was quite pissed to discover that (unbeknownst to me) the Castro showed How I Won The War with John Lennon yesterday; I've never seen it, and it hasn't been on TV in years.

and Gaz -- this Thursday they're showing It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on August 28, 2006, 02:17:25 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
I was quite pissed to discover that (unbeknownst to me) the Castro showed How I Won The War with John Lennon yesterday; I've never seen it, and it hasn't been on TV in years.

and Gaz -- this Thursday they're showing It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.


Ooooh, I would LOVE to see that in the Castro.  It's in my all-time Top 10, and for my monhy there's no better place to see a film.  Too bad work obligations won't let me fly out for an extended Labor Day vaca!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 01, 2006, 10:18:42 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Invincible, the story of Vince Papale playing for the Eagles in the late '70s, was an utter treat.  Wahlberg allows the story to be able Papale instead of about Wahlberg -- no small feat in the modern school of acting -- and the tale itself is the sort of heroic journey of which Joseph Campbell would be proud, in which the hero leaves home so that he can return with something promising for those who cannot out.  (And they got the mid-decade Philly details just right, my friend Eddie assures me.)


It's def on my must-see list. I think Wahlberg is quite underrated as an actor, and so is Kinnear for that matter.


Saw it this afternoon and it was quite enjoyable within the formula Disney-inspirational-sports-movie framework. Wahlberg is indeed very good. Bonus: an especially well-chosen '70s rock sndtk. Wonder how Papale's ex-wife feels about being portrayed as a total bitch.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 05, 2006, 11:25:42 AM
If any of y'all like scary movies, go see The Descent!  Nearly perfect (for what it is), with some good character development, a couple of brutal plot twists that you'll never see coming, and a novel ending that neatly avoided my predictions.  Best horror flick I have seen in years, probably because it's a UK production.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on September 05, 2006, 03:38:29 PM
well, i've seen a fair amount of films since my arrival in spain. i don't know if they've all been released in the u.s., but here's the list with my opinions:

honey baby (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0322590/) - a cute film from finnish kaurismaki about an american singer "touring" through eastern europe. henry thomas is horrible as a rock star, but helmut berger makes up for it. love ensues.

three times (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0459666/) - dude. just don't see it. just don't. it starts off fine, but you'll end up crying. or snoring the theatre (first-hand).

the mother (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323298/) - excellent roger mitchell film!! written by kureishi, so his interpretation of british reaction may not be accurate, but it sure is funny!

crossing the bridge: the sound of istanbul (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0459242/) - intelligent documentary exposing variety of music styles in istanbul: everything from rap to traditional kurdish music. the performances are great, and i never before noticed how much istanbul looks like san francisco.

caterina va in citta[/url - very cute, very smart italian coming-of-age flick.

[url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468094/]the road to guantanamo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0366287/) - winterbottom at it again. daresay more effective than michael moore? go see it and get all twisty-turny in the stomach. go ahead!

grizzly man (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427312/) - herzog is one detailed individual. this film is only strange because of its subject. hard to believe, but it's so very true...

that's all i remember now. oh transamerica, too, but you already know all you need to know about that. it was funny, but i had a hard time suspending my disby. the parents were great, though! and, of course, so was felicity. from the first scene.

i haven't worked up to seeing a film in spanish yet. i can read the subtitles with little trouble, but the spoken lanugage is still too rapid for me to understand.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 05, 2006, 03:45:29 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
three times (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0459666/) - dude. just don't see it. just don't. it starts off fine, but you'll end up crying. or snoring the theatre (first-hand).


That's gotten RAVE reviews here, but I haven't seen it.

Quote from: "princessofcairo"
the mother (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323298/) - excellent roger mitchell film!! written by kureishi, so his interpretation of british reaction may not be accurate, but it sure is funny!


Terrific. Michell is a fave director of mine and of course Daniel Craig rules. The actress (I'm blanking on her name) got robbed at Oscar time.

Quote from: "princessofcairo"
grizzly man (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427312/) - herzog is one detailed individual. this film is only strange because of its subject. hard to believe, but it's so very true...


QUITE timely now, what with the Steve Irwin thing.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on September 05, 2006, 03:51:10 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
well, i've seen a fair amount of films since my arrival in spain. i don't know if they've all been released in the u.s., but here's the list with my opinions:

honey baby (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0322590/) - a cute film from finnish kaurismaki about an american singer "touring" through eastern europe. henry thomas is horrible as a rock star, but helmut berger makes up for it. love ensues.

three times (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0459666/) - dude. just don't see it. just don't. it starts off fine, but you'll end up crying. or snoring the theatre (first-hand).

the mother (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323298/) - excellent roger mitchell film!! written by kureishi, so his interpretation of british reaction may not be accurate, but it sure is funny!

crossing the bridge: the sound of istanbul (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0459242/) - intelligent documentary exposing variety of music styles in istanbul: everything from rap to traditional kurdish music. the performances are great, and i never before noticed how much istanbul looks like san francisco.

caterina va in citta[/url - very cute, very smart italian coming-of-age flick.

[url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468094/]the road to guantanamo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0366287/) - winterbottom at it again. daresay more effective than michael moore? go see it and get all twisty-turny in the stomach. go ahead!

grizzly man (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427312/) - herzog is one detailed individual. this film is only strange because of its subject. hard to believe, but it's so very true...

that's all i remember now. oh transamerica, too, but you already know all you need to know about that. it was funny, but i had a hard time suspending my disby. the parents were great, though! and, of course, so was felicity. from the first scene.

i haven't worked up to seeing a film in spanish yet. i can read the subtitles with little trouble, but the spoken lanugage is still too rapid for me to understand.


Those all sound pretty good (well except for Three Times maybe). Except for Grizzly Man I don't think any of them has had a US theatrical release, save maybe for some film festivals. But most appear to be on DVD here, so I'll have to see if Le Video has any of 'em.  The Mother particularly sounds worth watching.

So how goes the illegal immigrant status?

(Slight TANC: while I'm writing this, KCDX is playing Genesis' (they're everywhere today, aren't they?) Home By the Sea, which is on the same album as... wait for it... Illegal Alien.)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on September 05, 2006, 04:08:45 PM
anne reid plays "the mother." i love how you don't even learn her character's name until a third of the way into the film.

DO NOT believe the rave reviews for three times. trust me. i'm no film critic, but i have studied and worked in the art. that makes me more qualified than a film critic.

i didn't even think of the irwin similarity. my housemate described his death as a "freak accident," and i said, "well, how else was he supposed to go?"

illegal immigrant (they're everywhere these days, aren't they?) status - planning to begin the marriage process as soon as a friend arrives from sf later this month with my birth certificate. if all goes well, i'll have e.u. citizenship within eight months. and i'll be somebody's missus. god bless spain and the legalisation of gay marriage.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 09, 2006, 09:19:14 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
anne reid plays "the mother." i love how you don't even learn her character's name until a third of the way into the film.

DO NOT believe the rave reviews for three times. trust me. i'm no film critic, but i have studied and worked in the art. that makes me more qualified than a film critic.

i didn't even think of the irwin similarity. my housemate described his death as a "freak accident," and i said, "well, how else was he supposed to go?"

illegal immigrant (they're everywhere these days, aren't they?) status - planning to begin the marriage process as soon as a friend arrives from sf later this month with my birth certificate. if all goes well, i'll have e.u. citizenship within eight months. and i'll be somebody's missus. god bless spain and the legalisation of gay marriage.


So who's going to be your missus?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on September 09, 2006, 02:23:09 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
anne reid plays "the mother." i love how you don't even learn her character's name until a third of the way into the film.

DO NOT believe the rave reviews for three times. trust me. i'm no film critic, but i have studied and worked in the art. that makes me more qualified than a film critic.

i didn't even think of the irwin similarity. my housemate described his death as a "freak accident," and i said, "well, how else was he supposed to go?"

illegal immigrant (they're everywhere these days, aren't they?) status - planning to begin the marriage process as soon as a friend arrives from sf later this month with my birth certificate. if all goes well, i'll have e.u. citizenship within eight months. and i'll be somebody's missus. god bless spain and the legalisation of gay marriage.


So who's going to be your missus?


my girlfriend. though we're only marrying for papers. still, i think i'd like a minor ceremony. or at least a dress.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 09, 2006, 10:17:05 PM
Saw Hollywoodland tonite, the Who-killed-"Superman"? tinseltown noir.  Liked it overall, tho' I thought the Ben Affleck-as-George Reeves stuff was actually better than the Adrian Brody-playing-detective stuff.  Affleck was quite good IMHO.

Killing time before the flick, I stopped at the indie record shop across the street from the Empire in West Portal, and they had a crate of old vinyl for sale -- picked up the first Cold Blood LP for 49 cents! I'd forgotten it was on San Francisco records (distrib by Atlantic). Also for half-a-buck, I bought 2 Streisand LPs in nearly-new condition: Lazy Afternoon, the one produced by Rupert Holmes (Babs covers his "Widescreen" and "Letters That Cross in the Mail"), and Barbra Joan Streisand, the follow-up to Stoney End -- she actually covers John Lennon's "Mother" (!).
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 11, 2006, 01:12:41 PM
Saw The Illusionist over the weekend.  Anything with both Edward Norton & Paul Giamatti has to be worth a matinee ticket right?

Well just barely.  A decent period piece, Norton & Giamatti certainly do their jobs well, and Rufus Sewell is very good as the nasty Crown Prince Leopold, but Jessica Biel is such a horrible actress that at times it appears that Norton is wincing in pain as she mangles her accent.  Thankfully she doesn't have that much screen time.  

But the biggest problem is that it quickly becomes obvious this is going to be a caper movie & the only members of the audience who wouldn't see it coming would be people mysteriously transported here from the film's 19th century Viennese setting.  

And one nitpick: during one of his magic tricks with a sword, Norton's character refers to King Arthur drawing Excalibur from the stone, but the Sword in the Stone was Clermont.  Excalibur was the sword that the Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft from the bosom of the water.  Didn't they ever see Monty Python & the Holy Grail?!?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 11, 2006, 01:18:18 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Saw The Illusionist over the weekend.  Anything with both Edward Norton & Paul Giamatti has to be worth a matinee ticket right?

Well just barely.  A decent period piece, Norton & Giamatti certainly do their jobs well, and Rufus Sewell is very good as the nasty Crown Prince Leopold, but Jessica Biel is such a horrible actress that at times it appears that Norton is wincing in pain as she mangles her accent.  Thankfully she doesn't have that much screen time.  

But the biggest problem is that it quickly becomes obvious this is going to be a caper movie & the only members of the audience who wouldn't see it coming would be people mysteriously transported here from the film's 19th century Viennese setting.  

And one nitpick: during one of his magic tricks with a sword, Norton's character refers to King Arthur drawing Excalibur from the stone, but the Sword in the Stone was Clermont.  Excalibur was the sword that the Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft from the bosom of the water.  Didn't they ever see Monty Python & the Holy Grail?!?


Guess I liked it a LOT more than you did. Musta been the cinematography.And I thought Giamatti, with his Peter Lorre-meets-James Mason accent, was great.  Frankly, I don't think Beil was any better or worse than Scarlett Jo woulda been  :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 15, 2006, 12:21:51 PM
Rowan Atkinson and Maggie Smith? I am so totally there...

http://movies2.nytimes.com/2006/09/15/movies/15mum.html?ref=movies

and Patrick Swayze too!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on September 17, 2006, 04:29:31 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Rowan Atkinson and Maggie Smith? I am so totally there...

http://movies2.nytimes.com/2006/09/15/movies/15mum.html?ref=movies

and Patrick Swayze too!


sounds like it's worth a view.

i saw ken loach's the wind that shakes the barley tonight, featuring reg's fave, cillian murphy. a fine unraveling of history. bring kleenex.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on September 17, 2006, 11:22:46 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Barbra Joan Streisand, the follow-up to Stoney End -- she actually covers John Lennon's "Mother" (!).


[ head spins furiously ]
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 18, 2006, 07:52:57 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Barbra Joan Streisand, the follow-up to Stoney End -- she actually covers John Lennon's "Mother" (!).


[ head spins furiously ]


Of course, Shelby Lynne was doing a reportedly scorching version of same in her live act a few years ago -- but since she witnessed the murder/suicide of her parents at age 16, it made sense.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on September 18, 2006, 07:58:49 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Barbra Joan Streisand, the follow-up to Stoney End -- she actually covers John Lennon's "Mother" (!).


[ head spins furiously ]


Of course, Shelby Lynne was doing a reportedly scorching version of same in her live act a few years ago -- but since she witnessed the murder/suicide of her parents at age 16, it made sense.


isn't shelby related to some other singer?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on September 18, 2006, 08:05:32 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Barbra Joan Streisand, the follow-up to Stoney End -- she actually covers John Lennon's "Mother" (!).


[ head spins furiously ]


Of course, Shelby Lynne was doing a reportedly scorching version of same in her live act a few years ago -- but since she witnessed the murder/suicide of her parents at age 16, it made sense.


isn't shelby related to some other singer?


Her sister is country artist Allison Moorer (whose only U.S. success to date has been singing the female lead on the targeted-to-country-radio version of Kid Rock's "Picture").
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on September 18, 2006, 08:39:42 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Barbra Joan Streisand, the follow-up to Stoney End -- she actually covers John Lennon's "Mother" (!).


[ head spins furiously ]


Of course, Shelby Lynne was doing a reportedly scorching version of same in her live act a few years ago -- but since she witnessed the murder/suicide of her parents at age 16, it made sense.


isn't shelby related to some other singer?


Her sister is country artist Allison Moorer (whose only U.S. success to date has been singing the female lead on the targeted-to-country-radio version of Kid Rock's "Picture").


ah, yes, that's it. thanks! i have a version of moorer singing "angel flying too close to the ground." very nice.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 18, 2006, 09:59:49 AM
Most of you have met my friend Carl, who is now living in Shanghai trying to make a name for himself (and with good success so far), in the Chinese movie industry there.

Among the many side projects that help him pay his rent is one as a movie reviewer for a magazine that is published in both English & Mandarin versions (so he gets to write one review each since he's totally fluent).  Here's his latest, and if you like good prose & sound, thoughtful criticism, this is a great read even if you've never seen any of the movies he's referencing.

Here is my article about the Banquet. It is written to meet the longer length requirements at the Chinese language film magazine, but the editor at the English magazine likes it so much she is talking about bending their normally strict word limits to publish it almost in its entirety.

The Banquet (Ye Yen), Feng Xiaogang’s contribution to the burgeoning juggernaut of contemporary Chinese wuxia (“heroic martial arts”) films is a martial arts version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet set in Tang Dynasty China. It is clearly aimed squarely at the hearts and minds of western film critics. And atypically for a Feng Xiaogang film, it looks set to hit this target. Feng is easily the best-known director in China, but has yet to build any recognition whatsoever in the West, partly because his stock and trade is comedy and his comedies generally don’t translate all that well. My prediction is that this film will be hailed as a masterpiece throughout the US and Europe, while here in China it will by and large be dismissed as a silly extravagance.

On a literary level, this is a fascinating film because Feng and his screenwriters Qiu Gangjian and Sheng Heyu have shifted the focus of Shakespeare’s story from the Hamlet character to the Gertrude character, here called Empress Wan. I strongly suspect that the primary motive for this change is that she is played by Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Memoirs of a Geisha), who for some inexplicable reason is the biggest box office draw China has ever known. But whatever the motivation, this shift in emphasis is carried off fairly successfully and makes the story considerably more dynamic than Shakespeare’s original. Let’s face it, Hamlet, in Shakespeare’s conception of the story, is basically a story about a poor little rich twit who literally can’t make a decision to save his life. There are some interesting elements of intrigue in the plot, but what makes the play sing is the eloquence with which the central character describes his moral dilemma. But Gertrude, now there’s a fascinating character to begin with. She’s a woman who loves her husband and son, but is somehow persuaded by her brother-in-law to collude in betraying them.

In Feng’s re-envisioning, Empress Wan is not actually Hamlet’s mother, allowing the film to neatly sidestep the issue of whether there is anything oedipal going on between them, and perhaps more importantly, allowing the rather young Zhang Ziyi to believably play the role. Instead, she starts out as the girlfriend of Prince Wu Luan (Hamlet) until she gets noticed by his father, the Emperor, who snaps her up and makes her his new favorite wife. No one objects since the Emperor’s will cannot be questioned, but the Prince exiles himself to a remote theatre where he and his troupe of performers practice some sort of mystical dance. He and the new Empress continue to pine for each other from afar. Enter brother-in-law Li, who kills the Emperor, proclaims himself the new emperor, and asks Empress Wan to marry him. The alternative is certain death for her and her beloved prince, while if she accepts the villainous Li’s hand in marriage, she may be able to save Wu Luan’s life as well as her own. Now that is a serious moral dilemma.

Over the course of the film, Empress Wan is repeatedly placed in a position of having to make similarly morally ambiguous decisions and they gradually begin to taint her. Gradually, her attitudes and priorities shift, leading to her ultimate downfall. Her character remains morally ambiguous to the end.

This ambiguity is likely to play well with critics in the West, where moral ambiguity is enshrined as a great literary virtue, and not so well with Chinese audiences. Xuxia is a firmly established, well-defined genre here, and local audiences understandably like their wuxia films to have clearly distinguished heros and villains. The Gertrude-centered spin on Hamlet is also likely to make the film seem fresh and intriguing to western critics brought up on Shakespeare, while its significance may be lost on a Chinese audience much less familiar with the original script.

The biggest problem the film is likely to have with Chinese audiences is the overly wordy and often pompous dialogue. This will not be a problem for Western critics because they won’t understand the dialogue and will be relying on subtitles. But it is a very real and very major problem of the film for anyone who actually understands the dialogue. At the press screening I attended, there were titters of laughter throughout at excessively pompous moments, many of which fell to the character of Emporer Li. This is unfortunate because despite the awkwardness of his dialogue, Li is played with verve by Ge You, an actor known mainly for his work on lightweight comedies. It is good to see him stretch into a meaty role of the kind he really hasn’t had an opportunity to play since his masterful portrayal of Xu Fugui in Zhang Yimou’s epic film To Live more than 10 years ago.

In fact, as a character, Emporer Li ought to be a good deal more interesting than Claudius in Shakespeare’s play. He is a man torn between two desires – his megalomaniacal urge for power and his desire to truly win Empress Wan’s affection. To bad this potentially dynamic internal conflict is handled so inelegantly – stated too obviously in his dialogue and then repeated ad nauseum with little sign of any real impact on his actions up until a point late in the story, where it suddenly comes into play but rings false. This misstep is a crucial flaw that seriously undermines the film’s climax.

There are other, smaller problems that contribute to a sense of unevenness. There are several odd choices that seem out of place given the film’s Tang Dynasty setting - China’s golden age. The dance that Wu Luan and his troupe perform looks for all the world like contemporary Japanese Butoh, and distinctly unlike any Chinese classical form that I am aware of. The fight choreography is at times brilliant, but at other times seems lazy, relying too heavily on fancy aerial wire work with little connection to the actual fight in progress. Tan Dun’s musical score seems to be a confused hodgepodge of classical Chinese, contemporary new age, and Broadway show tune genres.

Another problem is with the film’s final moments. I don’t want to give any secrets away, but the denouement is a little too clever for itself. Intended, I believe, to provoke either contemplation of the central character’s shortcomings or perhaps a meditation on the karmic balance of nature, it does neither, instead leaving me wondering what the hell I just saw.

Yet there are still good reasons to see this film. The art direction is nothing short of spectacular – lush sets compete with elaborate costumes in nearly every scene. The cinematography is gorgeous – all deep, vivid colors, striking textures, and breath-taking lighting, slyly augmented by just the right amount of camera movement.

The acting is also generally very good, despite the heavy, awkward dialogue the actors are laboring under. Ge You and Huang Xiaoming, who plays the Laertes role, deserve special mention in this regard. I am not a fan, but overall, I have to concede that this is one of Zhang Ziyi’s best performances. Despite moments when her performance seems a bit brittle, for the most part she handles the complexity of her part with aplomb. Empress Wan is a far more challenging role than the turn in Crouching Tiger that first brought her into the limelight, and much of her work between these two roles has been anemic at best.

Paradoxically, I believe that both the Western critics who will likely laud The Banquet and the Chinese audiences who will likely shun it are right. There is much to recommend this film, yet it also has major shortcomings. It is probably no accident that the major investment in the film went into those aspects likely to carry more weight with Western critics. Surely it would not have been too difficult to also invest in the aspects more meaningful to Chinese audiences, which are also elements that would contribute to the film’s overall universality and longevity. Since we seem to be destined to endure watching these Western-oriented Chinese historical action films get churned out for as long as they make box office in the West, I hope that future Chinese directors will start taking this consideration into account. But I’m not holding my breath.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 27, 2006, 07:42:22 AM
A question posed on hollywood-elsewhere.com -- "which actor/filmmaker would you like to beat the crap out of?"  And it elicited this hilarious response:

Quote
Emma Thompson. I can't tell you how many times I've seen some innocent young hopeful staggering home from Thompson's Malibu compound, covered in blood and bruises and nearly catatonic after one of Emma's coke-fueled nights of rough trade. And the police can do nothing because they know Thompson's posse-- Winslet, Bonham-Carter, Linda Hunt-- will come after anyone who testifies against her. It's high time someone ended her reign of terror with the savage beating she deserves.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on September 27, 2006, 11:14:50 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
A question posed on hollywood-elsewhere.com -- "which actor/filmmaker would you like to beat the crap out of?"  And it elicited this hilarious response:

Quote
Emma Thompson. I can't tell you how many times I've seen some innocent young hopeful staggering home from Thompson's Malibu compound, covered in blood and bruises and nearly catatonic after one of Emma's coke-fueled nights of rough trade. And the police can do nothing because they know Thompson's posse-- Winslet, Bonham-Carter, Linda Hunt-- will come after anyone who testifies against her. It's high time someone ended her reign of terror with the savage beating she deserves.


linda hunt?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 27, 2006, 11:20:47 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
A question posed on hollywood-elsewhere.com -- "which actor/filmmaker would you like to beat the crap out of?"  And it elicited this hilarious response:

Quote
Emma Thompson. I can't tell you how many times I've seen some innocent young hopeful staggering home from Thompson's Malibu compound, covered in blood and bruises and nearly catatonic after one of Emma's coke-fueled nights of rough trade. And the police can do nothing because they know Thompson's posse-- Winslet, Bonham-Carter, Linda Hunt-- will come after anyone who testifies against her. It's high time someone ended her reign of terror with the savage beating she deserves.


linda hunt?


Do you not know who that is, or are you questioning her worthiness as an Emma Thompson posse member?

(http://www.filmsforthought.com/images/hunt_linda.jpg)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on September 27, 2006, 01:02:31 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
A question posed on hollywood-elsewhere.com -- "which actor/filmmaker would you like to beat the crap out of?"  And it elicited this hilarious response:

Quote
Emma Thompson. I can't tell you how many times I've seen some innocent young hopeful staggering home from Thompson's Malibu compound, covered in blood and bruises and nearly catatonic after one of Emma's coke-fueled nights of rough trade. And the police can do nothing because they know Thompson's posse-- Winslet, Bonham-Carter, Linda Hunt-- will come after anyone who testifies against her. It's high time someone ended her reign of terror with the savage beating she deserves.


linda hunt?


Do you not know who that is, or are you questioning her worthiness as an Emma Thompson posse member?

(http://www.filmsforthought.com/images/hunt_linda.jpg)


oh i know who (s)he is. i have a wallace shawn sort of obsession for her. i just wouldn't put her in emma's crowd. she strikes me as more of a...wallace shawn type.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 05, 2006, 04:43:40 PM
Guess I coulda put this in the "Rant about the Right" thread too, but yesterday I saw that documentary, Jesus Camp. Very VERY scary stuff. Talk about emotionally abused kids.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on October 05, 2006, 05:47:25 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Guess I coulda put this in the "Rant about the Right" thread too, but yesterday I saw that documentary, Jesus Camp. Very VERY scary stuff. Talk about emotionally abused kids.


Dave's current blog entry talks about it--I need to try to see that.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on October 06, 2006, 04:42:30 PM
Just saw The Departed.

Scorsese is at the top of his game, 150 minutes just flies by.  And a script with lots of twists & turns, right up to the last shot of the last scene.

3 words: go see it!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 06, 2006, 10:44:54 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Just saw The Departed.

Scorsese is at the top of his game, 150 minutes just flies by.  And a script with lots of twists & turns, right up to the last shot of the last scene.

3 words: go see it!



3 more: Oh my yes.  Just came from seeing it. Most entertaining. Howcum Marky Mark's Boston accent is better than Matt Damon's?

mshray: did you see the original Hong Kong film it's a remake of, Infernal Affairs?  Check it out sometime, it's only an hour & 40 minutes.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 12, 2006, 09:12:17 PM
Good news: Roger Ebert is writing again.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061011/PEOPLE/61011001
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 16, 2006, 02:52:17 PM
Among the comments on hollywood-elsewhere.com regarding the big-screen version of Dallas with Travolta as J.R. (which is apparently being delayed indefinitely):

"what's next? Pink Lady & Jeff: The Movie!, starring Ben Affleck, Gong Li and Lucy Liu?"  ROTFL!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 16, 2006, 08:33:58 PM
Just came from seeing Infamous, the OTHER Capote-writes-In Cold Blood movie. And it's actually really good -- too bad it will be seen by far fewer people (it was made at the same time and then Warner Bros shelved it for a year).  It's less solemn than Capote, Toby Jones, the Brit who plays TC (and looks a lot more like him than PSH) is pretty amazing. It's a lot, um, gayer than Capote, there's a lot more of him dishing the dirt with his society-dame friends, which makes it very entertaining. And Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee -- wow!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on October 17, 2006, 09:15:03 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
And Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee -- wow!


I saw the trailer for this when I was going to see The Illusionist, and I thought it looked really interesting.  And much like Valmont vs. Dangerous Liaisons, some of the casting looked like an upgrade over the first film.  But I figured the one thing that would be tough to get over would be the comparison between Sandra Bullock & Catherine Keener.  So you're saying Bullock pulls it off?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 17, 2006, 09:33:15 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"
And Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee -- wow!


I saw the trailer for this when I was going to see The Illusionist, and I thought it looked really interesting.  And much like Valmont vs. Dangerous Liaisons, some of the casting looked like an upgrade over the first film.  But I figured the one thing that would be tough to get over would be the comparison between Sandra Bullock & Catherine Keener.  So you're saying Bullock pulls it off?


She's really good.  As Richard Roeper said over the weekend, she does so much Miss Congeniality 7 sorta crap most of the time that you forget she can actually act.

I'd never seen Toby Jones before, but I just saw him in a trailer for some white-Brits-in-Africa period piece with Edward Norton and Naomi Watts.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on October 18, 2006, 02:27:58 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"
And Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee -- wow!


I saw the trailer for this when I was going to see The Illusionist, and I thought it looked really interesting.  And much like Valmont vs. Dangerous Liaisons, some of the casting looked like an upgrade over the first film.  But I figured the one thing that would be tough to get over would be the comparison between Sandra Bullock & Catherine Keener.  So you're saying Bullock pulls it off?


She's really good.  As Richard Roeper said over the weekend, she does so much Miss Congeniality 7 sorta crap most of the time that you forget she can actually act.

I'd never seen Toby Jones before, but I just saw him in a trailer for some white-Brits-in-Africa period piece with Edward Norton and Naomi Watts.


i would offer up a "gag me with a spoon" remark here, but i remember bullock's performance in crash, so i won't. but better than keener? surely not as sexy...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on October 22, 2006, 10:36:22 AM
i saw children of men on friday. wow!!! go see it! excellent casting, great story. i was on the edge of my seat the entire time. michael caine is great!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 22, 2006, 11:34:44 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i saw children of men on friday. wow!!! go see it! excellent casting, great story. i was on the edge of my seat the entire time. michael caine is great!


Oh you lucky Europeans... it doesn't open in the US until December. But the trailer looks fab.  Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and the Caine? I'm so totally there!

Saw the Caine in The Prestige on Friday (Christian Bale, Huge Jack-man, dueling magicians). I liked it though I wouldn't call it great or anything. And yesterday it was the Clint's Flags of Our Fathers. Also good if a bit repetitious. And tomorrow: The Mirren as The Queen.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on October 22, 2006, 01:42:35 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i saw children of men on friday. wow!!! go see it! excellent casting, great story. i was on the edge of my seat the entire time. michael caine is great!


Oh you lucky Europeans... it doesn't open in the US until December. But the trailer looks fab.  Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and the Caine? I'm so totally there!

Saw the Caine in The Prestige on Friday (Christian Bale, Huge Jack-man, dueling magicians). I liked it though I wouldn't call it great or anything. And yesterday it was the Clint's Flags of Our Fathers. Also good if a bit repetitious. And tomorrow: The Mirren as The Queen.


so that's why i haven't heard any news from you guys about it! well, if it's any consolation, we haven't yet received mirren as queen.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 23, 2006, 10:07:48 PM
Well, I just came from seeing The Magnificent Mirren in The Queen. And -- no surprise, really -- she's amazing. Give her the Oscar right now.

But the guy who plays Tony Blair -- holy shit, does he totally NAIL it! I'll be shocked if he's not nominated as well.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 01, 2006, 03:09:54 AM
am i getting old? i just realised hayden christiansen and topher grace are two different boys. i was reading hayden's bio on wiki and trying to figure out why it didn't mention that awful movie he did with dennis quaid.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 01, 2006, 07:29:04 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
am i getting old? i just realised hayden christiansen and topher grace are two different boys. i was reading hayden's bio on wiki and trying to figure out why it didn't mention that awful movie he did with dennis quaid.


that was a great movie! (In Good Company)  Plus it had Scarlett Jo.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 01, 2006, 07:31:10 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
am i getting old? i just realised hayden christiansen and topher grace are two different boys. i was reading hayden's bio on wiki and trying to figure out why it didn't mention that awful movie he did with dennis quaid.


that was a great movie! (In Good Company)  Plus it had Scarlett Jo.


yeah, well i'm sick of scarlett jo and her lackadaisical acting. i liked dennis in the movie, but that was it.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on November 01, 2006, 08:37:19 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
am i getting old? i just realised hayden christiansen and topher grace are two different boys. i was reading hayden's bio on wiki and trying to figure out why it didn't mention that awful movie he did with dennis quaid.


that was a great movie! (In Good Company)  Plus it had Scarlett Jo.


yeah, well i'm sick of scarlett jo and her lackadaisical acting. i liked dennis in the movie, but that was it.


Scarlett didn't have hardly anythign to say in that movie, but Topher & Dennis were really good (despite what Topher said in Ocean's 12).  Did you ever see him in Traffic?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 01, 2006, 08:38:51 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
am i getting old? i just realised hayden christiansen and topher grace are two different boys. i was reading hayden's bio on wiki and trying to figure out why it didn't mention that awful movie he did with dennis quaid.


that was a great movie! (In Good Company)  Plus it had Scarlett Jo.


yeah, well i'm sick of scarlett jo and her lackadaisical acting. i liked dennis in the movie, but that was it.


Scarlett didn't have hardly anythign to say in that movie, but Topher & Dennis were really good (despite what Topher said in Ocean's 12).  Did you ever see him in Traffic?


Topher has more acting talent in his little finger than Ashton Kutcher has in his whole body.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on November 01, 2006, 08:45:15 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Topher has more acting talent in his little finger than Ashton Kutcher has in his whole body.


Ashton is not Topher's equal in my book, either, but he gets a bad rap because of Demi & Punk'd & residual typecasting from his Kelso character.  I saw him in Butterfly Effect, very much a B-movie, but he has some chops.  I predict that one of these days he's gonna do something of quality that gets people's attention and winds up with a career path similar to that of Demi's first husband.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 01, 2006, 08:55:33 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
am i getting old? i just realised hayden christiansen and topher grace are two different boys. i was reading hayden's bio on wiki and trying to figure out why it didn't mention that awful movie he did with dennis quaid.


that was a great movie! (In Good Company)  Plus it had Scarlett Jo.


yeah, well i'm sick of scarlett jo and her lackadaisical acting. i liked dennis in the movie, but that was it.


Scarlett didn't have hardly anythign to say in that movie, but Topher & Dennis were really good (despite what Topher said in Ocean's 12).  Did you ever see him in Traffic?


Topher has more acting talent in his little finger than Ashton Kutcher has in his whole body.


yes, but what of hayden christiansen?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 01, 2006, 08:59:13 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
am i getting old? i just realised hayden christiansen and topher grace are two different boys. i was reading hayden's bio on wiki and trying to figure out why it didn't mention that awful movie he did with dennis quaid.


that was a great movie! (In Good Company)  Plus it had Scarlett Jo.


yeah, well i'm sick of scarlett jo and her lackadaisical acting. i liked dennis in the movie, but that was it.


Scarlett didn't have hardly anythign to say in that movie, but Topher & Dennis were really good (despite what Topher said in Ocean's 12).  Did you ever see him in Traffic?


Topher has more acting talent in his little finger than Ashton Kutcher has in his whole body.


yes, but what of hayden christiansen?


I tend to confuse him with Ryan Philippe :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 01, 2006, 09:01:49 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
am i getting old? i just realised hayden christiansen and topher grace are two different boys. i was reading hayden's bio on wiki and trying to figure out why it didn't mention that awful movie he did with dennis quaid.


that was a great movie! (In Good Company)  Plus it had Scarlett Jo.


yeah, well i'm sick of scarlett jo and her lackadaisical acting. i liked dennis in the movie, but that was it.


Scarlett didn't have hardly anythign to say in that movie, but Topher & Dennis were really good (despite what Topher said in Ocean's 12).  Did you ever see him in Traffic?


Topher has more acting talent in his little finger than Ashton Kutcher has in his whole body.


yes, but what of hayden christiansen?


I tend to confuse him with Ryan Philippe :wink:


who i always confuse with jude law!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 08, 2006, 09:53:31 PM
I just saw Borat -- it is just freakin' HILARIOUS!

"High five!"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 09, 2006, 07:43:57 AM
i saw the queen. i fell asleep. the characters were spot on - with the exception of charles. i didn't know hottiepants jimmy cromwell was in it! sigh. i still fell asleep, though. i'm having a hard time seeing "oscar" for mirren, but she. was. fabulous. she was supposed to put me to sleep. waaaay too hollywood, though. would have been better as dry, british humour.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 09, 2006, 07:51:13 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i saw the queen. i fell asleep. the characters were spot on - with the exception of charles. i didn't know hottiepants jimmy cromwell was in it! sigh. i still fell asleep, though. i'm having a hard time seeing "oscar" for mirren, but she. was. fabulous. she was supposed to put me to sleep. waaaay too hollywood, though. would have been better as dry, british humour.


wow, that's the first negative review I've seen anywhere. Seriously.  Mirren is considered the Oscar front-runner at the moment, no one else is even close, tho' no one has seen The Dench in Notes on a Scandal yet.  The point, I think, is that you start out hating E-2 and end up feeling a bit sorry for her.  Even Tony Blair realizes there's a human being beneath the facade. I thought it WAS dryly, humorously British. And Michael Sheen as Blair -- damn, he was amazing, IMHO.  

"hottiepants jimmy cromwell"? girlfriend, y'all need help.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 09, 2006, 08:23:58 AM
nice piece in the LA Time about Cate Blanchett:

http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/cl-ca-cate5nov05,0,2829258.story?coll=cl-movies-features

she's doing an Elizabeth sequel with Clive Owen as Sir Walter Raleigh! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrowr!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 09, 2006, 10:23:57 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"

wow, that's the first negative review I've seen anywhere. Seriously.  Mirren is considered the Oscar front-runner at the moment, no one else is even close, tho' no one has seen The Dench in Notes on a Scandal yet.  The point, I think, is that you start out hating E-2 and end up feeling a bit sorry for her.  Even Tony Blair realizes there's a human being beneath the facade. I thought it WAS dryly, humorously British. And Michael Sheen as Blair -- damn, he was amazing, IMHO.  

"hottiepants jimmy cromwell"? girlfriend, y'all need help.


but, see, we don't need mirren to make us sympathize with the queen. the queen does a good job of that, herself. michael sheen was great as blair, especially since we've almost forgotten how love and exciting he used to be. but, all in all, too gushy and predictable, even considering its historical basis.

what's wrong with jimmy cromwell? "that'll do, pig."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 15, 2006, 04:42:32 PM
just saw wim wender's don't come knockin' with sam shepard and jessica lange. sort of a tamer, more canadian version of broken flowers.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on November 15, 2006, 06:50:08 PM
Highly recommend the Dixie Chicks doc, Shut Up and Sing.  Best scene: Natalie Maines is watching TV footage of George Bush responding insipidly to the Chicks boycott.  She yells to the TV, "He's a dumbshit," and then immediately turns to look straight at the camera and address him directly, "You're a dumbshit."  I LOLed.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 15, 2006, 10:36:32 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Highly recommend the Dixie Chicks doc, Shut Up and Sing.  Best scene: Natalie Maines is watching TV footage of George Bush responding insipidly to the Chicks boycott.  She yells to the TV, "He's a dumbshit," and then immediately turns to look straight at the camera and address him directly, "You're a dumbshit."  I LOLed.


It finally opens in SF this weekend. On my "must see" list!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 22, 2006, 11:28:56 AM
Casting coup of the month: Meat Loaf plays Jack Black's father (in flashbacks) in the "Tenacious D" movie.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 24, 2006, 05:36:12 PM
Mike's Weekend movie roundup: 3 flicks (would've been 4, but the Embarcadero had a "projector malfunction" and so I'll have to see The History Boys another time.

The Fountain. This has gotten some bad reviews, and it's a tad pretentious (your basic sci-fi art film), but once I got into the rhythm of it, I kinda liked it.

Happy Feet. Beautifully animated, but too much singing of too many arbitrarily chosen "hits"... and WAY too much Robin Williams -- he voices 2 characters himself, and even Hugh Jackman sounds like he's imitating Williams.

Bobby.  Not as awful as some of the reviews I'd read, but a wildly uneven (if heartfelt) hodgepodge. Some of the archival footage is used quite affectingly, and some just seems shameless. Nice work by Lawrence Fishburne, Freddy Rodriguez, William H Macy and even Sharon Stone. But also some awful stuff: any scene involving Demi Moore, and her hubby Ashton Kutcher is the least-believable hippie drug-dealer in the history of cinema.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on November 25, 2006, 09:00:32 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Happy Feet. Beautifully animated, but too much singing of too many arbitrarily chosen "hits"... and WAY too much Robin Williams -- he voices 2 characters himself, and even Hugh Jackman sounds like he's imitating Williams.


I didn't mind Robin Williams so much as the overt 'racial profiling' of his & several other characters.  The animation was awesome & I liked the first 2/3 quite a lot.  But that whole last act was just preposterous.  Of course if I stop being a movie critic and think like a dad & environmentalist, it was a good message to get across & if even a tiny fraction of the kids take it to heart then some good has been done.  But man did they whack you upside the head with it.  The anti-fundamentalism message was a bit more subliminal, I wonder if the fundie's will notice it and begin a boycott.  

I was glad to see "The Message" get used as one of the tunes.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on November 25, 2006, 09:45:51 PM
I log barely any movie time at all but made it to Casino Royale yesterday.
Two thumbs up. Craig is a good Bond. Lots of action, blood, death and a few laughs. Things I did not expect.
I enjoyed the opening animation/art. In the older Bond flicks, the women all seem to be more exotic and beguiling.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 26, 2006, 12:01:36 PM
just came from borat. quite amusing, if pointless.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 26, 2006, 05:18:26 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
just came from borat. quite amusing, if pointless.


Pointless?

Most critics have praised it as Swiftian satire... :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on November 26, 2006, 07:38:29 PM
Two movies in one long weekend.
Saw Deck the Halls today. Stupid but fun. I'd see it again as a rental. Took kids to it and they didn't "get" half the humor. One part had me laughing so hard I cried.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 27, 2006, 03:06:10 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
just came from borat. quite amusing, if pointless.


Pointless?

Most critics have praised it as Swiftian satire... :wink:


hmmm....don't know if i would go that far. there's no grand message. it's not as in-your-face as team america, though it's aims are similar. anyway, it's a great laugh, and it doesn't have to have a point.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 08, 2006, 04:02:18 PM
in case you wondered about this stuff... here's the official list of eligble songs for this year's Best Song Academy Award. There's 56 of 'em, including the 3 "new" songs that've been added to Dreamgirls. If I were a betting man, I'd be looking at Melissa Etheridge's song from Inconvenient Truth, Prince's Happy Feet ditty, and that fabulous gospel-y anthem from Bobby, sung by Aretha. Of course,  Jack Johnson and the James Bond theme are in there too...

“Believe It” from “The Heart of the Game”
“The Best” from “Everyone’s Hero”
“The Book I Write” from “Stranger than Fiction”
“Broken Bridges” from “Broken Bridges”
“Chan Chan” from “Water”
“Circle in the Sand” from “Friends with Money”
“Coming Back to You” from “Deja Vu”
“Definition of Love” from “Akeelah and the Bee”
“Dreamz with a Z” from “American Dreamz”
“Encarnacion” from “Nacho Libre”
“Every Word” from “Wordplay”
“Family of Me” from “Over the Hedge”
“A Father’s Way” from “The Pursuit of Happyness”
“The Girl in Byakkoya - White Tiger Field” from “Paprika”
“Heist” from “Over the Hedge”
“Hillbilly Holla” from “Barnyard”
“Hollywood Familia” from “Hollywood Familia”
“I Belong” from “Open Season”
“I Need to Wake Up” from “An Inconvenient Truth”
“In Rosa Vernat Lilium” from “The Nativity Story”
“It’s a Fight” from “Rocky Balboa”
“Ju Hua Tai” from “Curse of the Golden Flower”
“Keep Holding On” from “Eragon”
“Khalbali” from “Rang de Basanti”
“Kingdom of Love” from “One Night with the King”
“Listen” from “Dreamgirls”
“A Lonely Man” from “Don’t Come Knocking”
“Love You I Do” from “Dreamgirls”
“Luka Chuppi” from “Rang de Basanti”
“The Motion” from “3 Needles”
“My Little Girl” from “Flicka”
“Never Gonna Break My Faith” from “Bobby”
“Never Let Go” from “The Guardian”
“O Kazakhstan” from “Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”
“Open Your Heart” from “Saving Shiloh”
“Ordinary Miracle” from “Charlotte’s Web”
“Our Town” from “Cars”
“Patience” from “Dreamgirls”
“Philosophy” from “Step Up”
“PJ & Rooster” from “Idlewild”
“Quest for Love” from “Arthur and the Invisibles”
“Real Gone” from “Cars”
“Really Nice Day” from “The Wild”
“Shine on ‘Em” from “Blood Diamond”
“The Song of the Heart” from “Happy Feet”
“Star Mile” from “The Last Kiss”
“Still” from “Over the Hedge”
“Suenos” from “Hollywood Familia”
“Sweet Music” from “Glory Road”
“Til the End of Time” from “Little Miss Sunshine”
“Tonight” from “Night at the Museum”
“Try Not to Remember” from “Home of the Brave”
“Upside Down” from “Curious George”
“When You Taught Me How to Dance” from “Miss Potter”
“Won’t Let You Fall” from “Poseidon”
“You Know My Name” from “Casino Royale”
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 10, 2006, 12:19:25 PM
finally saw shadowboxer over the weekend. it was much more interesting than i thought. i learned i'm much more attracted to cuba when he's in a suit (rather than out of one). helen is still the hottest brit since dame judi.

i also watched darwin's nightmare - verrrrrrry impressive.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 15, 2006, 07:55:05 AM
Worst-reviewed flick of the week: the flying-dragon LOTR-wannabe Eragon.  Check out this hilarious description from the LA Weekly:

"In a time of darkness, under the evil reign of John Malkovich -- who sits upon a throne in a different sound stage from the rest of the cast -- a hero shall rise. But lo, there will be little rejoicing, for this dragon rider is but a nancy boy, about as imposing as Lance Bass, and somehow in possession of the only soap and clean clothes in all the land."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on December 15, 2006, 09:27:11 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Worst-reviewed flick of the week: the flying-dragon LOTR-wannabe Eragon.  Check out this hilarious description from the LA Weekly:

"In a time of darkness, under the evil reign of John Malkovich -- who sits upon a throne in a different sound stage from the rest of the cast -- a hero shall rise. But lo, there will be little rejoicing, for this dragon rider is but a nancy boy, about as imposing as Lance Bass, and somehow in possession of the only soap and clean clothes in all the land."


Oh shit, guess what: The Voice is running that very same review this week.

I fucking hate syndication sometimes.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 15, 2006, 09:31:10 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Worst-reviewed flick of the week: the flying-dragon LOTR-wannabe Eragon.  Check out this hilarious description from the LA Weekly:

"In a time of darkness, under the evil reign of John Malkovich -- who sits upon a throne in a different sound stage from the rest of the cast -- a hero shall rise. But lo, there will be little rejoicing, for this dragon rider is but a nancy boy, about as imposing as Lance Bass, and somehow in possession of the only soap and clean clothes in all the land."


Oh shit, guess what: The Voice is running that very same review this week.

I fucking hate syndication sometimes.


on the other hand: folks in SF & LA now get to read J. Hoberman.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 15, 2006, 09:33:10 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
helen is still the hottest brit since dame judi.


There is nothing like those dames... nothing in the world.  In fact, there is nothing you can name that is anything like those dames.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 15, 2006, 03:44:50 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Worst-reviewed flick of the week: the flying-dragon LOTR-wannabe Eragon.  Check out this hilarious description from the LA Weekly:

"In a time of darkness, under the evil reign of John Malkovich -- who sits upon a throne in a different sound stage from the rest of the cast -- a hero shall rise. But lo, there will be little rejoicing, for this dragon rider is but a nancy boy, about as imposing as Lance Bass, and somehow in possession of the only soap and clean clothes in all the land."


Oh shit, guess what: The Voice is running that very same review this week.

I fucking hate syndication sometimes.


ha! i'd convinced myself it was only titled "eragon" here in spain, since "aragon" wouldn't sound correct if pronounced in castellaρo. but, nay. i find it must be printed that way in the states, too? and i've been singing, " i shot my ole man back in....don't take me alive" for a week, too.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 15, 2006, 03:46:08 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
helen is still the hottest brit since dame judi.


There is nothing like those dames... nothing in the world.  In fact, there is nothing you can name that is anything like those dames.


tis true, tis true. on a side note, i think my avatar is hot. an attainable hot, perhaps. i'm going to do 60 sit-ups tomorrow. and maybe straighten my hair.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 15, 2006, 09:52:09 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
helen is still the hottest brit since dame judi.


There is nothing like those dames... nothing in the world.  In fact, there is nothing you can name that is anything like those dames.


tis true, tis true. on a side note, i think my avatar is hot. an attainable hot, perhaps. i'm going to do 60 sit-ups tomorrow. and maybe straighten my hair.


But what IS Ms. Bassett's deal? She's married to Courtney Vance, who I met briefly in the late '80s (when he was doing Fences on B'way with James Earl Jones, his breakout role). He sure seemed gay-as-Christmas to me.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 21, 2006, 02:51:11 PM
For the double- and triple-bill minded, the Castro is showing a LOTR marathon on Saturday, all 3 epics back-to-back.

And tomorrow (Friday), they've got a double-bill of John Waters' Hairspray with the criminally underrated (IMHO) Crybaby.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 21, 2006, 03:13:50 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
helen is still the hottest brit since dame judi.


There is nothing like those dames... nothing in the world.  In fact, there is nothing you can name that is anything like those dames.


tis true, tis true. on a side note, i think my avatar is hot. an attainable hot, perhaps. i'm going to do 60 sit-ups tomorrow. and maybe straighten my hair.


But what IS Ms. Bassett's deal? She's married to Courtney Vance, who I met briefly in the late '80s (when he was doing Fences on B'way with James Earl Jones, his breakout role). He sure seemed gay-as-Christmas to me.


i'm with you on that. but what do i know? i hope she's gay as f**k too!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 09, 2007, 08:15:57 AM
LA Times interview with Sacha Baron Cohen about Borat

http://www.calendarlive.com/printedition/calendar/cl-et-goldstein9jan09,0,3477268.story

"a number of people in the movie have complained or filed suit, claiming they'd been hoodwinked. Cohen isn't exactly sympathetic. 'This wasn't Candid Camera, " he says. 'There were two large cameras in the room. I don't buy the argument that, "Oh, I wouldn't have acted so racist or anti-Semitic if I'd known this film was being shown in America." That's no excuse.'"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 09, 2007, 01:28:48 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
LA Times interview with Sacha Baron Cohen about Borat

http://www.calendarlive.com/printedition/calendar/cl-et-goldstein9jan09,0,3477268.story

"a number of people in the movie have complained or filed suit, claiming they'd been hoodwinked. Cohen isn't exactly sympathetic. 'This wasn't Candid Camera, " he says. 'There were two large cameras in the room. I don't buy the argument that, "Oh, I wouldn't have acted so racist or anti-Semitic if I'd known this film was being shown in America." That's no excuse.'"


nice! i didn't know hw was ali g. i've never seen ali g, though.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 11, 2007, 12:32:40 PM
Alert the princess!  The Streep sings! From the Hollywood Reporter:

"Meryl Streep will star in Universal Pictures and Playtone's adaptation of the popular ABBA musical Mamma Mia! Theater director Phyllida Lloyd is in negotiations to make her feature directorial debut on the pic, which is being produced by Playtone and Littlestar. The part marks the first musical for Streep, who has showed off her pipes in such movies as A Prairie Home Companion, Postcards From the Edge and Death Becomes Her.  Tom Hanks, and Rita Wilson are executive producing along with ABBA members and songwriters Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus."

Do I want to see it? I do I do I do I do I do...

ETA: She's also doing a comedy called First Man, as the first woman prez, with De Niro as her husband.  And she's still supposed to play Martha Mitchell at some point.

ETA2: apparently she TURNED DOWN the lead in Tim Burton's film of Sweeney Todd in order to do Mamma Mia!  Nothing against ABBA, but that's seriously strange taste in projects, Meryl.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 12, 2007, 07:11:10 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Alert the princess!  The Streep sings! From the Hollywood Reporter:

"Meryl Streep will star in Universal Pictures and Playtone's adaptation of the popular ABBA musical Mamma Mia! Theater director Phyllida Lloyd is in negotiations to make her feature directorial debut on the pic, which is being produced by Playtone and Littlestar. The part marks the first musical for Streep, who has showed off her pipes in such movies as A Prairie Home Companion, Postcards From the Edge and Death Becomes Her.  Tom Hanks, and Rita Wilson are executive producing along with ABBA members and songwriters Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus."

Do I want to see it? I do I do I do I do I do...

ETA: She's also doing a comedy called First Man, as the first woman prez, with De Niro as her husband.  And she's still supposed to play Martha Mitchell at some point.

ETA2: apparently she TURNED DOWN the lead in Tim Burton's film of Sweeney Todd in order to do Mamma Mia!  Nothing against ABBA, but that's seriously strange taste in projects, Meryl.


agreed on the sweeney todd. strange taste. i hate abba. but of course i'll have to watch the damned movie. first man sounds unbearable, but i'm sure i'll have to see that, too. why do you do it to me, mary louise?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 12, 2007, 07:41:50 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
agreed on the sweeney todd. strange taste. i hate abba. but of course i'll have to watch the damned movie. first man sounds unbearable, but i'm sure i'll have to see that, too. why do you do it to me, mary louise?


I guess Angela Lansbury's too old for the Todd movie (Johnny Depp has the male lead).  Maybe the Mirren can sing?

First Man, BTW, is being written and directed by Diane English, creator of Murphy Brown, so it has potential.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 14, 2007, 10:27:13 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
agreed on the sweeney todd. strange taste. i hate abba. but of course i'll have to watch the damned movie. first man sounds unbearable, but i'm sure i'll have to see that, too. why do you do it to me, mary louise?


I guess Angela Lansbury's too old for the Todd movie (Johnny Depp has the male lead).  Maybe the Mirren can sing?

First Man, BTW, is being written and directed by Diane English, creator of Murphy Brown, so it has potential.


i don't know about a singing mirren. but diane english gives me hope.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 16, 2007, 01:07:11 PM
Helen Mirren shows off her, um, globes:

2007 (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/mirren2.jpg) 1968 (http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/images/column/12007/Mirren.jpg)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 17, 2007, 04:48:56 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Helen Mirren shows off her, um, globes:

2007 (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/mirren2.jpg) 1968 (http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/images/column/12007/Mirren.jpg)


there was a much better picture of her in today's el pais, highlighting the REAL globes. golden, indeed! still today!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 23, 2007, 07:56:40 AM
OK: oscar noms out...

Significant snubs: no Best Pic or Director for Dreamgirls; no Supp Actor for Nicholson; no Best Song nom for Prince.

Nice surprises: Ryan Gosling, Mark Wahlberg, Paul Greengrass.

More to come as I think of 'em.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 23, 2007, 08:24:29 AM
Especially for the princess -- more Mirren, including a guide to all the movies in which she bares all:

http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2007/01/will_helens_glo.html
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 24, 2007, 04:04:21 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Especially for the princess -- more Mirren, including a guide to all the movies in which she bares all:

http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2007/01/will_helens_glo.html


driving miss daisy was 15 years ago?!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 26, 2007, 02:04:59 AM
i saw stranger than fiction last night. verrrrrrry good. great cast! i'd avoided seeing it because will ferrell was the star - i'd assumed it to be some silly comedy. it wasn't silly, at all.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 26, 2007, 07:16:25 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
i saw stranger than fiction last night. verrrrrrry good. great cast! i'd avoided seeing it because will ferrell was the star - i'd assumed it to be some silly comedy. it wasn't silly, at all.


I thought it was just OK (it was considered a flop in this country, box-office-wise) but kudos to the filmmakers for reviving that wonderful Wreckless Eric song.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on February 01, 2007, 08:57:25 AM
Last night I watched FM. The record has always been a fave of mine but I never saw the movie until now. Fun. Martin Mull has always been so funny.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 02, 2007, 09:00:05 AM
later this month (Wed 2/28 ) the Roxie will be showing as part of the Noise Pop Festival, 2 music docus I'm dying to see:

Who Is Harry Nilsson (And why is everybody talkin' at him?)

Starring Harry Nilsson, one of the best songwriters of his time, according to peers like Brian Wilson and Randy Newman. Even the Beatles referred to him as their favorite "group" although he never, ever performed live. Memorable hits he sang include "Everybody's Talkin'" from the film Midnight Cowboy, to the soaring teen-angst anthem "Without You" to the inimitably catchy "Coconut" "You put the lime in the coconut" to "Me and My Arrow" and the theme song "Best Friend" from the hit television show, "The Courtship of Eddie's Father." All-star interviews with Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Yoko Ono, Van Dyke Parks, Jimmy Webb, Bryan Wilson and more describe the man who could drink John Lennon and Keith Moon under the table which contributed to his ultimate demise in 1992. Footage from television and radio shows and Nilsson's oral autobiography allow Harry to tell his own story, in his own words. (117 min., USA). Filmmaker Q&A. Showtime: 7:00 ONLY.

You're Gonna Miss Me (the story of Roky Erickson)

Roky Ericson IN PERSON!

Award-winning documentary by Keven McAlester who says, "I started out thinking I was making One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. But I ended up with something more like Being There." Cinematographer Lee Daniel ("Slacker," "Dazed and Confused," "Before Sunset") shoots the story of Austin-ite Roky Erickson, undeniably one of the greatest singer-songwriter, guitar player and harmonica-wailers of all time, and Janis Joplin's chief influencer. The singer and founding member of the 13th Floor Elevators was talented but unpredictable. In 1969 after a marijuana arrest, he entered an insanity plea, and was sent to a mental hospital for three years where he was surrounded by the worst of the worst violent and mentally ill criminals. To the great dismay of his fans, has became a recluse. He calls himself an alien, and "the evil one." Without taking sides, this film follows the courtroom battle for Roky's care between his brother attempting to remove Roky from the clutches of their Bible-thumping mother.

WOW!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 15, 2007, 08:08:33 AM
Just saw the trailer for Knocked Up, the new comedy from Judd Apatow, writer/director of 40 Year-old Virgin. It doesn't have Steve Carell but it has Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen of Virgin.  Looks pretty funny.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 17, 2007, 12:09:30 PM
Well apparently Ghost Rider is pretty freakin' awful.  Best review  quote I've seen, from Peter Hartlaub in the Chon:

"In one scene, Nicolas Cage appears to be wearing Ricardo Montalban's fake chest from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, which really should be hanging in the Smithsonian where it belongs."

I'd love to get Beej's take on it -- which reminds, isn't Beejmas right around the corner?
Title: Beejmas
Post by: ggould on February 17, 2007, 04:07:22 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Well apparently Ghost Rider is pretty freakin' awful.  Best review  quote I've seen, from Peter Hartlaub in the Chon:

"In one scene, Nicolas Cage appears to be wearing Ricardo Montalban's fake chest from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, which really should be hanging in the Smithsonian where it belongs."

I'd love to get Beej's take on it -- which reminds, isn't Beejmas right around the corner?

I happened to see him online, so I sent him a link to this post.
Quote from: "beej"
aw! Beejmas has come & past (jan 23rd)- but the feeling goes on.

I was away from my puter whilst I was downloading something. I'm actually signing off now. I haven't seen 'Ghost Rider' yet- but Nic cage is a Cheese Prince if ever there be!

Give my regards to the club, bub! Thanks for the zap!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 21, 2007, 01:52:34 PM
came across this on another message board:

"Speaking of the Jeffersons, when the hell are they going to get around to remaking it into a movie with Cedric the Entertainer as George and Queen Latifah as Weezy?"

Now THAT I'd pay to see!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on February 21, 2007, 02:43:05 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
came across this on another message board:

"Speaking of the Jeffersons, when the hell are they going to get around to remaking it into a movie with Cedric the Entertainer as George and Queen Latifah as Weezy?"

Now THAT I'd pay to see!


Not with that casting.  You know Eddie Murphy would slap a bitch for that role.  And I'm pulling for Tyler Perry as Weezy.  (My fear, though, is that it would go to either Star Jones or Fantasia.)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on February 22, 2007, 12:21:10 AM
Just watched Little Miss Sunshine. Don't have a real strong feeling about it. At one point wanted to stop watching but then there was some humor.
Waiting in the wings for Friday is The Devil Wears Prada. Takes me a while to get to movies.
Title: Little Miss Sunshine
Post by: ggould on February 22, 2007, 07:56:26 AM
it's been sitting in the Netflix sleeve for over a month now.  Should I watch it?  Lately, we've been watching more DVD/TV show sets we got for xmas.  I'm currently hooked on Grey's Anatomy, and my daughter (who subscribes to it on iTunes) feeds me three episodes at a time on my USB drive so I can watch an episode at night, instead of doing my schoolwork.
Quote from: "Alicat"
Just watched Little Miss Sunshine. Don't have a real strong feeling about it. At one point wanted to stop watching but then there was some humor.
Waiting in the wings for Friday is The Devil Wears Prada. Takes me a while to get to movies.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 27, 2007, 08:42:29 AM
hey, even Oscar winners gotta eat:

(http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/02_03/MirrenBurgerDM2702_468x465.jpg)
Title: Re: Little Miss Sunshine
Post by: ggould on February 27, 2007, 08:56:41 AM
finally watched it.  It was fun.
Quote from: "ggould"
it's been sitting in the Netflix sleeve for over a month now.  Should I watch it?  Lately, we've been watching more DVD/TV show sets we got for xmas.  I'm currently hooked on Grey's Anatomy, and my daughter (who subscribes to it on iTunes) feeds me three episodes at a time on my USB drive so I can watch an episode at night, instead of doing my schoolwork.
Quote from: "Alicat"
Just watched Little Miss Sunshine. Don't have a real strong feeling about it. At one point wanted to stop watching but then there was some humor.
Waiting in the wings for Friday is The Devil Wears Prada. Takes me a while to get to movies.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 01, 2007, 08:04:15 AM
Last night I saw the docu Who is Harry Nilsson... and Why is Everybody Talkin' About Him? at the Roxie (part of the NoisePop fest).

It was just wonderful, lots of rare clips (Harry on the BBC, Harry on Playboy After Dark!) and quite an array of talking heads, everyone from Van Dyke Parks to Yoko Ono.  Really nicely put together; directed by the same guy who did the recent John Lennon docu (which would explain the presence of Yoko here I guess).  There are even clips from the infamous Son of Dracula with Harry and Ringo ("one of the worst movies ever made" someone says).  Not available on DVD yet, but keep an eye out.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 01, 2007, 02:38:32 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Last night I saw the docu Who is Harry Nilsson... and Why is Everybody Talkin' About Him? at the Roxie (part of the NoisePop fest).

It was just wonderful, lots of rare clips (Harry on the BBC, Harry on Playboy After Dark!) and quite an array of talking heads, everyone from Van Dyke Parks to Yoko Ono.  Really nicely put together; directed by the same guy who did the recent John Lennon docu (which would explain the presence of Yoko here I guess).  There are even clips from the infamous Son of Dracula with Harry and Ringo ("one of the worst movies ever made" someone says).  Not available on DVD yet, but keep an eye out.


I'll add it to my list of things to look for at Le Video. I'm sure it's a great viewing.

Btw, a couple of weeks ago we rented the documentaries on the Minutemen (We Jam Econo) and Mission of Burma (Not a Photograph: the Mission of Burma Story).  Both really good, and worth seeing if you were at all into music in the early and mid 80s. The Burma doc was particularly interesting to me, as the fellow who replaced original Burma sound tech/tape loop operator Martin Swope is a friend of ours. It was weird seeing Bob up on the screen, but only for awhile. And he's perfect for the gig, so more power to him.

And the Minutemen doc was cool too. They interviewed loads of people from the LA alternative scene. Most of them are still musicians, and look like they're just eking out an existence, nothing too ostentatious. Then they got to talking to Flea, who was obviously sitting in his living room, with nice drapes and art on the walls and a grand piano in the background. Lots of footage with Mike Watt, who is still living the hardcore life of a musician on the road.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 02, 2007, 09:55:23 PM
After work I saw Zodiac -- wow.  It's just terrific.  Superb recreation of time & place, namely SF in the '70s.  Spectacular cast led by Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo & Jake Gyllenhaal, with great supporting turns throughout (Brian Cox as Melvin Belli!).  It's long (2:40) but I was totally absorbed . HIGHLY recommended.  You'll never hear "Hurdy Gurdy Man" the same way again.

Oh and  (of course) Mick LaSalle once again proves himself an idiot: "as drama, there's something strangely flat and enervating about the picture." Huh?  He is truly insane.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 09, 2007, 02:53:59 PM
Sigourney Weaver as... Gypsy Rose Lee???

Quote
Clint Eastwood will direct Angelina Jolie in The Changeling.
 Jolie will play a woman whose son is abducted but retrieved; she suspects, however, that the returned child is not her kid. The woman must then confront corruption in the LAPD. Story is based on true events in 1920s Los Angeles.

Sigourney Weaver will be stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. Weaver will exec produce along with Dreamgirls' Laurence Mark.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 20, 2007, 12:29:55 PM
Scarlett Jo's on the cover of Vogue and working with Woody again:

http://www.oscarwatch.com/2007/03/the_woody_and_scarlett_show_co.html

"zaftig humidity"??
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 20, 2007, 01:09:37 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Scarlett Jo's on the cover of Vogue and working with Woody again:

http://www.oscarwatch.com/2007/03/the_woody_and_scarlett_show_co.html

"zaftig humidity"??


I think maybe someone meant "humility" but I'm still trying to figure out the "zaftig" part. She has rubenesque humility?!?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 20, 2007, 01:17:57 PM
Quote from: "urth"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Scarlett Jo's on the cover of Vogue and working with Woody again:

http://www.oscarwatch.com/2007/03/the_woody_and_scarlett_show_co.html

"zaftig humidity"??


I think maybe someone meant "humility" but I'm still trying to figure out the "zaftig" part. She has rubenesque humility?!?


I actually think Woody meant "humidity" as in moistness, though it's not a word you hear used in that context very often.  But then, are zaftig women more moist?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 20, 2007, 01:58:12 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Scarlett Jo's on the cover of Vogue and working with Woody again:

http://www.oscarwatch.com/2007/03/the_woody_and_scarlett_show_co.html

"zaftig humidity"??


there are some great comments on that page.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 20, 2007, 08:16:23 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
But then, are zaftig women more moist?

(http://www.musicobsession.com/Pictures/a/r/arethafranklin351424.jpg)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 21, 2007, 10:29:07 PM
Just came from seeing the Chris Rock movie, I Think I Love My Wife.  VERY funny, and def better than the reviews have indicated.  You married folks will especially like it, I'd wager.    Great throwaway gag: the banking firm Rock's character works for is called Pupkin and Langford.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 22, 2007, 07:29:36 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Great throwaway gag: the banking firm Rock's character works for is called Pupkin and Langford.


I don't get it?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 22, 2007, 08:38:49 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Great throwaway gag: the banking firm Rock's character works for is called Pupkin and Langford.


I don't get it?


And absolutely NONE of us are surprised :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 22, 2007, 10:49:00 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Great throwaway gag: the banking firm Rock's character works for is called Pupkin and Langford.


I don't get it?


And absolutely NONE of us are surprised :wink:


Yeah, film and I have barely a nodding acquaintanceship.  I just Googled the names for the ref.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 22, 2007, 12:19:55 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Great throwaway gag: the banking firm Rock's character works for is called Pupkin and Langford.


I don't get it?


And absolutely NONE of us are surprised :wink:


Yeah, film and I have barely a nodding acquaintanceship.  I just Googled the names for the ref.


FYI, comedians LOVE King of Comedy. So it makes sense that Rock and Louie C.K., who co-wrote I Think I Love My Wife, would make the reference.  Louie C.K. is the man responsible for one of the princess's fave comedies, Pootie Tang.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 29, 2007, 10:55:12 AM
There was an item yesterday on hollywood-elsewhere.com that Jennifer Hudson has signed on to her first post-Dreamgirls film role, a non-singing (apparently) part in Winged Creatures, a Crash-like ensemble drama with Forest Whitaker among others.

I posted a comment that someone needs to get her into an Aretha biopic -- I had that thought about 10 minutes into Dreamgirls. (Of course, I also think Latifah should play Pearl Bailey and nobody's listening to me.)

Anyway, someone followed my post with this:

Quote
Jennifer has "almost" signed on to the Aretha bio...Aretha is auditioning girlz for the touring play based on her bio and has stated publicly many times she wants Jennifer to play her from 25-to-40 y.o. As soon as the play is on the road, which should be this year, afterward is the movie. But you know how that  works... negotiations... scriptwriting... and Ms. Franklin herself who will be totally in charge & in control, no telling how long that will take.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 29, 2007, 12:09:52 PM
and while we're talking Oscar follow-ups...

"Helen Mirren will star in National Treasure 2, already filming in DC. Mirren will play Nic Cage's mother, Emily Gates, and will help link Gates to his family's connection to John Wilkes Booth and the mysterious knights of the Gold Circle. Ed Harris will play the bad guy, apparently. Also in the film, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha and Harvey Keitel, all from the first film. Pic will be released on December 17th."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on April 01, 2007, 05:13:57 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"

FYI, comedians LOVE King of Comedy. So it makes sense that Rock and Louie C.K., who co-wrote I Think I Love My Wife, would make the reference.  Louie C.K. is the man responsible for one of the princess's fave comedies, Pootie Tang.


what a great film!! more people should love pootie tang.

here are my recent recommendations:

goodbye, america - the al lewis um...documentary, i guess. terribly moving. what an amazing life!!! what an amazing man! power to the people. from the people.

tristram shandy: a cock and bull story - probably the most intelligent film i've seen since my dinner with andre. only much, much funnier. outstanding!!! clever!!! 10/10!!

notes on a scandal - deliciously creepy film. attention to detail makes it work. and the dench's and bill nighy's acting, of course.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on April 01, 2007, 12:28:36 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
goodbye, america - the al lewis um...documentary, i guess. terribly moving. what an amazing life!!! what an amazing man! power to the people. from the people.

Is this the movie:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0943381/
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on April 02, 2007, 03:59:38 AM
Quote from: "ggould"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
goodbye, america - the al lewis um...documentary, i guess. terribly moving. what an amazing life!!! what an amazing man! power to the people. from the people.

Is this the movie:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0943381/


no. surprisingly, it's not listed in imdb, at all. and i couldn't find much online about it, either. i figured it would be banned from the big theatres in the states, but i hadn't counted on almost complete censorship.

here's the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llSAWdgPOb4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llSAWdgPOb4)

maybe it just hasn't been released in the states, yet. it should still be listed in imdb, though.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 07, 2007, 08:44:38 PM
Thanks to the Independent Film Channel, I just saw (for the first time, amazingly) Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, the "legendary" 1970 Russ Meyer film (screenplay by Roger Ebert!).  Dear god, what an awful movie. Talk about a dirty-minded middle-aged man's idea of what those crazy, sexually liberated under-30's were up to in the California of the late '60s! (yes, I realize that Ebert was barely 30 himself at the time, but he was a film nerd who probably saw working with Meyer as a great way to meet hot chicks with big tits). There are also songs performed by the film's notion of an all-girl rock band, The Carrie Nations, some of which are decent knock-offs of the Calif rock of the time.

I have a very low tolerance for bad camp, and I totally do not "get" Meyer, nor do I understand the cult following he has.  Granted, naked women with humongous breasts were a rarity in those pre-VCR, pre-internet days, but that's really the only selling point his badly acted, ridiculously plotted films have (with the possible exception of The Seven Minutes, the courtroom drama FOX made him do as penance for BTVOTD).  "Beyond"'s one saving grace: a cameo by the Strawberry Alarm Clock.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on April 08, 2007, 01:16:37 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
"Beyond"'s one saving grace: a cameo by the Strawberry Alarm Clock.


"girl from the city?"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 08, 2007, 07:37:02 PM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
"Beyond"'s one saving grace: a cameo by the Strawberry Alarm Clock.


"girl from the city?"


uh, they did "Incense & Peps" and (I think) one other song during a party scene; damned if I can name it.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 12, 2007, 08:24:10 AM
From a hollywood-elsewhere.com posting, in a thread about the forthcoming Get Smart! movie starring Steve Carrell (the script is rumored to be just f--ing awful):

"How about Steven Soderburgh's 'Barney Miller', with George Clooney as Barney, Don Cheadle as Harris, Elliott Gould as Fish, Vince Vaughn as Wojo, Salma Hayek as Wentworth, Benecio Del Toro as Chano, Mark Ruffalo as Dietrich, Jack Nicholson as Inspector Lugar and --through the magic of CGI -- Jack Soo returns as Yemana!"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 17, 2007, 12:27:54 PM
Eric Bana we hardly knew ye...

They're doing another "Hulk" movie, this time starring... Edward Norton!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/logout?blogid=3&entry_id=15424
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on April 17, 2007, 12:35:04 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
From a hollywood-elsewhere.com posting, in a thread about the forthcoming Get Smart! movie starring Steve Carrell (the script is rumored to be just f--ing awful):

"How about Steven Soderburgh's 'Barney Miller', with George Clooney as Barney, Don Cheadle as Harris, Elliott Gould as Fish, Vince Vaughn as Wojo, Salma Hayek as Wentworth, Benecio Del Toro as Chano, Mark Ruffalo as Dietrich, Jack Nicholson as Inspector Lugar and --through the magic of CGI -- Jack Soo returns as Yemana!"


I'd have Lucy Lui as Yemana, in a surprise twist.  But then, I think Lucy Lui should be in every movie. :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 20, 2007, 06:02:56 PM
The princess will be especially excited to know that Terrence Howard will by playing Charley Pride in a forthcoming biopic.

Oh and there's a Jerry Garcia flick in development: Jack Black, Paul Giamatti anf Sean Penn are all seen as potential Jerrys.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on April 20, 2007, 08:10:08 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Oh and there's a Jerry Garcia flick in development: Jack Black, Paul Giamatti anf Sean Penn are all seen as potential Jerrys.


I would've cast Horatio Sanz.

This is why I have an unnodding relationship with film.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on April 20, 2007, 09:45:49 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Oh and there's a Jerry Garcia flick in development: Jack Black, Paul Giamatti anf Sean Penn are all seen as potential Jerrys.


I would've cast Horatio Sanz.

This is why I have an unnodding relationship with film.
:(
I'm not sure any of the mentioned actors could do it.  Horatio? Jeez!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on April 24, 2007, 10:13:22 PM
saw Fracture today on my lunch hour, highly recommendable.

...but speaking of actors recommended for which parts in a remake...have you seen that Hairspray has come full circle, from movie to musical to movie-musical?  And have you seen who is cast in the Divine role?  Literally had me LOL in the theater, and I had to hold onto the armrest not to ROTFL.  Truthfully.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on April 25, 2007, 04:24:28 AM
Quote from: "mshray"

...but speaking of actors recommended for which parts in a remake...have you seen that Hairspray has come full circle, from movie to musical to movie-musical?  And have you seen who is cast in the Divine role?  Literally had me LOL in the theater, and I had to hold onto the armrest not to ROTFL.  Truthfully.


travolta and latifah together, at last!

i'm scurred.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 25, 2007, 08:50:34 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "mshray"

...but speaking of actors recommended for which parts in a remake...have you seen that Hairspray has come full circle, from movie to musical to movie-musical?  And have you seen who is cast in the Divine role?  Literally had me LOL in the theater, and I had to hold onto the armrest not to ROTFL.  Truthfully.


travolta and latifah together, at last!



They passed the time on the set trading closet stories.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on April 25, 2007, 01:47:00 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "mshray"

...but speaking of actors recommended for which parts in a remake...have you seen that Hairspray has come full circle, from movie to musical to movie-musical?  And have you seen who is cast in the Divine role?  Literally had me LOL in the theater, and I had to hold onto the armrest not to ROTFL.  Truthfully.


travolta and latifah together, at last!



They passed the time on the set trading closet stories.


They also played an impromptu card game with Paul Carrack and his band, who were smoking dro throughout.  They won, because two Queens beats Ace high.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on April 26, 2007, 12:49:50 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "mshray"

...but speaking of actors recommended for which parts in a remake...have you seen that Hairspray has come full circle, from movie to musical to movie-musical?  And have you seen who is cast in the Divine role?  Literally had me LOL in the theater, and I had to hold onto the armrest not to ROTFL.  Truthfully.


travolta and latifah together, at last!



They passed the time on the set trading closet stories.


They also played an impromptu card game with Paul Carrack and his band, who were smoking dro throughout.  They won, because two Queens beats Ace high.


i have a feeling you've been waiting for a loooooooooong time to use that one.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 28, 2007, 08:39:52 PM
Just came from seeing Hot Fuzz!, the British (same guys who did Shaun of the Dead) spoof of Bruckheimer-esque buddy cop movies.  Utterly hilarious, even better-directed than SOTD (bigger budget, I'm guessing) and really smartly done.  You NEED to see this one, on as big a screen as possible.

This is twice in a row that these folks have taken a genre that was invented and perfected by Americans and parodied it in a very British way.  And a supporting cast with everyone from Bill Nighy to Jim Broadbent.  Great stuff.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on April 29, 2007, 08:43:29 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "mshray"

...but speaking of actors recommended for which parts in a remake...have you seen that Hairspray has come full circle, from movie to musical to movie-musical?  And have you seen who is cast in the Divine role?  Literally had me LOL in the theater, and I had to hold onto the armrest not to ROTFL.  Truthfully.


travolta and latifah together, at last!



They passed the time on the set trading closet stories.


They also played an impromptu card game with Paul Carrack and his band, who were smoking dro throughout.  They won, because two Queens beats Ace high.


i have a feeling you've been waiting for a loooooooooong time to use that one.


Surely you can appreciate how rare it is that such an opportunity arises.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 04, 2007, 03:06:28 PM
Mike asked for a Spiderman 3 review, so here goes...

Basically a B/B+ movie if you're a fan of the genre &/or franchise.  Not a lot to be said about the plot in the interest of preserving spoilers.  It's like a ten course banquet, you can't get too full on any single offering because you know you have to save room for the remainder.  Comes in at 2:20, but with 3 villains and 2 love interests to deal with Spidey & the audience are kept quite busy.  Great action sequences (really!), most of the non-action scenes aren't too heavy (albeit rather predictable), a couple of cheesy character development sequences, one of which is pure schmaltz.  Maguire is good; Dunst is better; Topher Grace, Thoms Haden Church and James Franco steal a couple of scenes each.  Bryce Dallas Howard is ill-used, but gorgeous.  If you enjoyed the first two it'll definitely be worth a ticket to see this on the big screen.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on May 08, 2007, 09:53:52 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Just came from seeing Hot Fuzz!, the British (same guys who did Shaun of the Dead) spoof of Bruckheimer-esque buddy cop movies.  Utterly hilarious, even better-directed than SOTD (bigger budget, I'm guessing) and really smartly done.  You NEED to see this one, on as big a screen as possible.

This is twice in a row that these folks have taken a genre that was invented and perfected by Americans and parodied it in a very British way.  And a supporting cast with everyone from Bill Nighy to Jim Broadbent.  Great stuff.


Went for a matinee on Sunday.  I'm a big Shaun of the Dead fan, so this was right up my alley.  Very good, but I think they had the sound a little loud in the theater I was at -- the early booking scenes hurt my delicate (old) ears.  I know it was part of the joke, but it was to the point of discomfort.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 08, 2007, 10:53:27 AM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Just came from seeing Hot Fuzz!, the British (same guys who did Shaun of the Dead) spoof of Bruckheimer-esque buddy cop movies.  Utterly hilarious, even better-directed than SOTD (bigger budget, I'm guessing) and really smartly done.  You NEED to see this one, on as big a screen as possible.

This is twice in a row that these folks have taken a genre that was invented and perfected by Americans and parodied it in a very British way.  And a supporting cast with everyone from Bill Nighy to Jim Broadbent.  Great stuff.


Went for a matinee on Sunday.  I'm a big Shaun of the Dead fan, so this was right up my alley.  Very good, but I think they had the sound a little loud in the theater I was at -- the early booking scenes hurt my delicate (old) ears.  I know it was part of the joke, but it was to the point of discomfort.


I saw it and enjoyed it too.  In fact I called Mr. Morey last week to tell him to see it because of the Judge Judy pun, and he said he'd put it on his list.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on May 08, 2007, 02:47:24 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Just came from seeing Hot Fuzz!, the British (same guys who did Shaun of the Dead) spoof of Bruckheimer-esque buddy cop movies.  Utterly hilarious, even better-directed than SOTD (bigger budget, I'm guessing) and really smartly done.  You NEED to see this one, on as big a screen as possible.

This is twice in a row that these folks have taken a genre that was invented and perfected by Americans and parodied it in a very British way.  And a supporting cast with everyone from Bill Nighy to Jim Broadbent.  Great stuff.


Went for a matinee on Sunday.  I'm a big Shaun of the Dead fan, so this was right up my alley.  Very good, but I think they had the sound a little loud in the theater I was at -- the early booking scenes hurt my delicate (old) ears.  I know it was part of the joke, but it was to the point of discomfort.


I saw it and enjoyed it too.  In fact I called Mr. Morey last week to tell him to see it because of the Judge Judy pun, and he said he'd put it on his list.


i remember that!  Juge and jury / judge judy
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 09, 2007, 08:47:06 AM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "mshray"
 In fact I called Mr. Morey last week to tell him to see it because of the Judge Judy pun, and he said he'd put it on his list.


i remember that!  Juge and jury / judge judy



more specifically,

Nicholas Angel: We have to do something, Frank's appointed himself as Judge, Jury and Executioner.
Danny Butterman: [agitated and defensive] He is not Judge Judy and Executioner!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on May 17, 2007, 01:56:33 AM
i've entered a film in the movil film fest (60-seconds or less films made with mobile phones). the title of the film is, "me prestas," and it deals with the problems of communication: misunderstands, love, and asturian slang. Even if you don't speak spanish, you can still watch the film. "me prestas" means "will you loan me..." but it also means, "i like you" in asturian slang. so the girl says, "me prestas," then the guy asks her what he wants him to loan her: a lighter? a pencil? a knife?" then she calls him an asshole. then he is confused. then two days later she is eating some crackers and she says "these crackers me prestas!" then he understands that he likes her. so they kiss.

here's the link to the film:
http://www.movilfilmfest.com/verVideo.php?id=14918#

you can leave comments if you register. feel free to forward it to your friends! thanks.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 19, 2007, 10:10:56 PM
Zombies zombies everywhere...

I saw the zombie sequel 28 Weeks Later the other nite and I was rather disappointed. Can't really get into why without giving spoilers, but I'm kinda baffled by the rave reviews it's gotten.

Then tonite on cable I caught up with the 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake, which I had missed when it was in theaters. And damned if it isn't a much better movie than 28WL.  Lots of dark humor, good cast and very nicely directed (to my surprise) by Zack Snyder, who is now hot stuff in H'wood because he did the recent surprise mega-hit 300, which I didn't especially like.
Title: speaking of zombies
Post by: ggould on May 20, 2007, 02:44:19 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Zombies zombies everywhere...

We were having dinner at Bashful Bull Too yesterday, and they were playing Van Helsing on the TV, and the contrast between how much money seemed to be spent on it, and how bad it was seemed staggering!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 25, 2007, 09:35:39 AM
Mick LaSalle alert!

this morning Renee did another of her series of man-on-the-street interviews of folks who had just seen Pirates of the Caribbean 3.  The reactions were favorable but not raves.  In the segment wrap-up Irish Greg quoted our 'beloved' Chron movie critic as having written that PotC "is the worst movie series ever."  Nobody bit on that, and they then talked about a couple of docus that Dave & Renee had seen & went to commercial.

So I called in & we had the following conversation:

Me - Do you guys ever have Mick LaSalle on the Morning Show?
Greg - We always let the fogheads review the movies.
Dave - [something along the same lines]
Me - Well, I only ask that as preface, because I think he's a total idiot...but I wouldn't necessarily say that if he was a friend of yours. [followed by a couple examples of LaSalle being an idiot]
Dave - He's a total idiot.  That's why we don't have him on the show.
Me - [1 more example of LaSalle being an idiot, e.g. his opinion on Ronnie Spector]
Dave - [resigned, what-can-ya-do? tone of voice] I suppose he must get paid to have controversial opinions like that.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 25, 2007, 09:48:09 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Mick LaSalle alert!

this morning Renee did another of her series of man-on-the-street interviews of folks who had just seen Pirates of the Caribbean 3.  The reactions were favorable but not raves.  In the segment wrap-up Irish Greg quoted our 'beloved' Chron movie critic as having written that PotC "is the worst movie series ever."  Nobody bit on that, and they then talked about a couple of docus that Dave & Renee had seen & went to commercial.

So I called in & we had the following conversation:

Me - Do you guys ever have Mick LaSalle on the Morning Show?
Greg - We always let the fogheads review the movies.
Dave - [something along the same lines]
Me - Well, I only ask that as preface, because I think he's a total idiot...but I wouldn't necessarily say that if he was a friend of yours. [followed by a couple examples of LaSalle being an idiot]
Dave - He's a total idiot.  That's why we don't have him on the show.
Me - [1 more example of LaSalle being an idiot, e.g. his opinion Ronnie Spector]
Dave - [resigned, what-can-ya-do? tone of voice] I suppose he must get paid to have controversial opinions like that.


Nice to know we're not alone...  But it is telling they would say that, as KFOG and the Chron are very tight -- they have Chron people on all the time, not just Tim Goodman but any time the Chron has some sort of major series to promote they head for KFOG.  So LaSalle must REALLY be a moron for them to shun him.

Meanwhile I have No. Interest. Whatsover. in seeing POTC:AWE.  But I'll def be checking out Miss Ashley Judd in Bug tomorrow nite.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 25, 2007, 10:00:22 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
So LaSalle must REALLY be a moron for them to shun him.


yep, that's precisely how I took it.  I further got the impression that at some point someone had tried to get Mick on the show & Dave said "No." Or even that he did come on somewhere in the distant past & will never be invited back.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 25, 2007, 10:06:30 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"
So LaSalle must REALLY be a moron for them to shun him.


yep, that's precisely how I took it.  I further got the impression that at some point someone had tried to get Mick on the show & Dave said "No." Or even that he did come on somewhere in the distant past & will never be invited back.


He may have been on to promote one of his books, actually.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on May 25, 2007, 10:24:42 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Mick LaSalle alert!

this morning Renee did another of her series of man-on-the-street interviews of folks who had just seen Pirates of the Caribbean 3.  The reactions were favorable but not raves.  In the segment wrap-up Irish Greg quoted our 'beloved' Chron movie critic as having written that PotC "is the worst movie series ever."  Nobody bit on that, and they then talked about a couple of docus that Dave & Renee had seen & went to commercial.

So I called in & we had the following conversation:

Me - Do you guys ever have Mick LaSalle on the Morning Show?
Greg - We always let the fogheads review the movies.
Dave - [something along the same lines]
Me - Well, I only ask that as preface, because I think he's a total idiot...but I wouldn't necessarily say that if he was a friend of yours. [followed by a couple examples of LaSalle being an idiot]
Dave - He's a total idiot.  That's why we don't have him on the show.
Me - [1 more example of LaSalle being an idiot, e.g. his opinion Ronnie Spector]
Dave - [resigned, what-can-ya-do? tone of voice] I suppose he must get paid to have controversial opinions like that.


Did this exchange make it on the air?  Flash burn!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 25, 2007, 10:31:23 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "mshray"
Mick LaSalle alert!

this morning Renee did another of her series of man-on-the-street interviews of folks who had just seen Pirates of the Caribbean 3.  The reactions were favorable but not raves.  In the segment wrap-up Irish Greg quoted our 'beloved' Chron movie critic as having written that PotC "is the worst movie series ever."  Nobody bit on that, and they then talked about a couple of docus that Dave & Renee had seen & went to commercial.

So I called in & we had the following conversation:

Me - Do you guys ever have Mick LaSalle on the Morning Show?
Greg - We always let the fogheads review the movies.
Dave - [something along the same lines]
Me - Well, I only ask that as preface, because I think he's a total idiot...but I wouldn't necessarily say that if he was a friend of yours. [followed by a couple examples of LaSalle being an idiot]
Dave - He's a total idiot.  That's why we don't have him on the show.
Me - [1 more example of LaSalle being an idiot, e.g. his opinion on Ronnie Spector]
Dave - [resigned, what-can-ya-do? tone of voice] I suppose he must get paid to have controversial opinions like that.


Did this exchange make it on the air?  Flash burn!


No, I called a few minutes before 9, so after they came back from commercial they went into the Pop Quiz.  I would never have expected them to air my comment, much less Dave's concurrence.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 31, 2007, 12:53:05 PM
OK it's official: Knocked Up, the new comedy from the creator of 40 Year-Old Virgin is getting ecstatic reviews and is apparently Just. Freakin. HILARIOUS.

Seth Rogen, one of the supporting players in 40YOV, stars. I just read that he improvised that whole "You know how I know you're gay?" shtick in 40YOV, and they left it in.  I cannot wait to see KU.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on June 03, 2007, 09:11:09 AM
Check out the trailer for this film that my friend Chuck produced:
http://www.popstarpi.com/

Davy Jones sings the theme song (in small part because of me) and will be at the opening screening here in NYC Monday the 18th.  I hope I can make it.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on June 03, 2007, 10:44:23 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Check out the trailer for this film that my friend Chuck produced:
http://www.popstarpi.com/

Davy Jones sings the theme song (in small part because of me) and will be at the opening screening here in NYC Monday the 18th.  I hope I can make it.


how strange! :) can't wait to hear the theme song, though. what do you mane you HOPE you can make it?!?!? it's davy jones! sigh...he's so dreamy.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 04, 2007, 10:08:21 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
OK it's official: Knocked Up, the new comedy from the creator of 40 Year-Old Virgin is getting ecstatic reviews and is apparently Just. Freakin. HILARIOUS.

Seth Rogen, one of the supporting players in 40YOV, stars. I just read that he improvised that whole "You know how I know you're gay?" shtick in 40YOV, and they left it in.  I cannot wait to see KU.


I just came from seeing this, it is indeed VERY funny. Highly recommended.

"You look like Babe Ruth's gay brother -- Gaybe Ruth."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 05, 2007, 10:33:23 AM
I saw Mr. Brooks the other day & it is quite good, assuming you aren't turned off by mass murder generally.  Kevin Costner has always been a star more than an actor in my book, but has some serious chops here, as does Demi Moore (no, seriously).

Lot's of really good twists (but none of the deus ex machina variety), several of which I have seen spoiled in print reviews, so if you're at all thinking of seeing it, just take my word for it and go, don't read any other reviews.  Or at least queue it up on your Netflix as soon as the DVD comes out.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 05, 2007, 11:56:58 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
I saw Mr. Brooks the other day & it is quite good


Well, this intrigues me, since it's been called things like "monumentally terrible" and "deeply loathsome" by other critics.  (But Mick LaSalle liked it  :wink:  )  I may have to check it out.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 05, 2007, 01:25:56 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
I saw Mr. Brooks the other day & it is quite good


Well, this intrigues me, since it's been called things like "monumentally terrible" and "deeply loathsome" by other critics.  (But Mick LaSalle liked it  :wink:  )  I may have to check it out.


Well I suppose some critics simply can't give a 'thumbs up' to a movie that makes you root for (at least) one character who is a cold-blooded murderer.  But I suspect that many, many critics have said so many bad things about Costner & Moore over the past decade or so that they couldn't possibly give this movie a positive review.  Which is one of those things about professional critics that I just can't stand...when they base most of their disapproval on whatever else the artist may have done or left undone before.  I'm definitely of the school of thought that says judge each object individually on it's own merits*.  So give Mick LaSalle credit for at least one thing, he's not afraid to contradict himself.  

That being said, I almost shudder to think how many of LaSalle's points I agreed with (thankfully I didn't read his review until after-the-fact, because he stupidly gave away one of the great early plot twists), but in fact I based my attendance on the strong review it got from Peter Travers at Rolling Stone, who is one of my benchmark critics.  

In my memory, he & Ebert are the only critics who have been willing to re-review a movie and admit that they missed something the first time...unlike Mick LaS. who contradicts himself all the time without actually owning up to it!

*to pick one example that happened to be on my mind recently...I really like Hole's 1999 album Celebrity Skin, which only gets about 2 stars from most critics, incl AMG, because it wasn't what they expected a collaboration between Courtney Love & Bill Corgan to be.  I say, "Who the f*** cares about Love & Corgan!...I think that album has at least 5 songs that are really cool, why doesn't that make it a pretty great album?"  

ok, done venting.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 05, 2007, 02:01:02 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
[I based my attendance on the strong review it got from Peter Travers at Rolling Stone, who is one of my benchmark critics.  

In my memory, he & Ebert are the only critics who have been willing to re-review a movie and admit that they missed something the first time...unlike Mick LaS. who contradicts himself all the time without actually owning up to it!


A few weeks ago LaSalle posted something about how people criticize him for being wildly contrarian, and he used the RottenTomatoes.com scores of several films to "prove" that he is actually well within the mainstream of most critics. To which I replied in the comments section that he shouldn't use RT as an example because they include reviews from every idiot who has a website in their averages -- better he should look at metacritic.com, which limits itself to "real" critics (so to speak).

Then the other day he made a post disparaging Rotten Tomatoes and basically saying what I had already said!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 05, 2007, 02:11:17 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
[I based my attendance on the strong review it got from Peter Travers at Rolling Stone, who is one of my benchmark critics.  

In my memory, he & Ebert are the only critics who have been willing to re-review a movie and admit that they missed something the first time...unlike Mick LaS. who contradicts himself all the time without actually owning up to it!


A few weeks ago LaSalle posted something about how people criticize him for being wildly contrarian, and he used the RottenTomatoes.com scores of several films to "prove" that he is actually well within the mainstream of most critics. To which I replied in the comments section that he shouldn't use RT as an example because they include reviews from every idiot who has a website in their averages -- better he should look at metacritic.com, which limits itself to "real" critics (so to speak).

Then the other day he made a post disparaging Rotten Tomatoes and basically saying what I had already said!


ROTFL!  That's perfect vintage LaSalle!  (but please post links to the posts you refer to, I wanna see for myself)

Just between you & me...as we seem to be the only seriously snarky film buffs in this group...if LaSalle didn't exist, we'd have to create him!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 05, 2007, 02:26:03 PM
here's the original LaSalle post (my comment is 4 down from the top):

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/mlasalle/detail?blogid=38&entry_id=16202#comments

and here's the more recent post:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/mlasalle/detail?blogid=38&entry_id=17074#comments
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 05, 2007, 02:52:57 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
here's the original LaSalle post (my comment is 4 down from the top):

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/mlasalle/detail?blogid=38&entry_id=16202#comments

and here's the more recent post:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/mlasalle/detail?blogid=38&entry_id=17074#comments


damn, so on top of being an idiot, he's a plagiarist.  who knew? but then again, anyone surprised?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 06, 2007, 08:14:20 AM
Leah Garchik points out in today's Chron that starting Friday, the Balboa Twin will have these 2 titles on it's marquee:

 "The Rape of Europa" and "Knocked Up."

Supply your own comment.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on June 21, 2007, 07:59:11 PM
The American Film Institute's top 100 films of all time.  I've seen more of them than you might think.  8)

1. "Citizen Kane," 1941.
2. "The Godfather," 1972.
3. "Casablanca," 1942.
4. "Raging Bull," 1980.
5. "Singin' in the Rain," 1952.
6. "Gone With the Wind," 1939.
7. "Lawrence of Arabia," 1962.
8. "Schindler's List," 1993.
9. "Vertigo," 1958.
10. "The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
11. "City Lights," 1931.
12. "The Searchers," 1956.
13. "Star Wars," 1977.
14. "Psycho," 1960.
15. "2001: A Space Odyssey," 1968.
16. "Sunset Blvd.", 1950.
17. "The Graduate," 1967.
18. "The General," 1927.
19. "On the Waterfront," 1954.
20. "It's a Wonderful Life," 1946.
21. "Chinatown," 1974.
22. "Some Like It Hot," 1959.
23. "The Grapes of Wrath," 1940.
24. "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," 1982.
25. "To Kill a Mockingbird," 1962.
26. "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," 1939.
27. "High Noon," 1952.
28. "All About Eve," 1950.
29. "Double Indemnity," 1944.
30. "Apocalypse Now," 1979.
31. "The Maltese Falcon," 1941.
32. "The Godfather Part II," 1974.
33. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," 1975.
34. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," 1937.
35. "Annie Hall," 1977.
36. "The Bridge on the River Kwai," 1957.
37. "The Best Years of Our Lives," 1946.
38. "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre," 1948.
39. "Dr. Strangelove," 1964.
40. "The Sound of Music," 1965.
41. "King Kong," 1933.
42. "Bonnie and Clyde," 1967.
43. "Midnight Cowboy," 1969.
44. "The Philadelphia Story," 1940.
45. "Shane," 1953.
46. "It Happened One Night," 1934.
47. "A Streetcar Named Desire," 1951.
48. "Rear Window," 1954.
49. "Intolerance," 1916.
50. "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," 2001.
51. "West Side Story," 1961.
52. "Taxi Driver," 1976.
53. "The Deer Hunter," 1978.
54. "M-A-S-H," 1970.
55. "North by Northwest," 1959.
56. "Jaws," 1975.
57. "Rocky," 1976.
58. "The Gold Rush," 1925.
59. "Nashville," 1975.
60. "Duck Soup," 1933.
61. "Sullivan's Travels," 1941.
62. "American Graffiti," 1973.
63. "Cabaret," 1972.
64. "Network," 1976.
65. "The African Queen," 1951.
66. "Raiders of the Lost Ark," 1981.
67. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", 1966.
68. "Unforgiven," 1992.
69. "Tootsie," 1982.
70. "A Clockwork Orange," 1971.
71. "Saving Private Ryan," 1998.
72. "The Shawshank Redemption," 1994.
73. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," 1969.
74. "The Silence of the Lambs," 1991.
75. "In the Heat of the Night," 1967.
76. "Forrest Gump," 1994.
77. "All the President's Men," 1976.
78. "Modern Times," 1936.
79. "The Wild Bunch," 1969.
80. "The Apartment, 1960.
81. "Spartacus," 1960.
82. "Sunrise," 1927.
83. "Titanic," 1997.
84. "Easy Rider," 1969.
85. "A Night at the Opera," 1935.
86. "Platoon," 1986.
87. "12 Angry Men," 1957.
88. "Bringing Up Baby," 1938.
89. "The Sixth Sense," 1999.
90. "Swing Time," 1936.
91. "Sophie's Choice," 1982.
92. "Goodfellas," 1990.
93. "The French Connection," 1971.
94. "Pulp Fiction," 1994.
95. "The Last Picture Show," 1971.
96. "Do the Right Thing," 1989.
97. "Blade Runner," 1982.
98. "Yankee Doodle Dandy," 1942.
99. "Toy Story," 1995.
100. "Ben-Hur," 1959.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 21, 2007, 08:35:12 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
The American Film Institute's top 100 films of all time.  I've seen more of them than you might think.  8)


does this mean you were watching the CBS special last night too?

I did a quick count, I think I own 34 of those titles, and have seen more than 2/3 of them.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on June 22, 2007, 09:25:26 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
The American Film Institute's top 100 films of all time.  I've seen more of them than you might think.  8)


does this mean you were watching the CBS special last night too?

I did a quick count, I think I own 34 of those titles, and have seen more than 2/3 of them.


Only counting the ones I'm absolutely positive I've seen, I've seen 85 percent.  Some of the silent movies I've probably seen, but one Chaplin flick seems like another to me.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on June 22, 2007, 09:43:33 AM
i saw "half nelson" this week. quite good! also saw "delirious" with buscemi about a month ago. it was entertaining. that boy in the film (who was also in "hedwig") was in town last night with his band, but i forgot all about it until now.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on June 22, 2007, 09:44:47 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
The American Film Institute's top 100 films of all time.  I've seen more of them than you might think.  8)


does this mean you were watching the CBS special last night too?

I did a quick count, I think I own 34 of those titles, and have seen more than 2/3 of them.


Didn't see the special - saw a story at CNN.com.  Rod, your 85 count is gonna be tough to beat.  I've seen between 25 and 29 of them -- there are a few that I think I saw but don't really remember.  And I own a whopping 1 of them.  (Guess which one for two Pride Points.)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on June 22, 2007, 10:57:46 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
The American Film Institute's top 100 films of all time.  I've seen more of them than you might think.  8)


does this mean you were watching the CBS special last night too?

I did a quick count, I think I own 34 of those titles, and have seen more than 2/3 of them.


Didn't see the special - saw a story at CNN.com.  Rod, your 85 count is gonna be tough to beat.  I've seen between 25 and 29 of them -- there are a few that I think I saw but don't really remember.  And I own a whopping 1 of them.  (Guess which one for two Pride Points.)


Part of the reason I've seen so many is, well, because I'm old.  And the last time the list came out, I made a point of seeing some more of them.  Plus, "free" movies on Demand -- I saw "In the Heat of the Night" about a month ago for the first time (highly recommended).

I'd guess, uh, Cabaret, but fear I'd be guilty of stereotyping...  :wink:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on June 22, 2007, 11:16:30 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
The American Film Institute's top 100 films of all time.  I've seen more of them than you might think.  8)


does this mean you were watching the CBS special last night too?

I did a quick count, I think I own 34 of those titles, and have seen more than 2/3 of them.


Reading this last night inspired me to run down the list and see how many I'd seen. I'm right about on pace with Mark for the number seen (69 that I'm certain of) but I don't own anywhere near that many--about 5, I think.

And yeah, Rod left us all in the dust with his 85 percent tally. Although I'd be surprised if Mike didn't come close to that, if not exceed it.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 22, 2007, 11:34:15 AM
Quote from: "urth"
Reading this last night inspired me to run down the list and see how many I'd seen. I'm right about on pace with Mark for the number seen (69 that I'm certain of) but I don't own anywhere near that many--about 5, I think.

And yeah, Rod left us all in the dust with his 85 percent tally. Although I'd be surprised if Mike didn't come close to that, if not exceed it.


Yeah, curious to see what Mike cops to.

I aspire to own all of them, and I undoubtedly will someday.  I want to watch them all with my kids when they're at the appropriate ages for the content.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on June 23, 2007, 11:42:53 PM
I have seen about 44. Some too long ago to really recall well.

Did see two new ones. Last weekend got to a viewing of Ratatouille. Kids loved it. It was far better than KU which I saw today. I expected so much more. Not that I want to complain about sex and profanity, but I hoped for a better movie.
Title: Ocean's 13
Post by: ggould on June 24, 2007, 07:02:16 AM
we saw this film yesterday, from the 3rd row, and except for being too close to the screen, it was pretty good.  It's like seeing a Star Trek movie, in that you have to suspend belief, and not worry about the ridiculous things they pull off.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on July 01, 2007, 10:48:19 AM
Liked Evan Almighty. Steve Carell was funny and I adore Morgan Freeman. Not sure I've ever seen MF perform anything less than stellar.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 07, 2007, 11:41:56 AM
The folks at "The Poop" (sfgate's babies-and-parents blog) have read my mind:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/parenting/detail?blogid=29&entry_id=18307#comments

I saw the poster for the Chipmunks movie for the first time the other day, when I went to see Ratatouille (which is great, BTW) and I thought: (a) holy crap, this looks horrendous; (b) why are the chipmunks dressed like li'l gangstas?; and (c) Jason Lee as David Seville? isn't he also in the Underdog movie? JEEZ!

"Christmas don't be laaaate...."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on July 08, 2007, 06:29:45 PM
I watched Lyrics and Music the other night.  Enjoyable as heck -- catchy tunes, nice light satire (of both the 80's pop scene and the current state of affairs), and a fine chemistry between Hugh and Drew.  My favorite line in the movie:

"I'll show you the roof.  It's upstairs!"

Haley Bennet is hella cute -- perfect as the Britney/Shakira clone.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on July 14, 2007, 10:33:57 PM
A clip from the upcoming Dylan biopic. Cate Blanchett (yes, you read that right) plays Dylan.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33320

At least in the scope of this short clip, she's remarkably credible.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on July 15, 2007, 04:10:18 AM
Quote from: "urth"
A clip from the upcoming Dylan biopic. Cate Blanchett (yes, you read that right) plays Dylan.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33320

At least in the scope of this short clip, she's remarkably credible.


strange. but i've been waiting for it...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 15, 2007, 10:56:49 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "urth"
A clip from the upcoming Dylan biopic. Cate Blanchett (yes, you read that right) plays Dylan.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33320

At least in the scope of this short clip, she's remarkably credible.


strange. but i've been waiting for it...


Dylan is played by 6 or 7 different actors in the course of the film, Blanchett is one of them.  Kinda like that flop John Lennon stage show a few years ago.  It's directed by Todd Haynes, so I'm interested, but I can't help but think it's gonna either be great or unbearably bad.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 15, 2007, 09:35:45 PM
Tonite I caught up with Idiocracy. This is the comedy, made several years ago by Mike Judge of Office Space, Beavis & Butthead and King of the Hill fame. FOX didn't know what to do with it; it got a very limited release but never played in SF.  It's a satire about the dumbing-down of American culture.  Luke Wilson plays a not-very-bright guy who is recruited for an Army cryogenics experiment; he wakes up 500 years later to find that mankind has become so stupid that he's literally the smartest man in the world.  Quite funny, and boy does it totally NAIL American stupidity.  Check it out!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 16, 2007, 10:21:28 AM
Loved this comment that someone sent to Gawker.com regarding Mr. Pitt:

Quote
"The amazing thing about Angelina Jolie is, if you read her filmography, she's never been in a single movie of consequence. You can be completely literate in American movie pop culture and American film culture without ever having seen an Angelina Jolie film."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on July 16, 2007, 10:57:52 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Loved this comment that someone sent to Gawker.com regarding Mr. Pitt:

Quote
"The amazing thing about Angelina Jolie is, if you read her filmography, she's never been in a single movie of consequence. You can be completely literate in American movie pop culture and American film culture without ever having seen an Angelina Jolie film."


i'm glad i'm not the only one who feels that way. that's why i don't feel so bad about making a habit of never seeing a film she's in. unless it's by accident. i think the last one i saw was pushing tin - case in point.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 16, 2007, 11:13:41 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Loved this comment that someone sent to Gawker.com regarding Mr. Pitt:

Quote
"The amazing thing about Angelina Jolie is, if you read her filmography, she's never been in a single movie of consequence. You can be completely literate in American movie pop culture and American film culture without ever having seen an Angelina Jolie film."


i'm glad i'm not the only one who feels that way. that's why i don't feel so bad about making a habit of never seeing a film she's in. unless it's by accident. i think the last one i saw was pushing tin - case in point.


Well, not true anymore -- I caught up with A Mighty Heart the other day. Well-made (it's Michael Winterbottom, after all) and whatever you think of her tabloid persona, she *can* act when she puts her mind to it.  And she's quite good in AMH.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 25, 2007, 08:42:48 AM
"D'OH!"

FOX tried to promote The Simpsons Movie in Israel by sending journalists a Homer "donut". Only they don't really know how to make donuts in Israel...

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/archives/2007/07/simpsons_red_do.php
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 01, 2007, 10:45:26 AM
jodie foster's new movie (http://www.jodiefoster.nu/projects/brave_one/main.htm).
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 01, 2007, 10:51:42 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
jodie foster's new movie (http://www.jodiefoster.nu/projects/brave_one/main.htm).


I've seen the trailer several times, looks pretty good.  Neil Jordan directs, and Terence Howard looks like he steals every scene he's in.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 07, 2007, 08:55:00 AM
oh, and it's good good good ... like... Brigitte Bardot!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/07/movies/homevideo/07dvd.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 08, 2007, 10:04:40 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
oh, and it's good good good ... like... Brigitte Bardot!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/07/movies/homevideo/07dvd.html?_r=1&oref=slogin


completement nue au soleil.

shrek 3 rocked. ratatouille was...disney. loved peter o'toole, though.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 08, 2007, 11:19:41 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
oh, and it's good good good ... like... Brigitte Bardot!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/07/movies/homevideo/07dvd.html?_r=1&oref=slogin


completement nue au soleil.

shrek 3 rocked. ratatouille was...disney. loved peter o'toole, though.


Shrek 3 -- UGH! The Rat was 10 times better IMHO.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 10, 2007, 07:10:11 PM
Not sure why (it's not his birthday), but TCM is in the midst of a Vincent Price spooktacular thru late tonite:

Pit & the Pendulum
Tales of Terror
Masque of the Red Death
Tomb of Ligeia
Abominable Dr Phibes
Theatre of Blood (with a post-Avengers Diana Rigg!)

all but the last 2 directed by Roger Corman.  BOO!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 20, 2007, 10:26:22 PM
Just came from seeing Superbad -- Oh. My. GOD is it hilarious.  See it immediately.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on August 20, 2007, 11:04:49 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Just came from seeing Superbad -- Oh. My. GOD is it hilarious.  See it immediately.

I'll add it to my list with Mr. Bean's Holiday.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 21, 2007, 07:52:13 AM
Quote from: "Alicat"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Just came from seeing Superbad -- Oh. My. GOD is it hilarious.  See it immediately.

I'll add it to my list with Mr. Bean's Holiday.


Y'know, I'm a HUGE Rowan Atkinson fan, mostly because of Blackadder, but his Mr Bean stuff tends to leave me cold -- the trailer makes it look very broad and slapsticky. Not my thing, generally -- but Balls of Fury (from the Reno 911 guys) looks more my speed.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on August 21, 2007, 09:32:03 AM
Been meaning to post something about this film "Across the Universe" that's coming out this fall I think. I've seen the trailer for it at damn near every movie I've been too in the last two months and I gotta say it does not draw me in. It looks like a musical romanticized version of the 60s using covers of Beatles songs, which caught my attention initially, but there's nothing in the trailer that makes it look at all appealing. Anyone else have a take on it?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 21, 2007, 09:46:26 AM
Quote from: "urth"
Been meaning to post something about this film "Across the Universe" that's coming out this fall I think. I've seen the trailer for it at damn near every movie I've been too in the last two months and I gotta say it does not draw me in. It looks like a musical romanticized version of the 60s using covers of Beatles songs, which caught my attention initially, but there's nothing in the trailer that makes it look at all appealing. Anyone else have a take on it?


It looks quite awful to me -- I mean, they've already done a movie version of Hair.  And it looks like the same plot, guy meets hippie-ish girl, the Vietnam war rages...   Rumored to be a troubled production (the studio took it away from the director and re-cut it).

Interestingly, I just saw the movie of Hair for the first time last week. Maybe it's because I'm older, but Treat Williams' character seemed rather obnoxious. Indeed all the hippies seemed rather out-of-touch with reality (John Savage's character, Claude, came across as the most sane person on screen). But it's one of the most beautifully-photographed musicals ever, and the songs are still fab. Great cameos by later-to-become-famous folks like Nell Carter, Michael Jeter, Charlotte Rae.  The "WhiteBoys/BlackBoys" number may be one of the most subversive sequences ever in a commercial film. And "Easy to be Hard" -- OMG, what a powerful song that is within the context of the plot! I had no idea.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on August 22, 2007, 11:21:11 AM
If you have not seen it yet, go see "Stardust." Kind of a fantasy/fairy tale film, but with some really wacky moments. At times I was reminded of The Princess Bride. Great performances from the entire cast.  Including Michelle Pfeiffer as a really evil witch, and Robert De Niro as you've never seen him before, I guarantee.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on August 22, 2007, 09:03:25 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "urth"
Been meaning to post something about this film "Across the Universe" that's coming out this fall I think. I've seen the trailer for it at damn near every movie I've been too in the last two months and I gotta say it does not draw me in. It looks like a musical romanticized version of the 60s using covers of Beatles songs, which caught my attention initially, but there's nothing in the trailer that makes it look at all appealing. Anyone else have a take on it?


It looks quite awful to me -- I mean, they've already done a movie version of Hair.  And it looks like the same plot, guy meets hippie-ish girl, the Vietnam war rages...   Rumored to be a troubled production (the studio took it away from the director and re-cut it).

Interestingly, I just saw the movie of Hair for the first time last week. Maybe it's because I'm older, but Treat Williams' character seemed rather obnoxious. Indeed all the hippies seemed rather out-of-touch with reality (John Savage's character, Claude, came across as the most sane person on screen). But it's one of the most beautifully-photographed musicals ever, and the songs are still fab. Great cameos by later-to-become-famous folks like Nell Carter, Michael Jeter, Charlotte Rae.  The "WhiteBoys/BlackBoys" number may be one of the most subversive sequences ever in a commercial film. And "Easy to be Hard" -- OMG, what a powerful song that is within the context of the plot! I had no idea.


Agreed on every single point.

And for a hack, Treat Williams sure did have a nice ass there for a while.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 22, 2007, 09:32:53 PM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "urth"
Been meaning to post something about this film "Across the Universe" that's coming out this fall I think. I've seen the trailer for it at damn near every movie I've been too in the last two months and I gotta say it does not draw me in. It looks like a musical romanticized version of the 60s using covers of Beatles songs, which caught my attention initially, but there's nothing in the trailer that makes it look at all appealing. Anyone else have a take on it?


It looks quite awful to me -- I mean, they've already done a movie version of Hair.  And it looks like the same plot, guy meets hippie-ish girl, the Vietnam war rages...   Rumored to be a troubled production (the studio took it away from the director and re-cut it).

Interestingly, I just saw the movie of Hair for the first time last week. Maybe it's because I'm older, but Treat Williams' character seemed rather obnoxious. Indeed all the hippies seemed rather out-of-touch with reality (John Savage's character, Claude, came across as the most sane person on screen). But it's one of the most beautifully-photographed musicals ever, and the songs are still fab. Great cameos by later-to-become-famous folks like Nell Carter, Michael Jeter, Charlotte Rae.  The "WhiteBoys/BlackBoys" number may be one of the most subversive sequences ever in a commercial film. And "Easy to be Hard" -- OMG, what a powerful song that is within the context of the plot! I had no idea.


Agreed on every single point.

And for a hack, Treat Williams sure did have a nice ass there for a while.


I've always loved Treat (I actually saw him do Love Letters, the 2-person play, on B'way in the late '80s, with Kate Nelligan).  Didya know the singing voices of the black army officers in the "Black Boys/White Boys" number were supplied by the Stylistics?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on August 22, 2007, 10:19:31 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Didya know the singing voices of the black army officers in the "Black Boys/White Boys" number were supplied by the Stylistics?


Not until very recently.  (Just saw the film a couple weeks ago as part of the Brooklyn Bridge Park series, oddly enough.)  Was that them playing the Army officers too?  Or only singing?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 23, 2007, 07:47:23 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Didya know the singing voices of the black army officers in the "Black Boys/White Boys" number were supplied by the Stylistics?


Not until very recently.  (Just saw the film a couple weeks ago as part of the Brooklyn Bridge Park series, oddly enough.)  Was that them playing the Army officers too?  Or only singing?


the closing credits said "voices supplied by..." or something like that.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 28, 2007, 07:55:30 AM
Worst news of the week: they're remaking (oh, excuse me, "re-imagining" The Day The Earth Stood Stlll with Keanu Reeves as Klaatu.

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/archives/2007/08/klaatu_barada_w.php
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 29, 2007, 03:55:10 AM
"great movie rolls"  (http://origin.mercurynews.com/sharks/ci_6741296?nclick_check=1)
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on August 29, 2007, 09:09:45 AM
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
"great movie rolls"  (http://origin.mercurynews.com/sharks/ci_6741296?nclick_check=1)


Couldn't get in via this link.  What's the dilly, yo?
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 29, 2007, 11:01:27 AM
Quote from: "Gazoo"
Quote from: "princessofcairo"
"great movie rolls"  (http://origin.mercurynews.com/sharks/ci_6741296?nclick_check=1)


Couldn't get in via this link.  What's the dilly, yo?


Yes, stars like Owen Wilson can hurt, too
By Tony Hicks
STAFF WRITER
Article Launched: 08/28/2007 01:01:09 PM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

Owen Wilson arrives at the premiere of "The Wendell Baker Story" in... (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Shouldn't Owen Wilson be immune to misery?
He's a movie star in the prime of his career. He dates beautiful women. He has bags of money. He's the epitome of the life so many people would give their left arm for.
So why -- assuming the reports coming from the Associated Press, the National Enquirer, and Celeb.TV.com are accurate -- would he want to kill himself?
Doesn't this guy, adored by the masses with a dream life, have way too much to live for?
I don't know. And neither do you. Only one person does.
On Sunday, Wilson apparently tried to commit suicide at his home in Santa Monica. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Santa Monica Police logs indicate the call to Wilson's home was for a suicide attempt. He was listed in good condition at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles Monday; no updates were offered on Tuesday. His family and spokesman have declined to comment, citing Wilson's request for privacy.
All of this will prompt a giant, collective public head scratching over why someone with talent, money and fame would slash both wrists and take a belly full of pills (as reported by the National Enquirer on Monday).
All the analysis will be for naught. Because the only person who knows is Owen Wilson.
Which is important to keep in mind. In our everyday dream world, good looks, hot girlfriends, great movie rolls and fat paychecks are the ingredients of happiness. But even if a person seems to have all that, no one knows what else
Advertisement

is at work, bubbling under the surface. Success and happiness are ever-shifting, and personal, concepts.
Assuming it's true, only Owen Wilson knows the level of pain that pushed him to try taking his own life. Therefore, it's extremely difficult to pass judgment.
If anything, Wilson deserves our sympathy for feeling so barren that suicide becomes a real option.
This is different than scrutinizing a celebrity's public behavior, which is and always should be fair game. Public figures who put themselves in that position forfeit many of the same privacy protections the rest of us enjoy. It's called the price of fame.
But this was a private act by a man, we can only assume, was suffering intensely.
When Kurt Cobain killed himself, I took it extremely personally. I wrote a column for my college newspaper, calling Cobain selfish and acted as if he'd personally insulted me. As a fan, I would no longer have his new music. He had fame, money and talent that 99.9 percent of us could never even imagine.
How someone with so many gifts could blow them into the abyss with a shotgun was unfathomable to me.
Exactly. Because, quite simply, I didn't live in the guy's head. I didn't know, and I was wrong. Just like so many people will get it wrong while delving too deeply into what went wrong with Owen Wilson.
A few years back, an old high school girlfriend of mine e-mailed me out of the blue. She'd noticed I wrote for the paper and re-established contact through e-mail for a spell. She described a happy life, with a husband she loved and kids she adored. She was beautiful, warm, and seemingly had everything she wanted. I was happy that she'd found such a satisfying life.
Then, probably a month after we last e-mailed, she took a gun and ended her life.
I didn't get it. But that's just it -- what we see on the outside has absolutely nothing to do with what's happening in someone's brain and heart. And if we can be so shocked by people we know, why should we try to understand when it's someone we only know through movies, Web sites and tabloids?
It might even be surprising this doesn't happen more often. Perhaps never in pop culture history have celebrities been so scrutinized, and looked so miserable in the process. The wild and sometimes embarrassing life has always been a component of Hollywood. And sometimes -- as demonstrated by the recent conga line to rehab centers and courtrooms -- the process itself is too much for the participants.
Which may have nothing to do with Owen Wilson. He's hardly a tabloid target on par with the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, and even David Hasselhoff, a semi has-been whose public (and even private) bout with alcoholism is documented at every turn.
All of Wilson's gifts apparently weren't enough to make him want to keep living, if the reports are true. It's very strange. But then again, you'd have to be Owen Wilson to understand.
Tony Hicks is the Times' pop culture critic. Reach him at 925-952-2678 or thicks@bayareanewsgroup.com. Read his blog, "Insert Foot," on ContraCostaTimes.com
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on September 05, 2007, 09:28:53 AM
Being a Foghead finally pays off -- I got a couple of free passes for a 3:10 To Yuma preview last night.

Definitely recommended for Western fans.  It's suspensefull and well acted, with bits of humor thrown in among the violence.  Great performance by Christian Bale, and Crowe was on top of his game as well.  And the second in command of Crowe's gang, Ben Foster as Charlie Prince, is a classic western bad-guy -- creepy, funny, and over the top.  "I hate Pinkertons."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 05, 2007, 09:54:27 AM
Quote from: "Rod"
Being a Foghead finally pays off -- I got a couple of free passes for a 3:10 To Yuma preview last night.

Definitely recommended for Western fans.  It's suspensefull and well acted, with bits of humor thrown in among the violence.  Great performance by Christian Bale, and Crowe was on top of his game as well.  And the second in command of Crowe's gang, Ben Foster as Charlie Prince, is a classic western bad-guy -- creepy, funny, and over the top.  "I hate Pinkertons."


it looks great, and it's gotta be better than it woulda been with Tom Cruise (as it was orig supposed to be).  I've seen the orig several times (Encore's Western channel shows it 10 times a month).
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 12, 2007, 12:50:35 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "urth"
Been meaning to post something about this film "Across the Universe" that's coming out this fall I think. I've seen the trailer for it at damn near every movie I've been too in the last two months and I gotta say it does not draw me in. It looks like a musical romanticized version of the 60s using covers of Beatles songs, which caught my attention initially, but there's nothing in the trailer that makes it look at all appealing. Anyone else have a take on it?


It looks quite awful to me -- I mean, they've already done a movie version of Hair.  And it looks like the same plot, guy meets hippie-ish girl, the Vietnam war rages...   Rumored to be a troubled production (the studio took it away from the director and re-cut it).



I've been reading the (mostly bad) reviews for ATU, which opens Fri.  In addition to "Jude" and "Lucy", there are characters named Sadie, Prudence, Max(well) and Jo-Jo.  Yikes.  One critic called it "Flabby Road".
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 12, 2007, 03:31:43 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "Rod"
Being a Foghead finally pays off -- I got a couple of free passes for a 3:10 To Yuma preview last night.

Definitely recommended for Western fans.  It's suspensefull and well acted, with bits of humor thrown in among the violence.  Great performance by Christian Bale, and Crowe was on top of his game as well.  And the second in command of Crowe's gang, Ben Foster as Charlie Prince, is a classic western bad-guy -- creepy, funny, and over the top.  "I hate Pinkertons."


it looks great, and it's gotta be better than it woulda been with Tom Cruise (as it was orig supposed to be).  I've seen the orig several times (Encore's Western channel shows it 10 times a month).


I saw it and loved it.  No idea it was a remake until you mentioned it.

More importantly though, Peter Finch announced on the news this morning that Gus Van Sant has signed up Sean Penn to play Harvey Milk & Matt Damon to play Dan White in his next film (listed currently as 'Untitiled Harvey Milk Project 2009' on IMDb).

Wow!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 12, 2007, 03:36:43 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
More importantly though, Peter Finch announced on the news this morning that Gus Van Sant has signed up Sean Penn to play Harvey Milk & Matt Damon to play Dan White in his next film (listed currently as 'Untitiled Harvey Milk Project 2009' on IMDb).

Wow!


it's a Wow if it happens, but according to Hollywood Elsewhere, it's a bit iify-er than that. And Bryan Singer has a Harvey Milk project in the works at Warners, he's supposed to do it after he finished Valkyrie, the Tom Cruise-tries-to-kill-Hitler movie.  So it may be dueling Harveys.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 12, 2007, 03:53:14 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
More importantly though, Peter Finch announced on the news this morning that Gus Van Sant has signed up Sean Penn to play Harvey Milk & Matt Damon to play Dan White in his next film (listed currently as 'Untitiled Harvey Milk Project 2009' on IMDb).

Wow!


it's a Wow if it happens, but according to Hollywood Elsewhere, it's a bit iify-er than that. And Bryan Singer has a Harvey Milk project in the works at Warners, he's supposed to do it after he finished Valkyrie, the Tom Cruise-tries-to-kill-Hitler movie.  So it may be dueling Harveys.


Is Gus gay?  I know Bryan is.  Just wondering.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 12, 2007, 04:02:57 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
More importantly though, Peter Finch announced on the news this morning that Gus Van Sant has signed up Sean Penn to play Harvey Milk & Matt Damon to play Dan White in his next film (listed currently as 'Untitiled Harvey Milk Project 2009' on IMDb).

Wow!


it's a Wow if it happens, but according to Hollywood Elsewhere, it's a bit iify-er than that. And Bryan Singer has a Harvey Milk project in the works at Warners, he's supposed to do it after he finished Valkyrie, the Tom Cruise-tries-to-kill-Hitler movie.  So it may be dueling Harveys.


Is Gus gay?  I know Bryan is.  Just wondering.


Yes, they both are. Bitch fight!

Two other suggestions to play Harvey Milk I've read elsewhere that I think are quite good are Adrian Brody and (don't laugh) Hank Azaria.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 14, 2007, 03:02:31 PM
Still more on Across the Universe:  Serious Beatle fan Roger Ebert gave it four stars; but the Chicago Reader chimes in with

Quote
If a bullet hadn't killed John Lennon, this Beatles-scored musical might have. Director Julie Taymor and Revolution Studios head Joe Roth engaged in a well-publicized feud over the final cut, but the movie's cartoonish rehash of the turbulent 60s was in place long before that. Taymor's calling card is still her Broadway adaptation of The Lion King, and she delivers some comparably grand set pieces here: Eddie Izzard fronts a chorus of Blue Meanies on "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite," and "I Want You . . . She's So Heavy" is divided between a baleful Uncle Sam at an army induction center and a platoon of U.S. soldiers carrying the Statue of Liberty across southeast Asia. But the Rent-like ensemble of yearning young people at the center of the story is a drag; I wanted to turn the sound down on them and say rude things


and then there's this pan from the Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=movie&id=8798
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on September 14, 2007, 03:41:11 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Still more on Across the Universe:  Serious Beatle fan Roger Ebert gave it four stars; but the Chicago Reader chimes in with

Quote
If a bullet hadn't killed John Lennon, this Beatles-scored musical might have. Director Julie Taymor and Revolution Studios head Joe Roth engaged in a well-publicized feud over the final cut, but the movie's cartoonish rehash of the turbulent 60s was in place long before that. Taymor's calling card is still her Broadway adaptation of The Lion King, and she delivers some comparably grand set pieces here: Eddie Izzard fronts a chorus of Blue Meanies on "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite," and "I Want You . . . She's So Heavy" is divided between a baleful Uncle Sam at an army induction center and a platoon of U.S. soldiers carrying the Statue of Liberty across southeast Asia. But the Rent-like ensemble of yearning young people at the center of the story is a drag; I wanted to turn the sound down on them and say rude things


and then there's this pan from the Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=movie&id=8798


Wow, sounds bloody awful -- I MUST see this movie!

And seriously, since Sgt. Pepper ... didn't kill John, how is it possible that this thing could?  This can't be worse than that.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on September 14, 2007, 09:45:16 PM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Still more on Across the Universe:  Serious Beatle fan Roger Ebert gave it four stars; but the Chicago Reader chimes in with

Quote
If a bullet hadn't killed John Lennon, this Beatles-scored musical might have. Director Julie Taymor and Revolution Studios head Joe Roth engaged in a well-publicized feud over the final cut, but the movie's cartoonish rehash of the turbulent 60s was in place long before that. Taymor's calling card is still her Broadway adaptation of The Lion King, and she delivers some comparably grand set pieces here: Eddie Izzard fronts a chorus of Blue Meanies on "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite," and "I Want You . . . She's So Heavy" is divided between a baleful Uncle Sam at an army induction center and a platoon of U.S. soldiers carrying the Statue of Liberty across southeast Asia. But the Rent-like ensemble of yearning young people at the center of the story is a drag; I wanted to turn the sound down on them and say rude things


and then there's this pan from the Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=movie&id=8798


Wow, sounds bloody awful -- I MUST see this movie!

And seriously, since Sgt. Pepper ... didn't kill John, how is it possible that this thing could?  This can't be worse than that.


The NY Times gave it a glowing review:
http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/09/14/movies/14univ.html

It sounds to me like the precise midway point between Yellow Submarine and Sgt. Pepper (the movies, both).  I'll see it, but I need to be with other Beatles fans to do so.  This is no indifferent date movie.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 15, 2007, 09:53:51 PM
I saw a very bad movie tonite -- and no, it wasn't Across the Universe.  I saw Dragon Wars, the Korean-made (but in English, with American actors) fantasy flick about dragons destroying LA. It is gloriously bad -- Mystery Science Theater 3000-level bad, despite a big budget and some impressive CGI.  After it goes to DVD (in about a month, I'd wager) it will play on the Sci-Fi Channel for years to come.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 21, 2007, 12:32:58 PM
OMG, I *must* see this movie:

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rt_obscura_with_kim_newman/news/1670702/
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 21, 2007, 02:45:26 PM
Quote from: "Rod"
Wow, sounds bloody awful -- I MUST see this movie!

And seriously, since Sgt. Pepper ... didn't kill John, how is it possible that this thing could?  This can't be worse than that.


Renee did this one this morning & the fogheads completely loved it, and according to her it got 2 thumbs up from Ebert & Roeper.

In the meantime, I just came from Eastern Promises.

Wow.

Every bit as good as Infernal Affairs The Departed last year in my book.  Says here that the picture might get a nom, Cronenberg & Mortenson fer sure get noms, and Armin Mueller-Stahl is a lock for Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 21, 2007, 03:10:36 PM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "Rod"
Wow, sounds bloody awful -- I MUST see this movie!

And seriously, since Sgt. Pepper ... didn't kill John, how is it possible that this thing could?  This can't be worse than that.


Renee did this one this morning & the fogheads completely loved it, and according to her it got 2 thumbs up from Ebert & Roeper.

In the meantime, I just came from Eastern Promises.

Wow.

Every bit as good as Infernal Affairs The Departed last year in my book.  Says here that the picture might get a nom, Cronenberg & Mortenson fer sure get noms, and Armin Mueller-Stahl is a lock for Best Supporting Actor Oscar.


I saw it Wed nite; I liked it a lot, tho' I think it was (graphic violence notwithstanding) a tad conventional for a Cronenburg pic. I liked History of Violence more. But yeah, Mortenson and Mueller-Stahl absolutely deserve noms.  I'm seeing Across... on Mon nite.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 26, 2007, 08:07:07 AM
Well, I finally saw Across the Universe last nite. 12 people in the theater; it'll be on DVD before Xmas, no doubt.  And, sad to say, it really is horrendously bad IMHO.  A few bright spots: "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" as a ballad of lesbian longing was inspired; "Guitar Gently Weeps" as a cry of pain after MLK's assassination was affecting. (Conversely, "Let it Be" as a gospel number just reminded me that Aretha did it better 35 years ago.)  And an actress named Dana Fuchs (new to me; I thought she was Portia DeRossi at first) is quite good as the Joplin-esque Sadie -- she made me wonder why the real Janis never covered "Why Don't We Do It In the Road".

But the rest of it is laughably ham-handed, particularly in any scene involving Vietnam. Every overripe '60s cliche you can think of thrown into a blender. When Bono showed up as Dr Robert to sing "I Am the Walrus", I looked at my watch and realized there was more than an hour still to go, and my eyes rolled back in my head. And then Eddie Izzard did "Mr Kite" (because, apparently, Tim Curry was busy that day) and I just wanted to scream.  As Lily Tomlin once said: "Is this really happening, or is it the hash?"
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on September 26, 2007, 11:22:50 AM
Speaking of Janis, what became of all those rumored Joplin biopics that were on the table a couple years ago? We were hearing names like Melissa Etheridge and Renee Zellweger, to name two. Guess they went the way of many Hollywood projects--into mothballs.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 26, 2007, 12:08:21 PM
Quote from: "urth"
Speaking of Janis, what became of all those rumored Joplin biopics that were on the table a couple years ago? We were hearing names like Melissa Etheridge and Renee Zellweger, to name two. Guess they went the way of many Hollywood projects--into mothballs.


And don't forget Lili Taylor and (no kidding) Pink.

There's a Joplin film currently in production with Zooey Deschanel as Janis:

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0384141/
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 05, 2007, 10:03:22 PM
Saw Michael Clayton tonite -- wow. Terrific movie, Clooney is wonderful, great writing and superb supporting perfs from Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton and Sidney Pollack.

A throwback of sorts to the paranoid thrillers of the '70s, with Clooney as a lawyer on the ropes, up against a big nasty Archer-Daniels-Midland type corporation.  Written and directed (directorial debut, actually) by Tony Gilroy who co-wrote the Bourne movies.  MikeBob sez check it out!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 22, 2007, 12:26:50 PM
The Castro is doing a mini-fest of "Disco-Vision" next month:

Quote

NOV10: Saturday Night Fever
NEW PRINT! 30TH ANNIVERSARY!
 
NOV 11 DOUBLE FEATURE
Xanadu
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

NOV 13 DOUBLE FEATURE
Roller Boogie
Skatetown U.S.A.

NOV 14 DOUBLE FEATURE
Eyes of Laura Mars
Looking for Mr. Goodbar

NOVEMBER 15 DOUBLE FEATURE
Thank God It’s Friday
Car Wash

Woo Hoo!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on October 22, 2007, 09:50:06 PM
Nice. You going to any? I'd go Tues/Thurs but too hard on a weeknight. I know, I say that after going to weeknight hockey but it feels different.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 23, 2007, 07:54:10 AM
Quote from: "Alicat"
Nice. You going to any? I'd go Tues/Thurs but too hard on a weeknight. I know, I say that after going to weeknight hockey but it feels different.


The only one I've any interest in is theTGIF/Car Wash bill; I've never seen either one. Saw Xanadu (horrendously bad, and NOT in a good way) and Roller Boogie at a roller-disco-themed show they did 2 years ago. I've seen SNF many times and Goodbar is a very good movie -- Keaton won the Oscar that year for Annie Hall, but she's even better in Goodbar.

I'm thinking maybe I'm better off never seeing Sgt Pepper...
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 26, 2007, 03:23:59 PM
DUDE! It's, like, Spinal Tap for Deadheads!

http://www.electricapricot.com/
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on October 26, 2007, 04:03:47 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
DUDE! It's, like, Spinal Tap for Deadheads!

http://www.electricapricot.com/


Dude!

Looks cool, les claypool directing no less.  Read the bios, they're hilarious:

Turn ons:  Dominatric Veganism, Puppy Breath.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on October 26, 2007, 04:16:12 PM
Quote from: "Rod"
Quote from: "RGMike"
DUDE! It's, like, Spinal Tap for Deadheads!

http://www.electricapricot.com/


Dude!

Looks cool, les claypool directing no less.  Read the bios, they're hilarious:

Turn ons:  Dominatric Veganism, Puppy Breath.


DUDE! They didn't copyedit that page--they spelled "hobbies" with one b throughout. Not to mention half a dozen other little flubs I noted.

I need a vacation. :shock:
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 01, 2007, 10:04:33 AM
Saw Gone Baby Gone last night and liked it a LOT. Ben Affleck's no joke -- fine directing job, and his brother Casey is fine, as is the entire supporting cast.  And it's actually morally complex, no easy answers in the film's solution.  I was surprised and impressed.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on November 05, 2007, 02:26:31 PM
Saw Dan In Real Life on Saturday.  Very funny movie.  It's not a perfect movie, occasionally slipping into a bit too much sentimentality and too many standard Romantic Comedy Cliches.  But the laughs are mostly well earned and plentiful.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 06, 2007, 08:26:39 AM
Saw Control last nite, the Ian Curtis/Joy Division biopic. Really terrific: the actor (never saw him before) Sam Riley was superb as Curtis, beautifully photographed in B&W, just incredibly well-done all around. Love Will Tear Us Apart indeed.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 09, 2007, 07:45:29 AM
Fred Claus is apparently terrible. LaSalle calls it "Ho-Ho-Horrible", and then there's this from the NY Post:

"Fred Claus is not like a lump of coal in your stocking. Coal is useful; you can burn it. This movie is more like a lump of something Blitzen left behind after eating a lot of Mexican food..."
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on November 09, 2007, 09:11:30 AM
Saw American Gangster recently, big fan of Ridley, Denzel & Russell, so no surprise that I thought it was very good.  It's really a 4 act play, so somewhat unusual in its pacing at times. Ruby Dee as Denzel's mother has an awesome scene late in the 3rd act.  Josh Brolin is really effective as a bad cop, can't wait to see him as the protagonist in No Country For Old Men.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 09, 2007, 09:23:25 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Saw American Gangster recently, big fan of Ridley, Denzel & Russell, so no surprise that I thought it was very good.  It's really a 4 act play, so somewhat unusual in its pacing at times. Ruby Dee as Denzel's mother has an awesome scene late in the 3rd act.  Josh Brolin is really effective as a bad cop, can't wait to see him as the protagonist in No Country For Old Men.


Haven't seen AG yet, but I am SO looking forward to NCFOM -- seeing it Monday probably.  Brolin and Casey Affleck share the finally-breaking-out award for 2007.  Seeing Lions For Lambs tonite but not expecting much.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 12, 2007, 08:46:18 PM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
Saw American Gangster recently, big fan of Ridley, Denzel & Russell, so no surprise that I thought it was very good.  It's really a 4 act play, so somewhat unusual in its pacing at times. Ruby Dee as Denzel's mother has an awesome scene late in the 3rd act.  Josh Brolin is really effective as a bad cop, can't wait to see him as the protagonist in No Country For Old Men.


Haven't seen AG yet, but I am SO looking forward to NCFOM -- seeing it Monday probably.


And indeed, I just came from seeing NCFOM -- and it's as great as you've heard it is. One of the Coen's best. Give Javier Bardem the Oscar now.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on November 13, 2007, 08:12:14 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
Saw American Gangster recently, big fan of Ridley, Denzel & Russell, so no surprise that I thought it was very good.  It's really a 4 act play, so somewhat unusual in its pacing at times. Ruby Dee as Denzel's mother has an awesome scene late in the 3rd act.  Josh Brolin is really effective as a bad cop, can't wait to see him as the protagonist in No Country For Old Men.


Haven't seen AG yet, but I am SO looking forward to NCFOM -- seeing it Monday probably.


And indeed, I just came from seeing NCFOM -- and it's as great as you've heard it is. One of the Coen's best. Give Javier Bardem the Oscar now.


I saw it and loved it too.  Wow.  Have to see it again.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 13, 2007, 08:17:25 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Quote from: "mshray"
Saw American Gangster recently, big fan of Ridley, Denzel & Russell, so no surprise that I thought it was very good.  It's really a 4 act play, so somewhat unusual in its pacing at times. Ruby Dee as Denzel's mother has an awesome scene late in the 3rd act.  Josh Brolin is really effective as a bad cop, can't wait to see him as the protagonist in No Country For Old Men.


Haven't seen AG yet, but I am SO looking forward to NCFOM -- seeing it Monday probably.


And indeed, I just came from seeing NCFOM -- and it's as great as you've heard it is. One of the Coen's best. Give Javier Bardem the Oscar now.


I saw it and loved it too.  Wow.  Have to see it again.


Call it, friend-o!
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on November 13, 2007, 08:20:09 AM
Quote from: "RGMike"
Give Javier Bardem the Oscar now.


And Roger Deakins, too.  Awesome cinematography.
Title: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 13, 2007, 08:22:06 AM
Quote from: "mshray"
Quote from: "RGMike"
Give Javier Bardem the Oscar now.


And Roger Deakins, too.  Awesome cinematography.


Indeed, but have you seen Assassination of Jesse James? Deakins did that too, and it's also brilliant work -- he may be competing with himself come Feb.  (and the way Warner Bros has treated Assassination... is criminal.)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 28, 2007, 12:20:28 PM
Jake Gyllenhaal *IS*... Joe Namath???


http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/forrest_gump/news/1692447/

Hope the fake facial hair is better than the stuff he wore in Brokeback Mtn...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 28, 2007, 03:31:07 PM
The one you've been waiting for... it's The Oscar Movie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXd88rIPeLg
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 28, 2007, 09:22:19 PM
A very well-thought-out analysis of No Country For Old Men -- don't read it if you haven't seen the film (SPOILERS!) but if you have, it's quite good.  And I like that the guy also mentions Mad Men, my fave TV show of the year.

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/archives/2007/11/leicht_on_no_co.php
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 29, 2007, 12:27:23 PM
HBO is planning a movie based on the book about Bonds and steroids, Game of Shadows.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/11/29/sports/s121121S77.DTL&tsp=1&type=sports

But who'll play Barry?  I nominate the guy who played Keith on Six Feet Under.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 29, 2007, 12:38:21 PM
But who'll play Barry?  I nominate the guy who played Keith on Six Feet Under.

(http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2005/features/qa/051121/mstpatrick.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on November 29, 2007, 10:18:52 PM
HBO is planning a movie based on the book about Bonds and steroids, Game of Shadows.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/11/29/sports/s121121S77.DTL&tsp=1&type=sports

But who'll play Barry?  I nominate the guy who played Keith on Six Feet Under.
I nominate the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man:
(http://www.16bit.com/toypics/ghostbusters/marshmallow/front.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 30, 2007, 05:03:01 AM
But who'll play Barry?  I nominate the guy who played Keith on Six Feet Under.

(http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2005/features/qa/051121/mstpatrick.jpg)

yeah, he's hot!
Title: Re: Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten
Post by: urth on December 01, 2007, 08:41:33 PM
From the 10@10 forum:

I saw the Joe Strummer docu this weekend -- essential viewing. MikeBob sez "check it out!"

Where'd you see it? I was thinking about catching it, but it looked like it had left the Lumiere.

Hey Urth, I just noticed that the Roxie has picked up the Strummer docu, they're showing it now thru Thursday.

Woohoo! I'll have to try and get down there this weekend.

I did in fact get over to the Roxie for the 4:30 showing today. Well worth seeing--learned a lot about Joe that I did not know, and had my memory jogged on a lot of things as well. Lots of coverage of his childhood and pre-Clash days as a squatter in Newport, then in London with the 101ers. Some good commentary by Mick Jones and Topper Headon as well, but I don't think Paul Simenon was interviewed at all--quite a drag. I have to figure that was his own choice.

The only negatives I can think of are the complete absence of any sort of identification of any of the interviewees. If they're not famous enough for you to recognize, forget it. (Dug seeing Joe Ely pop up in there, but kinda went "huh?" at the appearance of a few Hollywood types that I doubt were qualified to be there by anything more than their star appeal.

Also, I noticed that they jumped over Give 'em Enough Rope entirely--no songs from that album in the soundtrack and no mention of even recording it. I was kinda looking forward to that part, too, as I know that they recorded it here in San Francisco, at Hyde Street Studios, I think.

It's at the Roxie, 16th and Valencia, thru Thursday.
Title: Re: Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten
Post by: RGMike on December 02, 2007, 07:57:18 PM
From the 10@10 forum:

I saw the Joe Strummer docu this weekend -- essential viewing. MikeBob sez "check it out!"

Where'd you see it? I was thinking about catching it, but it looked like it had left the Lumiere.

Hey Urth, I just noticed that the Roxie has picked up the Strummer docu, they're showing it now thru Thursday.

Woohoo! I'll have to try and get down there this weekend.

I did in fact get over to the Roxie for the 4:30 showing today... The only negatives I can think of are the complete absence of any sort of identification of any of the interviewees. If they're not famous enough for you to recognize, forget it.

Indeed, and I meant to mention that -- some of these guys you'd recognize in old clips, perhaps, but in their current incarnations, er, they've not aged well (hard living etc) and you're like "Who was THAT?" And yeah, who really gives a bleep what John Cusack and Johnny Depp think of the Clash?  But that whole sitting-around-the-campfire motif was kinda cool IMHO.

I actually saw the Clash during their famous stand at Bond's in NYC. (Bonds was a famous multi-level men's clothing store in Times Square that was turned into a famous multi-level music venue.) I wasn't at the show where Grandmaster Flash opened (and were famously booed by the white rock crowd) but I had tix to the Sat afternoon all-ages show.  No booze, but Pearl Harbor was guest deejay.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 06, 2007, 11:59:11 AM
Quote from: mshray
Quote from: RGMike
Quote from: mshray
More importantly though, Peter Finch announced on the news this morning that Gus Van Sant has signed up Sean Penn to play Harvey Milk & Matt Damon to play Dan White in his next film (listed currently as 'Untitiled Harvey Milk Project 2009' on IMDb).

Wow!

it's a Wow if it happens, but according to Hollywood Elsewhere, it's a bit iify-er than that. And Bryan Singer has a Harvey Milk project in the works at Warners, he's supposed to do it after he finished Valkyrie, the Tom Cruise-tries-to-kill-Hitler movie.  So it may be dueling Harveys.

Is Gus gay?  I know Bryan is.  Just wondering.

Yes, they both are. Bitch fight!

Two other suggestions to play Harvey Milk I've read elsewhere that I think are quite good are Adrian Brody and (don't laugh) Hank Azaria.

To update this story: apparently Josh Brolin has just signed on to play Dan White in the Gus Van Sant "Milk" biopic. I think that's GREAT casting, much better than Matt Damon, who was rumored to be considering the role.  Now if it could be Adrian Brody rather than Sean Penn as Harvey, we'd have something. But we'll see.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 07, 2007, 08:07:55 AM
I'd been looking forward to The Golden Compass -- the idea of "Narnia for atheists" (as it's been described) seems right up my alley. But the reviews have been mostly bad. Here's Kyle Smith in the NY Post:

"Writer-director Chris Weitz, who did nicely with a simple story in adapting About a Boy, has been swamped by the task of condensing a densely imaginative 430-page book. It's as if, given the task of setting up a display of animals that would fit in his living room, he went to the city zoo and cut off a 6-inch portion of every beast, then tossed the bloody chunks in a pile. The best you can say about Golden Compass is that it's merely the second-dullest Nicole Kidman/Daniel Craig film this year."

He also calls it "Chronicles of Yawn-ia". EW called it "Chronicles of Blarney-a". Let the battle of the puns begin!

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on December 07, 2007, 09:54:48 AM
I'd been looking forward to The Golden Compass -- the idea of "Narnia for atheists" (as it's been described) seems right up my alley. But the reviews have been mostly bad. Here's Kyle Smith in the NY Post:

"Writer-director Chris Weitz, who did nicely with a simple story in adapting About a Boy, has been swamped by the task of condensing a densely imaginative 430-page book. It's as if, given the task of setting up a display of animals that would fit in his living room, he went to the city zoo and cut off a 6-inch portion of every beast, then tossed the bloody chunks in a pile. The best you can say about Golden Compass is that it's merely the second-dullest Nicole Kidman/Daniel Craig film this year."

He also calls it "Chronicles of Yawn-ia". EW called it "Chronicles of Blarney-a". Let the battle of the puns begin!



I read the books some time ago.  They were okay, but didn't really carry me away.  They are imaginative, but in the end I didn't much care what happened.  I was just playing out the string.  As for the atheistic aspect, it never occurred to me at the time.  Since I wasn't looking for it, I didn't see it.

ETA:  Not planning on seeing it, either.  Though the bear fight looks cool.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 07, 2007, 01:28:11 PM
seems like every band that ever existed will get their own documentary sooner or later. Here comes one about the Holy Modal Rounders!

http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/movies/07moda.html?ref=movies
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 08, 2007, 10:09:29 AM
ETA:  Not planning on seeing it, either.  Though the bear fight looks cool.

Wife & Kids want to see it tomorrow, I'll let y'all know what I think.  Been reading the Narnia books the last couple weeks (The Magician's Nephew & The Last Battle, the 6th & 7th, according to the original order) to my kids & we re-watched the first movie last weekend.  The 2nd movie, Prince Caspian, is coming this May.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 13, 2007, 09:51:59 AM
ETA:  Not planning on seeing it, either.  Though the bear fight looks cool.

Wife & Kids want to see it tomorrow, I'll let y'all know what I think.  Been reading the Narnia books the last couple weeks (The Magician's Nephew & The Last Battle, the 6th & 7th, according to the original order) to my kids & we re-watched the first movie last weekend.  The 2nd movie, Prince Caspian, is coming this May.

Not that y'all are holding your breath, but we haven't sen it yet, probably going on the 22nd for Adrian's b-day.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 13, 2007, 09:57:05 AM
http://imdb.com/features/rto/2008/globes (http://imdb.com/features/rto/2008/globes)

Golden Globe Noms are out this morning.  Can't believe Eastern Promises got a Best Picture & Best Actor nod without getting a Best Supporting nom for Armin Mueller-Stahl.  Wonder if the Academy will fix this.  Between him & Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton & Javier Bardem in NCFOM, I was going to predict that this year Supporting Actor race was shaping up like the Best Actor race in 1983, with Mueller-Stahl & Wilkinson playing Hoffman & Newman  to Bardem's Kingsley (veterans in the roles of their lives, doomed to lose to a breakout perf for the ages from a European).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 13, 2007, 09:58:39 AM
ETA:  Not planning on seeing it, either.  Though the bear fight looks cool.

Wife & Kids want to see it tomorrow, I'll let y'all know what I think.  Been reading the Narnia books the last couple weeks (The Magician's Nephew & The Last Battle, the 6th & 7th, according to the original order) to my kids & we re-watched the first movie last weekend.  The 2nd movie, Prince Caspian, is coming this May.

Not that y'all are holding your breath, but we haven't sen it yet, probably going on the 22nd for Adrian's b-day.

The reviews have moved it way down on my to-see list.  The next 3 weeks are traditionally an orgy of moviegoing for me. This weekend: Atonement and Juno.  But I'm most looking forward to Walk Hard, which looks freakin' hilarious.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 13, 2007, 02:19:01 PM
http://imdb.com/features/rto/2008/globes (http://imdb.com/features/rto/2008/globes)

Golden Globe Noms are out this morning.  Can't believe Eastern Promises got a Best Picture & Best Actor nod without getting a Best Supporting nom for Armin Mueller-Stahl.  Wonder if the Academy will fix this.  Between him & Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton & Javier Bardem in NCFOM, I was going to predict that this year Supporting Actor race was shaping up like the Best Actor race in 1983, with Mueller-Stahl & Wilkinson playing Hoffman & Newman  to Bardem's Kingsley (veterans in the roles of their lives, doomed to lose to a breakout perf for the ages from a European).

only wilkinson and mueller-stahl are also european.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 13, 2007, 02:29:37 PM
http://imdb.com/features/rto/2008/globes (http://imdb.com/features/rto/2008/globes)

Golden Globe Noms are out this morning.  Can't believe Eastern Promises got a Best Picture & Best Actor nod without getting a Best Supporting nom for Armin Mueller-Stahl.  Wonder if the Academy will fix this.  Between him & Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton & Javier Bardem in NCFOM, I was going to predict that this year Supporting Actor race was shaping up like the Best Actor race in 1983, with Mueller-Stahl & Wilkinson playing Hoffman & Newman  to Bardem's Kingsley (veterans in the roles of their lives, doomed to lose to a breakout perf for the ages from a European).

only wilkinson and mueller-stahl are also european.

I know, I ought to have written "up and coming" or "previously little-known" European.

But seriously, I posted here that I thought Armin M-S was a mortal lock, and then I saw Michael Clayton & thought Tom W was a mortal lock, and then I started reading reviews of Bardem and began to wonder just how good he'd have to be for the reviewers (who must have already seen the other two performances) to be ravingthe way the were, and then I saw it for myself.  And really, one of my first thoughts upon leaving the theater was "Poor Tom & Armin".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 13, 2007, 02:33:21 PM
http://imdb.com/features/rto/2008/globes (http://imdb.com/features/rto/2008/globes)

Golden Globe Noms are out this morning.  Can't believe Eastern Promises got a Best Picture & Best Actor nod without getting a Best Supporting nom for Armin Mueller-Stahl.  Wonder if the Academy will fix this.  Between him & Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton & Javier Bardem in NCFOM, I was going to predict that this year Supporting Actor race was shaping up like the Best Actor race in 1983, with Mueller-Stahl & Wilkinson playing Hoffman & Newman  to Bardem's Kingsley (veterans in the roles of their lives, doomed to lose to a breakout perf for the ages from a European).

only wilkinson and mueller-stahl are also european.

I know, I ought to have written "up and coming" or "previously little-known" European.

But seriously, I posted here that I thought Armin M-S was a mortal lock, and then I saw Michael Clayton & thought Tom W was a mortal lock, and then I started reading reviews of Bardem and began to wonder just how good he'd have to be for the reviewers (who must have already seen the other two performances) to be ravingthe way the were, and then I saw it for myself.  And really, one of my first thoughts upon leaving the theater was "Poor Tom & Armin".

well, so far, i've only seen promises. i'm planning to see clayton tomorrow. and the bardem flick hasn't opened here yet (though he is on EVERY magazine cover at the newstand). talk about national pride!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 13, 2007, 02:39:49 PM
i'm planning to see clayton tomorrow.

Hope you like it as much as I did -- the Clooney rocks mah world.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 13, 2007, 02:49:26 PM
i'm planning to see clayton tomorrow.

Hope you like it as much as I did -- the Clooney rocks mah world.

mine, too! i don't even know what it's about - just going to see it for him. i rarely know what movies are about before i see them, though. i just pick them by the posters, directors, and actors - in that order.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 13, 2007, 03:34:04 PM

mine, too! i don't even know what it's about - just going to see it for him. i rarely know what movies are about before i see them, though. i just pick them by the posters, directors, and actors - in that order.

That's what it was like for me when I lived in Taiwan.  I saw some real doozies that way.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 14, 2007, 08:12:28 AM
Damn, I want one of these:

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/archives/2007/12/post_205.php
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on December 14, 2007, 08:43:30 AM

mine, too! i don't even know what it's about - just going to see it for him. i rarely know what movies are about before i see them, though. i just pick them by the posters, directors, and actors - in that order.

That's what it was like for me when I lived in Taiwan.  I saw some real doozies that way.
I have an admit two pass for Walk Hard The Dewey Cox Story. Up for grabs! Screening is Thursday 7pm Dec 20 at Centeury 20 Oakridge in San Jose. I'm not going.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 14, 2007, 04:12:47 PM
I have an admit two pass for Walk Hard The Dewey Cox Story. Up for grabs! Screening is Thursday 7pm Dec 20 at Centeury 20 Oakridge in San Jose. I'm not going.

I could do that!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on December 14, 2007, 10:22:17 PM
I have an admit two pass for Walk Hard The Dewey Cox Story. Up for grabs! Screening is Thursday 7pm Dec 20 at Centeury 20 Oakridge in San Jose. I'm not going.

I could do that!
I'll mail it to you.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 15, 2007, 10:33:34 AM
Best Hip-Hop Review of an Incredibly White Movie: this post, from Metacritic, praising Atonement:

"Yo, this movie was some of that dank shit. I straight up cried in like two parts, son. The acting is phenomenal and the screenplay is dope. Two forties up."

FWIW, I saw it last night and thought it was pretty great.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 23, 2007, 08:52:38 PM
I just came from seeing Walk Hard  -- it is very VERY funny. With a level of craft that's light-years ahead of all those Scary/Epic/Date Movie cheezeball parodies. The orig songs are terrific. And it's apparently the surprise flop of the season -- it'll barely make $5M this weekend (compare that to Nat'l Treasure 2's $54M). So see it ASAP, you will not be sorry.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 28, 2007, 07:33:03 AM
Belated Xmas Wish: I've been complaining alll year that it seems like every Woody Allen movie ever made has been on cable repeatedly these last couple of years -- except Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex. Well it finally showed up on Starz, and I watched it last nite, first time in years and years. Still hilarious.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on December 28, 2007, 07:36:49 AM
My only movie of the year was I Am Legend, which was interesting but ultimately unsatisfying and anticlimactic.  They could have been a lot more imaginative (and given its 1:40 running time, it's not like they didn't have room to).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 28, 2007, 07:41:05 AM
My only movie of the year was I Am Legend[/i

that is the saddest sentence I've read in ages.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on December 28, 2007, 08:00:44 AM
My only movie of the year was I Am Legend

that is the saddest sentence I've read in ages.

OTOH, I did receive a few movies on DVD as gifts (Help!, Zodiac, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle), and the other night I watched To Sir With Love on the on-demands.  T'was splendid, and I hadn't known Michael Des Barres was in it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 28, 2007, 08:12:57 AM
My only movie of the year was I Am Legend

that is the saddest sentence I've read in ages.

OTOH, I did receive a few movies on DVD as gifts (Help!, Zodiac, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle), and the other night I watched To Sir With Love on the on-demands.  T'was splendid, and I hadn't known Michael Des Barres was in it.

Zodiac is great, IMHO (one of my 10 best of '07 for sure) and you'll love the whole SF-in-the'70s vibe.  Great sndtk, and you'll never hear "Hurdy Gurdy Man" the same way again.

I remember going to see To Sir... in late '67 with my mom. Day after Thanksgiving matinee in a local theater full of rowdy teens (I was a not-so-rowdy 12).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 28, 2007, 11:34:05 AM
I saw Golden Compass & it wasn't that bad, kids liked it well enough & I sure couldn't agree with reviews that it was difficult to follow the plot.  If anything it had way too much exposition.

Much better was Charlie Wilson's War, Hanks seems effortlessly good in a tricky role, Hoffman is awesome as always & Roberts is also very good (in a role that is much smaller than her billing would suggest).  Nichols does one of his best directing jobs in many years, I mean there are some absolutley hysterical scenes in this, and he manages to get the laughs without veering into farce or parody.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on December 28, 2007, 11:59:58 AM
I saw Golden Compass & it wasn't that bad, kids liked it well enough & I sure couldn't agree with reviews that it was difficult to follow the plot.  If anything it had way too much exposition.

Much better was Charlie Wilson's War, Hanks seems effortlessly good in a tricky role, Hoffman is awesome as always & Roberts is also very good (in a role that is much smaller than her billing would suggest).  Nichols does one of his best directing jobs in many years, I mean there are some absolutley hysterical scenes in this, and he manages to get the laughs without veering into farce or parody.
I really like Tom Hanks, but after reading the synopsis, I wonder if there's any irony in the movie.  Certainly it's hard to fault an indigenous revolt to the Soviet invasion, but this is the nexus of Bin Laden, the Taliban, etc.  Is that angle ignored?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 28, 2007, 12:29:57 PM
I saw Golden Compass & it wasn't that bad, kids liked it well enough & I sure couldn't agree with reviews that it was difficult to follow the plot.  If anything it had way too much exposition.

Much better was Charlie Wilson's War, Hanks seems effortlessly good in a tricky role, Hoffman is awesome as always & Roberts is also very good (in a role that is much smaller than her billing would suggest).  Nichols does one of his best directing jobs in many years, I mean there are some absolutley hysterical scenes in this, and he manages to get the laughs without veering into farce or parody.
I really like Tom Hanks, but after reading the synopsis, I wonder if there's any irony in the movie.  Certainly it's hard to fault an indigenous revolt to the Soviet invasion, but this is the nexus of Bin Laden, the Taliban, etc.  Is that angle ignored?

I liked CWW but I wish that angle had been played up more. It's an enjoyable, comic take on an interesting story, but it could've dealt more with that whole "blowback" question. Of course, that would've made for a downer of an ending -- indeed, the book it's based on ends with the 9/11 attacks.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on December 28, 2007, 11:08:04 PM
I caught both Alvin and Juno yesterday.

Kids enjoyed Alvin and I had a few chuckles as well.

I enjoyed Juno but not raving about it.

Kind of a simple love story. I thought there was going to be a twist at the end with Juno riding off to meet the about to be divorced, almost adoptive dad of her newborn but it ended much more simply.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 02, 2008, 09:03:48 AM
It was mostly a weekend of eat-your-vegetables movies: Great Debaters, Kite Runner. But I caught up with (on cable) Music & Lyrics, the Hugh Grant/Drew Barrymore rom-com from early '07. And it was actually pretty good, mainly because the songs were so clever -- pitch-perfect parodies of both '80s pop and current stuff, written by (among others) Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne.  Grant plays an '80s has-been who was once part of a Wham!-like duo called Pop! -- there's a music video parody that's an absolute scream -- and he gets hired to write a new song for a Britney/Christina/Shakira wannabe. One of the Pop! songs is a "Careless Whisper" send-up called "Meaningless Kiss" (because, of course, "Foolish Beat" was already taken).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on January 02, 2008, 09:47:40 AM
On vacation all last week and only made it to one "new" movie, but it was the terrific "No Country For Old Men."  Very fine work, if a bit depressing.  Okay, a lot depressing.

On video, finally rented The Bourne Ultimatum," very enjoyable for what it is.  But Spidey 3 and Pirates 3 were wastes of both money and time.  Kind of enjoyed Tarantino's DeathProof: Grindhouse thing.  Haven't seen the other one yet.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on January 02, 2008, 12:49:24 PM
a "Careless Whisper" send-up called "Meaningless Kiss" (because, of course, "Foolish Beat" was already taken).

I remember, when the Debbie Gibson song came out, being disappointed that more people didn't make the CW-FB connection.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 02, 2008, 12:59:33 PM
a "Careless Whisper" send-up called "Meaningless Kiss" (because, of course, "Foolish Beat" was already taken).

I remember, when the Debbie Gibson song came out, being disappointed that more people didn't make the CW-FB connection.

just 'cause i know you'll never see the movie, here's the video-within-the-film for "Pop Goes My Heart":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0A7dtdc-nU

And here's "Meaningless Kiss":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbeW94nfPKc
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 03, 2008, 05:33:20 AM
a "Careless Whisper" send-up called "Meaningless Kiss" (because, of course, "Foolish Beat" was already taken).

I remember, when the Debbie Gibson song came out, being disappointed that more people didn't make the CW-FB connection.

just 'cause i know you'll never see the movie, here's the video-within-the-film for "Pop Goes My Heart":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0A7dtdc-nU

And here's "Meaningless Kiss":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbeW94nfPKc

wow. quite enjoyable. and i'd completely forgotten about the debbie gibson song!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on January 07, 2008, 09:37:51 AM
I just came from seeing Walk Hard  -- it is very VERY funny. With a level of craft that's light-years ahead of all those Scary/Epic/Date Movie cheezeball parodies. The orig songs are terrific. And it's apparently the surprise flop of the season -- it'll barely make $5M this weekend (compare that to Nat'l Treasure 2's $54M). So see it ASAP, you will not be sorry.

I went on a date this weekend (!) and we saw this.  Was truly hilarious -- especially given my feelings about the interchangeability of Ray and Walk the Line -- and reassuringly, the theater was totally full, so word of mouth must be helping it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 07, 2008, 09:45:33 AM
I just came from seeing Walk Hard  -- it is very VERY funny. With a level of craft that's light-years ahead of all those Scary/Epic/Date Movie cheezeball parodies. The orig songs are terrific. And it's apparently the surprise flop of the season -- it'll barely make $5M this weekend (compare that to Nat'l Treasure 2's $54M). So see it ASAP, you will not be sorry.

I went on a date this weekend (!) and we saw this.  Was truly hilarious -- especially given my feelings about the interchangeability of Ray and Walk the Line -- and reassuringly, the theater was totally full, so word of mouth must be helping it.

Glad ya liked it. Even gladder you had a date!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on January 08, 2008, 09:14:33 AM
It was mostly a weekend of eat-your-vegetables movies: Great Debaters, Kite Runner. But I caught up with (on cable) Music & Lyrics, the Hugh Grant/Drew Barrymore rom-com from early '07. And it was actually pretty good, mainly because the songs were so clever -- pitch-perfect parodies of both '80s pop and current stuff, written by (among others) Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne.  Grant plays an '80s has-been who was once part of a Wham!-like duo called Pop! -- there's a music video parody that's an absolute scream -- and he gets hired to write a new song for a Britney/Christina/Shakira wannabe. One of the Pop! songs is a "Careless Whisper" send-up called "Meaningless Kiss" (because, of course, "Foolish Beat" was already taken).

I saw this (again) over the weekend, and have run into it a couple times surfing since.  I woke up this morning with "A Way Into Love" (the song they write for the Shakira wannabe) stuck in my head.  The other day I had "Pop! (Goes My Heart)" stuck in my head.

"I want to show you the roof.  It's upstairs!"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on January 22, 2008, 07:19:22 AM
The noms are in, and no great surprises, I don't suppose:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/22/oscar.nominations/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/22/oscar.list/index.html

Best Picture: "Atonement," "Juno," "Michael Clayton," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."

Actor: George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"; Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"; Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"; Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of Elah"; Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises."

Actress: Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"; Julie Christie, "Away From Her"; Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"; Laura Linney, "The Savages"; Ellen Page, "Juno."

Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"; Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"; Hal Holbrook, "Into the Wild"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War"; Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton."

Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"; Ruby Dee, "American Gangster"; Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"; Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"; Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton."

Director: Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"; Jason Reitman, "Juno"; Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"; Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 22, 2008, 07:49:59 AM
The noms are in, and no great surprises, I don't suppose:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/22/oscar.nominations/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/22/oscar.list/index.html

Best Picture: "Atonement," "Juno," "Michael Clayton," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."

Actor: George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"; Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"; Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"; Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of Elah"; Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises."

Actress: Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"; Julie Christie, "Away From Her"; Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"; Laura Linney, "The Savages"; Ellen Page, "Juno."

Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"; Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"; Hal Holbrook, "Into the Wild"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War"; Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton."

Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"; Ruby Dee, "American Gangster"; Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"; Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"; Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton."

Director: Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"; Jason Reitman, "Juno"; Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"; Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood."

actually there are several surprises there: Tommy Lee Jones for "..Elah" had been written off by most pundits as a lost cause -- I'm glad he's there, it's a wonderful perf.  And NOBODY expected Reitman to get a Director nom for "Juno".  Mild surprise: no love for director Sean Penn (or for "Into the Wild" as Best Pic), despite noms from the various Guilds.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on January 22, 2008, 07:59:17 AM
See, I just assumed everyone disliked Sean Penn.  (I thought the Vedder soundtrack would get a song mention, but it seems like the rock idiom has falllen out of favor in voting circles.)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 22, 2008, 08:06:29 AM
See, I just assumed everyone disliked Sean Penn.  (I thought the Vedder soundtrack would get a song mention, but it seems like the rock idiom has falllen out of favor in voting circles.)

These are "Hollywood liberals" we're talking about  ;) . He's still pretty popular, as evidence the directors, producers and actors guilds nominations the film got.

I'd also say I'm surprised and pleased to see Viggo Mortensen get a nod for "Eastern Promises".

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 22, 2008, 08:24:05 AM
equal time: the Razzies noms were also announced...

http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=ae1fa7d2-e4b6-4217-b0c7-32bc5debc455
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on January 22, 2008, 09:24:07 AM
equal time: the Razzies noms were also announced...

http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=ae1fa7d2-e4b6-4217-b0c7-32bc5debc455

I watched "Norbit" the other day on HBO.  Not exactly sure why I stuck it out, maybe the train wreck syndrom.  Anyway, Murphy deserves all the noms for those performances.  Offensive and not very funny in each and every role.  The Norbit character was like a bad Adam Sandler performance.  Not that there are many good Adam Sandler performances -- but Eddie was worse than Adam's normally lame characterizations.  Wierd facial manerisms to no apparent purpose...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 24, 2008, 09:45:35 PM
For those with digital cable who have the "On Demand" function, this is kind of interesting:

4 Months 3 Weeks 2 Days, the Romanian film that was rather scandalously denied a Best Foreign Film Oscar nom this week by the Academy's rather geriatric committee-on-foreign-entires, will be playing starting Friday (1/25) thru the IFC On Demand menu.  It's supposed to be quite amazing and I can't wait.

And at the other end of the spectrum, On Demand's "free movies" menu is offering the Sgt Peppers flick with Frampton and the BeeGees -- which I've NEVER seen. So, again, I can't wait.

BTW, I was gonna post a review of Cloverfield but I found it rather unpleasant and would rather not relive the experience.  But I am seeing the new Woody, Cassandra's Dream, Friday afternoon. Another British one, but no Scarlet Jo this time.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on January 25, 2008, 08:02:11 AM
For those with digital cable who have the "On Demand" function, this is kind of interesting:

And at the other end of the spectrum, On Demand's "free movies" menu is offering the Sgt Peppers flick with Frampton and the BeeGees -- which I've NEVER seen. So, again, I can't wait.

The cameos are more fun than you've been led to believe.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 27, 2008, 07:33:10 PM
For those with digital cable who have the "On Demand" function, this is kind of interesting:

And at the other end of the spectrum, On Demand's "free movies" menu is offering the Sgt Peppers flick with Frampton and the BeeGees -- which I've NEVER seen. So, again, I can't wait.

The cameos are more fun than you've been led to believe.

Well, I just watched it. Wow, it was worse than I was expecting.  Just soooo badly directed -- a shame, because it was helmed by Michael Schultz, one of the few black directors working in H'wood at the time (he'd done Cooley High and Car Wash) and his career never really recovered. What was hilarious and unexpected was the fact that Frampton, the BeeGees and Paul Nicholas don't utter a Single. Line. Of. Dialogue. Because, of course they're Brits playing guys from "Heartland, USA" and their accents would've ruined everything. So the whole movie is narrated by George Burns and lots (and lots) of title cards. The cameos in the singalong chorus at the end (everyone from Robert Palmer to Carol Channing to Stephen friggin' Bishop) are kinda fun, tho' it has one of the Silliest. Endings. EVAH.  But if I ever try to kill myself, I wanna be saved by a magical weathervane that turns into Billy Preston.

Kudos to Earth Wind and Fire for not realizing they were in a crappy movie and just doing a great cover of GTGYIMYL.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 30, 2008, 02:13:19 PM
OK, so here's a pic of Sean Penn as a mid-1970s, bearded Harvey Milk:

(http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/harveymilkpenn.jpg)

Someone at Hollywood Elsewhere posted that he looks more like Pete Townsend and I wholeheartedly agree. maybe Sean can play Pete in that Keith Moon biopic (Mike Meyers is supposed to play Moon).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on January 30, 2008, 04:23:45 PM
What was hilarious and unexpected was the fact that Frampton, the BeeGees and Paul Nicholas don't utter a Single. Line. Of. Dialogue. Because, of course they're Brits playing guys from "Heartland, USA" and their accents would've ruined everything.

Like that would have made it worse?  I'm mean, could it have ruined it more?

I watched it again a few weeks back and was just amazed at how many poor choices were made in it's creation.  One WTF moment after another.  I saw it when it first came out, and knew it was bad then, even if you were stoned.  But it was even worse than I remembered, except for a segment here and there that brought a smile to my face (including the EWF number).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 31, 2008, 08:04:57 AM
And speaking of awful movies, a very funny review of Meet the Spartans:

http://www.slate.com/id/2183162/nav/tap3/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 31, 2008, 09:27:58 AM
mshray especially will find this of interest: an interview with Oscar-nommed cinematographer Roger Deakins.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 31, 2008, 01:31:10 PM
mshray especially will find this of interest: an interview with Oscar-nommed cinematographer Roger Deakins.

I would be if there was a link somewhere, please kindly repost it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 31, 2008, 01:49:19 PM
mshray especially will find this of interest: an interview with Oscar-nommed cinematographer Roger Deakins.

I would be if there was a link somewhere, please kindly repost it.

Yikes, my 2nd or 3rd "oops!" of the day.  Here 'tis:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080130/ap_en_mo/film_q_a_roger_deakins
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 31, 2008, 01:57:32 PM
mshray especially will find this of interest: an interview with Oscar-nommed cinematographer Roger Deakins.

I would be if there was a link somewhere, please kindly repost it.

Yikes, my 2nd or 3rd "oops!" of the day.  Here 'tis:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080130/ap_en_mo/film_q_a_roger_deakins

Thanks!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 31, 2008, 02:10:42 PM
mshray especially will find this of interest: an interview with Oscar-nommed cinematographer Roger Deakins.

I would be if there was a link somewhere, please kindly repost it.

Yikes, my 2nd or 3rd "oops!" of the day.  Here 'tis:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080130/ap_en_mo/film_q_a_roger_deakins

Thanks!

BTW, The Assassination of Jesse James... comes out on DVD next week, I highly recommend for the cinematography alone -- I believe I predicted a few months back that he'd be competing against himself in that category. Which is a shame since he may open the door for the guy from There Will Be Blood, which is good work but not as good as either of Deakins' IMHO.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: SFGuy on January 31, 2008, 11:39:48 PM
I would guess no one is going to go near the upcoming movie Strange Wilderness. I've seen trailers of this movie and it looks to rank among the worst movies ever. It's supposed to be a comedy and what they showed wasn't funny one bit. Looks like bad acting, bad writing. Appears to be written by people on heavy drugs.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 01, 2008, 07:41:58 AM
I would guess no one is going to go near the upcoming movie Strange Wilderness. I've seen trailers of this movie and it looks to rank among the worst movies ever. It's supposed to be a comedy and what they showed wasn't funny one bit. Looks like bad acting, bad writing. Appears to be written by people on heavy drugs.

Indeed -- it's from the Adam Sandler factory (Happy Madison Productions) and you don't release a movie aimed at young men on Super Bowl Weekend unless it's some sort of tax write-off.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: SFGuy on February 03, 2008, 12:25:13 AM
I would guess no one is going to go near the upcoming movie Strange Wilderness. I've seen trailers of this movie and it looks to rank among the worst movies ever. It's supposed to be a comedy and what they showed wasn't funny one bit. Looks like bad acting, bad writing. Appears to be written by people on heavy drugs.

Indeed -- it's from the Adam Sandler factory (Happy Madison Productions) and you don't release a movie aimed at young men on Super Bowl Weekend unless it's some sort of tax write-off.

I read on the Imdb dot com website on the Strange Wilderness message board that people will love it or really hate it. It seems to me that those who will love it will be under 21 and/or pot smokers. Some people hinted at the last one on the board there. Some actually found that shark part the funniest thing they ever saw when I saw it as the stupidest thing I've ever seen. Then again, I'm almost 40.

UPDATE: This movie failed. It didn't even finish in the top 10 movies this week.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 09, 2008, 12:00:57 PM
Question for Geoff: just noticed your U2 avatar -- have you seen the U2-3D concert film yet? I see that it's expanding this Friday to "regular" theaters, so you can see it in 3D without paying IMAX prices.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on February 09, 2008, 07:44:16 PM
Question for Geoff: just noticed your U2 avatar -- have you seen the U2-3D concert film yet? I see that it's expanding this Friday to "regular" theaters, so you can see it in 3D without paying IMAX prices.
thanks for the reminder.  I have so little time anymore, but I'd like to go.  Has anyone else gone?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 13, 2008, 10:10:54 PM
Question for Geoff: just noticed your U2 avatar -- have you seen the U2-3D concert film yet? I see that it's expanding this Friday to "regular" theaters, so you can see it in 3D without paying IMAX prices.
thanks for the reminder.  I have so little time anymore, but I'd like to go.  Has anyone else gone?

This afternoon I read that

(a) The planned expansion of U2-3D to 600 "regular" theaters this week has been put on hold because Hanna Montana, originally intended to be a one-week-only run, has been extended by Disney and is therefore monopolizing the 600 theaters with 3-D capability (DAMN you, Miley Cyrus!).

(b) U2-3D will have its IMAX showtimes reduced to once-a-day (in the morning!) starting Friday to make room for Spiderwick Chronicles.

So I went to Metreon tonite to see it and I'm glad I did.  Great sound, the 3-D effects are cool, it's U2's greatest hits in a nice tight 90 min package.  Worth checking out.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 14, 2008, 12:17:18 PM
Bringing this over from this morning's 10at10 thread:  What are some of the worst Oscar noms ever?  I said Ghost, but Mike said he had several less deserving films in mind, and what with the 80th awards show only days away...

To be fair I can only go back about as long as I've been alive, so the first one I can point out is Cleopatra, in 1963, which may have seen the weakest slate of nominees ever, none are anywheres near the AFI top 100 for instance. 

1974, that great year for Top 40 cheese, also saw a pure cheese movie - Towering Inferno - get nommed ahead of Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Harry & Tonto, Murder on the Orient Express, and the Mel Brooks twin spin of Blazing Saddles & Young Frankenstein

The Big Chill was almost as sappy as Ghost, but it didn't really steal the nom from any much more deserving film, unless you feel strongly about Silkwood or maybe Fanny & Alexander (which, although widely regarded as superior, had no chance with the academy since it's not in American, I mean English). 

On the other hand it's hard to argue that Fatal Attraction deserved a nom over Empire of the Sun (at the time perceived to be a big snub of Spielberg), or even Full Metal Jacket or Matewan...in retrospect. 

Likewise Babe ahead of Dead Man Walking, Leaving Las Vegas or The Usual Suspects.  Or even personal fave 12 Monkeys.

So I'll probably have to conclude that Towering Inferno was the worst, and Ghost ties with Fatal Attraction for 2nd worst.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 14, 2008, 12:29:56 PM
Bringing this over from this morning's 10at10 thread:  What are some of the worst Oscar noms ever?  I said Ghost, but Mike said he had several less deserving films in mind, and what with the 80th awards show only days away...

To be fair I can only go back about as long as I've been alive, so the first one I can point out is Cleopatra, in 1963, which may have seen the weakest slate of nominees ever, none are anywheres near the AFI top 100 for instance. 

1974, that great year for Top 40 cheese, also saw a pure cheese movie - Towering Inferno - get nommed ahead of Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Harry & Tonto, Murder on the Orient Express, and the Mel Brooks twin spin of Blazing Saddles & Young Frankenstein

The Big Chill was almost as sappy as Ghost, but it didn't really steal the nom from any much more deserving film, unless you feel strongly about Silkwood or maybe Fanny & Alexander (which, although widely regarded as superior, had no chance with the academy since it's not in American, I mean English). 

On the other hand it's hard to argue that Fatal Attraction deserved a nom over Empire of the Sun (at the time perceived to be a big snub of Spielberg), or even Full Metal Jacket or Matewan...in retrospect. 

Likewise Babe ahead of Dead Man Walking, Leaving Las Vegas or The Usual Suspects.  Or even personal fave 12 Monkeys.

So I'll probably have to conclude that Towering Inferno was the worst, and Ghost ties with Fatal Attraction for 2nd worst.

Inferno is def up there. Greatest Show on Earth, anybody? (that one actually WON!) I'll have more tonight when I get out my Oscar stats book, but I must defend Babe as a great film -- dismissed by far too many as "just a kid's movie".  Totally agree that Empire of the Sun got robbed.  OTOH, I absolutely HATED Babel last year.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 14, 2008, 12:42:55 PM
and as we're talking Oscar, here's some great trivia surrounding the Coen Bros this year:

Quote
For the first time since 1953 (and potentially only the second time in Academy history), the Coens could earn individual victories in four separate categories. Only Walt Disney, as producer of three live-action, animated and documentary shorts in addition to a documentary feature, was able to leave an Oscar ceremony with four statuettes in hand.

If the Coens can pull off the same feat, they would be the first to do it for a single film. Orson Welles for “Citizen Kane,” and Warren Beatty for both “Heaven Can Wait” and “Reds,” each had four nods but walked off with only a single Oscar (Welles shared the 1941Screenplay prize while Beatty won Best Director in 1981 for “Reds”). A few artists have won three Oscars in one night, including Billy Wilder, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Francis Ford Coppola, Marvin Hamlisch and others. However, the Coens would join Disney as the only ones to take four.

But there is a catch.

In the best editing category, they credit themselves under their joint pseudonym Roderick Jaynes. Should the Coens win that category , the Academy confirmed this week that there will be only one statuette presented and it would later be engraved as belonging to Mr. Jaynes. This means the brothers would only get that statuette and official Academy record books would technically not list Joel and Ethan Coen as the rightful recipients of four Oscars should they win in all of their categories.

The Editors guild, however, says it will be happy to give both Coens, a.k.a. Jaynes, Eddie awards if they win there Sunday and they can have whatever name they want engraved on them. A spokesperson at the guild said they would be thrilled just to have them show up!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on February 14, 2008, 12:44:29 PM
Richard Corliss addresses this very topic in tomorrow's issue of Time.  His idea of a snub is rather different from yours and yours.  :)

ETA: xpost - that was in re baffling winners, not Coen pseudonymity.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 14, 2008, 12:48:05 PM
So Mike, where are you going to watch the Oscars, just at home?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 14, 2008, 12:59:59 PM
Richard Corliss addresses this very topic in tomorrow's issue of Time.  His idea of a snub is rather different from yours and yours.  :)

ETA: xpost - that was in re baffling winners, not Coen pseudonymity.

if this is the article you mean

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1705754_1705764,00.html

he's only talking about this year. Or is there another article yet to come?

Mark: yeah, I hate "Oscar parties" generally. (especially gay ones)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on February 15, 2008, 07:42:53 AM
No, there's another article as well, but I can't find it on the site right now.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 15, 2008, 09:51:17 AM

Mark: yeah, I hate "Oscar parties" generally. (especially gay ones)


Maybe I could invite myself over?  We cancelled our DirectTV a while back, so I will not have the wherewithall to watch by myself this year, and Christina isn't all that much into the Oscars anyway.  But for the first time in a long time I have seen all the major contenders, have a rooting interest in the outcomes, & on the plus side for you, if you watch with me it won't be all that gay.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on February 15, 2008, 10:58:21 PM
Seen on cable tonight: The Shootist, John Wayne's final role, as a frontier holdover who shoots people for being mean to him but he's good at it and he's dying of a cancer so all is forgiven.  Surprisingly affecting, and effective.  Though I still hate Jimmy Stewart's voice.

Nashville is on now, and I wish I could stay up to watch it, but sleep beckons.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 16, 2008, 10:21:31 AM
Seen on cable tonight: The Shootist, John Wayne's final role, as a frontier holdover who shoots people for being mean to him but he's good at it and he's dying of a cancer so all is forgiven.  Surprisingly affecting, and effective.  Though I still hate Jimmy Stewart's voice.

Nashville is on now, and I wish I could stay up to watch it, but sleep beckons.

TCM rules, esp when they do their annual all-Oscars-all-the-time thing.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 17, 2008, 09:31:18 PM

Mark: yeah, I hate "Oscar parties" generally. (especially gay ones)


Maybe I could invite myself over?  We cancelled our DirectTV a while back, so I will not have the wherewithall to watch by myself this year, and Christina isn't all that much into the Oscars anyway.  But for the first time in a long time I have seen all the major contenders, have a rooting interest in the outcomes, & on the plus side for you, if you watch with me it won't be all that gay.

Don't take it personally, but I'm kinda not in a "hosting" mood right now. Apartment a serious mess, etc.

But as to the question at hand, I got out my Oscar stat books, and started looking for bad Best Pic Noms.

2000: "Chocolat" (over "Almost Famous", "Billy Elliot", "Wonder Boys")
1992: "Scent of a Woman" (for which Pacino won the Oscar -- the role for which he least deserved it)
1989: "Dead Poets Society" (over "Do the Right Thing", "Henry V", "Glory", "Crimes & Misdemeanors").
1970: "Airport" *AND* "Love Story"! (over "Women in Love", "The Great White Hope", "Little Big Man"
1969: "Hello Dolly" (over "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?")

My favorite Oscar absurdity was in 1959: the Original Screenplay nominees included Hitchcock's  "North by Northwest", Truffaut's "The 400 Blows" and Bergman's "Wild Strawberries" ... so of course the winner was... "Pillow Talk".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on February 18, 2008, 10:55:48 AM

Mark: yeah, I hate "Oscar parties" generally. (especially gay ones)


Maybe I could invite myself over?  We cancelled our DirectTV a while back, so I will not have the wherewithall to watch by myself this year, and Christina isn't all that much into the Oscars anyway.  But for the first time in a long time I have seen all the major contenders, have a rooting interest in the outcomes, & on the plus side for you, if you watch with me it won't be all that gay.

Don't take it personally, but I'm kinda not in a "hosting" mood right now. Apartment a serious mess, etc.

But as to the question at hand, I got out my Oscar stat books, and started looking for bad Best Pic Noms.

2000: "Chocolat" (over "Almost Famous", "Billy Elliot", "Wonder Boys")
1992: "Scent of a Woman" (for which Pacino won the Oscar -- the role for which he least deserved it)
1989: "Dead Poets Society" (over "Do the Right Thing", "Henry V", "Glory", "Crimes & Misdemeanors").
1970: "Airport" *AND* "Love Story"! (over "Women in Love", "The Great White Hope", "Little Big Man"
1969: "Hello Dolly" (over "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?")

My favorite Oscar absurdity was in 1959: the Original Screenplay nominees included Hitchcock's  "North by Northwest", Truffaut's "The 400 Blows" and Bergman's "Wild Strawberries" ... so of course the winner was... "Pillow Talk".

I always think of 1980 "Kramer vs. Kramer" over "Apocalypse Now."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 18, 2008, 12:05:35 PM
here are the front and back graphics for a shirt i made a couple of weeks ago (it's in the wash, so i can't take a picture of me wearing it now):
(http://www.ameliaray.net/meryl/pictures/bevfront.jpg)

(http://www.ameliaray.net/meryl/pictures/bevback.jpg)

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 18, 2008, 05:19:15 PM
here are the front and back graphics for a shirt i made a couple of weeks ago (it's in the wash, so i can't take a picture of me wearing it now):

That's hilarious -- and so true. She Wasn't. Even. NOMINATED! But technically, that's the Oscars for 1980 (ceremony in March of '81).

For those of you who are scratching your heads... Ms D'Angelo played Patsy Cline in Coal Miner's Daughter and was considered a Supp Actress shoo-in by many -- but it didn't happen.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on February 18, 2008, 05:39:24 PM
here are the front and back graphics for a shirt i made a couple of weeks ago (it's in the wash, so i can't take a picture of me wearing it now):

That's hilarious -- and so true. She Wasn't. Even. NOMINATED! But technically, that's the Oscars for 1980 (ceremony in March of '81).

For those of you who are scratching your heads... Ms D'Angelo played Patsy Cline in Coal Miner's Daughter and was considered a Supp Actress shoo-in by many -- but it didn't happen.

Oh, I assumed Vacation.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 19, 2008, 12:20:58 AM
here are the front and back graphics for a shirt i made a couple of weeks ago (it's in the wash, so i can't take a picture of me wearing it now):

That's hilarious -- and so true. She Wasn't. Even. NOMINATED! But technically, that's the Oscars for 1980 (ceremony in March of '81).

For those of you who are scratching your heads... Ms D'Angelo played Patsy Cline in Coal Miner's Daughter and was considered a Supp Actress shoo-in by many -- but it didn't happen.

well, she wasn't robbed until they didn't nominate her (in '81). she sang her own parts, too!!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 19, 2008, 07:48:08 AM
here are the front and back graphics for a shirt i made a couple of weeks ago (it's in the wash, so i can't take a picture of me wearing it now):

That's hilarious -- and so true. She Wasn't. Even. NOMINATED! But technically, that's the Oscars for 1980 (ceremony in March of '81).

For those of you who are scratching your heads... Ms D'Angelo played Patsy Cline in Coal Miner's Daughter and was considered a Supp Actress shoo-in by many -- but it didn't happen.

well, she wasn't robbed until they didn't nominate her (in '81). she sang her own parts, too!!

Sorry, I'm Oscar-anal  ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 19, 2008, 09:37:11 AM

Mark: yeah, I hate "Oscar parties" generally. (especially gay ones)


Maybe I could invite myself over?  We cancelled our DirectTV a while back, so I will not have the wherewithall to watch by myself this year, and Christina isn't all that much into the Oscars anyway.  But for the first time in a long time I have seen all the major contenders, have a rooting interest in the outcomes, & on the plus side for you, if you watch with me it won't be all that gay.

Don't take it personally, but I'm kinda not in a "hosting" mood right now. Apartment a serious mess, etc.

But as to the question at hand, I got out my Oscar stat books, and started looking for bad Best Pic Noms.

2000: "Chocolat" (over "Almost Famous", "Billy Elliot", "Wonder Boys")
1992: "Scent of a Woman" (for which Pacino won the Oscar -- the role for which he least deserved it)
1989: "Dead Poets Society" (over "Do the Right Thing", "Henry V", "Glory", "Crimes & Misdemeanors").
1970: "Airport" *AND* "Love Story"! (over "Women in Love", "The Great White Hope", "Little Big Man"
1969: "Hello Dolly" (over "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?")

My favorite Oscar absurdity was in 1959: the Original Screenplay nominees included Hitchcock's  "North by Northwest", Truffaut's "The 400 Blows" and Bergman's "Wild Strawberries" ... so of course the winner was... "Pillow Talk".


I was thinking of several of those, especially Dead Poets Society (which also featured one of the least deserving Best Actor noms - not only did Robin Williams get the nom simply for not OVERacting, he wan't even a lead in the story!).

don't worry about the viewing thing, it was contingent on getting a hall pass from my wife anyway, and that didn't happen (too many chores to do).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 22, 2008, 08:23:39 PM
Just watched Flirting With Disaster -- first time I'd seen it since it was released in '96. Still hilarious. Ben Stiller when he was actually funny, a young (and very hot) Josh Brolin, Mary Tyler Moore, Lily Tomlin... if you've never seen it, rent it immediately.

"Jerry Garcia -- blah, blah, BLAH!"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: SFGuy on February 22, 2008, 10:37:57 PM
I don't watch the Oscar's nor do I follow it because I don't really watch movies but when was the Oscar's moved from late March?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 23, 2008, 10:55:43 AM
I don't watch the Oscar's nor do I follow it because I don't really watch movies but when was the Oscar's moved from late March?

2 years ago -- it was an experiment designed to make the "campaign season" shorter and therefore less expensive and acrimonious, FWIW.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 26, 2008, 09:42:18 PM
I'm hearing good things about Charlie Bartlett, which (sadly) tanked at the box office this weekend. It's a sort of Ferris Bueller-for-the-new-millennium thing.  But apparently it makes sly use of "If You Got to Sing Out, Sing Out", in homage to Harold & Maude.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on February 27, 2008, 12:43:39 AM
I'm hearing good things about Charlie Bartlett, which (sadly) tanked at the box office this weekend. It's a sort of Ferris Bueller-for-the-new-millennium thing.  But apparently it makes sly use of "If You Got to Sing Out, Sing Out", in homage to Harold & Maude.



This is the first I've heard of it.  Sounds like my bag.

PS: No post-Oscar comments from anyone?  I'm surprised at youze.   :P
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 27, 2008, 07:48:04 AM
I'm hearing good things about Charlie Bartlett, which (sadly) tanked at the box office this weekend. It's a sort of Ferris Bueller-for-the-new-millennium thing.  But apparently it makes sly use of "If You Got to Sing Out, Sing Out", in homage to Harold & Maude.



This is the first I've heard of it.  Sounds like my bag.

PS: No post-Oscar comments from anyone?  I'm surprised at youze.   :P

No comments because there were few surprises. Closest to one was the French chick over Julie Christie (deserved, IMHO). As I predicted months ago, Roger Deakins split the cinematography vote between his 2 noms and the guy from TWBB was able to sneak in.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 27, 2008, 12:35:49 PM
I'm sure Mark already has a ticket: Scarlett Jo opens Friday in the title role of The Other Boleyn Breasts Girl

(http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/entertainment/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080218/000d60aa06df092361cb3e.jpg)

That's ScarJo with her costar Natalie Portman.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 27, 2008, 12:43:05 PM
I'm sure Mark already has a ticket: Scarlett Jo opens Friday in the title role of The Other Boleyn Breasts Girl

(http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/entertainment/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080218/000d60aa06df092361cb3e.jpg)

That's ScarJo with her costar Natalie Portman.

damn! look out betty white!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on February 27, 2008, 01:01:32 PM
Nice, umm, picture.  The mind boggles.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on February 28, 2008, 08:20:25 PM
The Love Guru.  Just saw an ad for it.  Mike Myers, with help from Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake.  My interest is piqued.  I suspect Myers' inspiration in the role was Devendra Banhart.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 28, 2008, 08:57:22 PM
The Love Guru.  Just saw an ad for it.  Mike Myers, with help from Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake.  My interest is piqued.  I suspect Myers' inspiration in the role was Devendra Banhart.

So... he gets to do another Peter Sellers imitation, basically?  Timberlake plays a hockey player -- yeah, that's believeable. ::)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on February 29, 2008, 07:07:38 AM
The Love Guru.  Just saw an ad for it.  Mike Myers, with help from Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake.  My interest is piqued.  I suspect Myers' inspiration in the role was Devendra Banhart.

So... he gets to do another Peter Sellers imitation, basically?  Timberlake plays a hockey player -- yeah, that's believeable. ::)

Yeah, Peter Sellers, with a touch of Arte Johnson's "Rabbi Shankar" character from Laugh-In.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 29, 2008, 07:33:46 AM
The Love Guru.  Just saw an ad for it.  Mike Myers, with help from Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake.  My interest is piqued.  I suspect Myers' inspiration in the role was Devendra Banhart.

So... he gets to do another Peter Sellers imitation, basically?  Timberlake plays a hockey player -- yeah, that's believeable. ::)

Yeah, Peter Sellers, with a touch of Arte Johnson's "Rabbi Shankar" character from Laugh-In.

Meyers is heavily into Deepak Chopra, I'm sad to report. They did an episode of IFC's "Iconoclasts" mutual-admiration-society series together.  Maybe Deepak is helping him deal with his sexuality?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 29, 2008, 11:23:04 AM
The Love Guru.  Just saw an ad for it.  Mike Myers, with help from Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake.  My interest is piqued.  I suspect Myers' inspiration in the role was Devendra Banhart.

So... he gets to do another Peter Sellers imitation, basically?  Timberlake plays a hockey player -- yeah, that's believeable. ::)

Yeah, Peter Sellers, with a touch of Arte Johnson's "Rabbi Shankar" character from Laugh-In.

speaking of, NYC's Film Forum is showing The Party as part of a month-long "90th Anniversary of United Artists" festival in April.  Some fabulous stuff.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on February 29, 2008, 02:20:50 PM
The Love Guru.  Just saw an ad for it.  Mike Myers, with help from Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake.  My interest is piqued.  I suspect Myers' inspiration in the role was Devendra Banhart.

So... he gets to do another Peter Sellers imitation, basically?  Timberlake plays a hockey player -- yeah, that's believeable. ::)

Yeah, Peter Sellers, with a touch of Arte Johnson's "Rabbi Shankar" character from Laugh-In.

speaking of, NYC's Film Forum is showing The Party as part of a month-long "90th Anniversary of United Artists" festival in April.  Some fabulous stuff.

Oh wow, I'll have to look into this - thx!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 29, 2008, 02:42:07 PM
The Love Guru.  Just saw an ad for it.  Mike Myers, with help from Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake.  My interest is piqued.  I suspect Myers' inspiration in the role was Devendra Banhart.

So... he gets to do another Peter Sellers imitation, basically?  Timberlake plays a hockey player -- yeah, that's believeable. ::)

Yeah, Peter Sellers, with a touch of Arte Johnson's "Rabbi Shankar" character from Laugh-In.

speaking of, NYC's Film Forum is showing The Party as part of a month-long "90th Anniversary of United Artists" festival in April.  Some fabulous stuff.

Oh wow, I'll have to look into this - thx!

http://www.filmforum.org/films/unitedartists.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 03, 2008, 04:45:13 AM
Coming soon to DVD: All You Need Is Love: The Story of Popular Music (http://www.allyouneedislovedvd.com/)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 03, 2008, 08:34:57 AM
You may remember there was some mild controversy when the eligibility of the song from Once for Oscar consideration was called into question by the Academy... and a few days later it was ruled eligible after all.  According to a post on Hollywood-Elsewhere:

"Apparently [Glen] Hansard was invited to some Irish rock stars photo shoot or event or something, and Bono comes up to him and starts chatting him up like he's old pals, and asks Hansard how it's going. Hansard says, well, I'm a bit bummed, we thought we were going to be up for an Oscar but now there's some issue with the eligibility because the record came out before the movie did. Bono says, 'What? Hang on a second.' He whips out his cellphone and calls somebody and tells him 'This is bullshit, you have to fix this.'

He hangs up and tells Hansard, 'Don't worry, I called David Geffen and told him to take care of it for you'. And so it was..."

Bono really IS God!

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 03, 2008, 08:44:28 AM
You may remember there was some mild controversy when the eligibility of the song from Once for Oscar consideration was called into question by the Academy... and a few days later it was ruled eligible after all.  According to a post on Hollywood-Elsewhere:

"Apparently [Glen] Hansard was invited to some Irish rock stars photo shoot or event or something, and Bono comes up to him and starts chatting him up like he's old pals, and asks Hansard how it's going. Hansard says, well, I'm a bit bummed, we thought we were going to be up for an Oscar but now there's some issue with the eligibility because the record came out before the movie did. Bono says, 'What? Hang on a second.' He whips out his cellphone and calls somebody and tells him 'This is bullshit, you have to fix this.'

He hangs up and tells Hansard, 'Don't worry, I called David Geffen and told him to take care of it for you'. And so it was..."

Bono really IS God!



Maybe he can do something for the Seattle SuperSonics before he returns to saving the world/recording an album/buying new sunglasses.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 03, 2008, 10:48:41 AM
You may remember there was some mild controversy when the eligibility of the song from Once for Oscar consideration was called into question by the Academy... and a few days later it was ruled eligible after all.  According to a post on Hollywood-Elsewhere:

"Apparently [Glen] Hansard was invited to some Irish rock stars photo shoot or event or something, and Bono comes up to him and starts chatting him up like he's old pals, and asks Hansard how it's going. Hansard says, well, I'm a bit bummed, we thought we were going to be up for an Oscar but now there's some issue with the eligibility because the record came out before the movie did. Bono says, 'What? Hang on a second.' He whips out his cellphone and calls somebody and tells him 'This is bullshit, you have to fix this.'

He hangs up and tells Hansard, 'Don't worry, I called David Geffen and told him to take care of it for you'. And so it was..."

Bono really IS God!



Maybe he can do something for the Seattle SuperSonics before he returns to saving the world/recording an album/buying new sunglasses.

That would be a really good use of his powers if you ask me.  The Sonics' situation reeks to high heaven.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 03, 2008, 02:00:41 PM
fwiw, during this period of normally slim pickens at the cineplex, I saw In Bruges, and it is a solid thumbs up.  It's a much more complex film than the trailer indicates, but I can't say much more without getting into serious spoiler territory.  In fact the trailer may be unique in this day and age in that it doesn't even hint at either the fact or the emotional impact of the key driver to the plot.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 03, 2008, 02:14:01 PM
fwiw, during this period of normally slim pickens at the cineplex, I saw In Bruges, and it is a solid thumbs up.  It's a much more complex film than the trailer indicates, but I can't say much more without getting into serious spoiler territory.  In fact the trailer may be unique in this day and age in that it doesn't even hint at either the fact or the emotional impact of the key driver to the plot.

Totally agree -- loved it. Colin Farrell (who was also great in the recent Woody Allen thing, Cassandra's Dream) is really terriffic in this. As are Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes.

And BTW, I saw Scarlett Jo in the Boleyn thang; it's PG-13 so the twins don't make much of a showing. You can def wait until DVD. ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 03, 2008, 03:13:10 PM
fwiw, during this period of normally slim pickens at the cineplex, I saw In Bruges, and it is a solid thumbs up.  It's a much more complex film than the trailer indicates, but I can't say much more without getting into serious spoiler territory.  In fact the trailer may be unique in this day and age in that it doesn't even hint at either the fact or the emotional impact of the key driver to the plot.

Totally agree -- loved it. Colin Farrell (who was also great in the recent Woody Allen thing, Cassandra's Dream) is really terriffic in this. As are Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes.


Yeah, in my book Brendan Gleeson needs to change his last name to Walsh, because he's in the M. Emmet Walsh/J.T. Walsh category now of actors who make any movie they're in well worth watching.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 03, 2008, 04:16:18 PM
You may remember there was some mild controversy when the eligibility of the song from Once for Oscar consideration was called into question by the Academy... and a few days later it was ruled eligible after all.  According to a post on Hollywood-Elsewhere:

"Apparently [Glen] Hansard was invited to some Irish rock stars photo shoot or event or something, and Bono comes up to him and starts chatting him up like he's old pals, and asks Hansard how it's going. Hansard says, well, I'm a bit bummed, we thought we were going to be up for an Oscar but now there's some issue with the eligibility because the record came out before the movie did. Bono says, 'What? Hang on a second.' He whips out his cellphone and calls somebody and tells him 'This is bullshit, you have to fix this.'

He hangs up and tells Hansard, 'Don't worry, I called David Geffen and told him to take care of it for you'. And so it was..."

Bono really IS God!



Maybe he can do something for the Seattle SuperSonics before he returns to saving the world/recording an album/buying new sunglasses.

That would be a really good use of his powers if you ask me.  The Sonics' situation reeks to high heaven.

Mark, you should check out what Bill Simmons has had to say about it at ESPN.com.  He's taking full advantage of his bully pulpit there.  (And I fully agree about the sitch; among other things, it's despicable that billionaires who are paying millionaires are forcing the working-class public to build and pay for their stadiums. Sports team owners = welfare recipients.)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 03, 2008, 08:35:49 PM

Maybe he can do something for the Seattle SuperSonics before he returns to saving the world/recording an album/buying new sunglasses.

That would be a really good use of his powers if you ask me.  The Sonics' situation reeks to high heaven.

Mark, you should check out what Bill Simmons has had to say about it at ESPN.com.  He's taking full advantage of his bully pulpit there.  (And I fully agree about the sitch; among other things, it's despicable that billionaires who are paying millionaires are forcing the working-class public to build and pay for their stadiums. Sports team owners = welfare recipients.)

Oh I'm well aware of what Bill Simmons has been doing, and I couldn't agree with either of you more.  His contrast between the Congressional attention paid to Roger Clemens and the Congressional attention *not* being paid to this is most apt.  I really and truly hope Sonic fans take his advice and stage a non-violent protest to disrupt a game.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 12, 2008, 04:04:36 PM
Just for mshray (and the princess too), the skinny on Scarlett Jo's hot girl-on-girl action with Penelope Cruz in the next Woody Allen flick:

http://www.hotinhollywood.tv/original/scarlet_johansson/index.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 12, 2008, 04:17:43 PM
Just for mshray (and the princess too), the skinny on Scarlett Jo's hot girl-on-girl action with Penelope Cruz in the next Woody Allen flick:

http://www.hotinhollywood.tv/original/scarlet_johansson/index.html

OMG!  The picture accompanying that article has to be shared.


(http://www.hotinhollywood.tv/photos/uncategorized/2008/02/10/scarlettcruz_2.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 12, 2008, 08:45:25 PM
Just for mshray (and the princess too), the skinny on Scarlett Jo's hot girl-on-girl action with Penelope Cruz in the next Woody Allen flick:

http://www.hotinhollywood.tv/original/scarlet_johansson/index.html

OMG!  The picture accompanying that article has to be shared.


(http://www.hotinhollywood.tv/photos/uncategorized/2008/02/10/scarlettcruz_2.jpg)

gosh. i wish i were a famous hollywood director so i could make all my dreams come true.

they're gonna do it! (their way)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 12, 2008, 10:16:37 PM

gosh. i wish i were a famous hollywood director so i could make all my dreams come true.


You could make like Peter Griffin and host a public-access TV show, "The Side-Boob Hour."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 13, 2008, 08:55:14 AM

gosh. i wish i were a famous hollywood director so i could make all my dreams come true.


You could make like Peter Griffin and host a public-access TV show, "The Side-Boob Hour."

The princess could come up with something far funnier tha anything on Family Guy I'm sure.  Of course, so could a retarded monkey. ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 17, 2008, 08:45:28 AM
Anyone else watch the John Adams miniseries on HBO last nite? I thought it was pretty great.

Tom Wilkinson as Ben Franklin: Best. Casting. EVER.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 17, 2008, 09:35:47 AM
Anyone else watch the John Adams miniseries on HBO last nite? I thought it was pretty great.

Tom Wilkinson as Ben Franklin: Best. Casting. EVER.

Yes, I thought it was pretty great as well.  I just saw Michael Clayton last weekend, so I was Wilkinson's character in that was still fresh in my mind, which didn't exactly help when he showed up as Franklin, but I agree that he pulled it off nicely.

When are they showing part 3?  Now that the Wire is over (and the Sopranos, Deadwood, etc), I've been considering dumping HBO...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 17, 2008, 09:42:49 AM
Anyone else watch the John Adams miniseries on HBO last nite? I thought it was pretty great.

Tom Wilkinson as Ben Franklin: Best. Casting. EVER.

Yes, I thought it was pretty great as well.  I just saw Michael Clayton last weekend, so I was Wilkinson's character in that was still fresh in my mind, which didn't exactly help when he showed up as Franklin, but I agree that he pulled it off nicely.

When are they showing part 3?  Now that the Wire is over (and the Sopranos, Deadwood, etc), I've been considering dumping HBO...

"I am Ben Franklin, the God of Death!"

Next Sunday, and for the next 5 Sundays. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 17, 2008, 09:57:55 PM
Since it came up again in the KFOG St. Pat's set: Will someone kindly explain to me what the hell "I drink your milkshake!" means?  I watched the clip on YouTube (http://youtube.com/watch?v=ThZI-p8SKe0) and didn't understand what was going on, and so the point (and now, humor) of this catchphrase is lost on me.

Thx,
Chef Gaz.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 18, 2008, 07:48:56 AM
Since it came up again in the KFOG St. Pat's set: Will someone kindly explain to me what the hell "I drink your milkshake!" means?  I watched the clip on YouTube (http://youtube.com/watch?v=ThZI-p8SKe0) and didn't understand what was going on, and so the point (and now, humor) of this catchphrase is lost on me.

Thx,
Chef Gaz.

Sorry, you have to see the movie, bub. Pop-Cultural illiteracy is a blight on our, er, pop culture.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 18, 2008, 09:58:58 AM
Since it came up again in the KFOG St. Pat's set: Will someone kindly explain to me what the hell "I drink your milkshake!" means?  I watched the clip on YouTube (http://youtube.com/watch?v=ThZI-p8SKe0) and didn't understand what was going on, and so the point (and now, humor) of this catchphrase is lost on me.

Thx,
Chef Gaz.

Sorry, you have to see the movie, bub. Pop-Cultural illiteracy is a blight on our, er, pop culture.

This post intentionally left blank?

PS: Sorry, but I'm not gonna get around tp seeing that movie.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 20, 2008, 12:48:25 PM
"You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk? Now GET OFF MY LAWN!"

It's speculation right now, but a just-announced Clint Eastwood film (in which he is to star) called Gran Torino is rumored to be another Dirty Harry flick!

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/36068

It's supposed to be released in Dec -- just a month after his film Changeling, a period mystery starring Angelina Jolie, hits theaters.  Guess this rules out the possibilty of Clint becoming McCain's running mate...

 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 21, 2008, 09:32:50 AM
"You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk? Now GET OFF MY LAWN!"

It's speculation right now, but a just-announced Clint Eastwood film (in which he is to star) called Gran Torino is rumored to be another Dirty Harry flick!

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/36068

It's supposed to be released in Dec -- just a month after his film Changeling, a period mystery starring Angelina Jolie, hits theaters.  Guess this rules out the possibilty of Clint becoming McCain's running mate...


**UPDATE** Now it looks like it's NOT a Dirty Harry thing. But what it could be sounds real interesting:

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2008/03/best_torino_tal.php
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 22, 2008, 10:42:33 PM
Weird twin bill for me tonight:  Blades of Glory (debut on HBO tonight) and Across The Universe (on demand, pay per view).

Really liked Blades.  Five or six laugh out loud (LOL) moments.  And many other amusing scenes.

Accross the Universe ... well, I didn't hate it.  It seriously needed some editing (I love you Eddie Izzard, but your scene should have ended up on the cutting room floor), but there was always a fine tune on the way.  I really liked a lot of the covers in the movie, and thought the cast was excellent.  There were more than several WTF moments, but such is the nature of the movie -- they reached for more than they could achieve.  Somewhere between 2 and 3 stars for me (out of 4).  Blades gets a solid 3.

Quote
Not only did we embarrass Marky Mark, we let down the Funky Bunch.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 25, 2008, 04:09:18 PM
has anyone seen any of these around town? I've seen the orig subway and bus posters for the film, but I haven't spotted any of the parody knockoffs yet:

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2008/03/bay_area_sarah.php
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 27, 2008, 11:05:51 AM
this could've gone in the "rant/right wing" thread as well... you know about Lou Dobbs and his anti-immigrant rantings on CNN?  Well, FOX Searchlight has a trailer for their immigrant drama Under the Same Moon that references Dobbs -- and they've bought time during his show!  Hilarious:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3rRkCJbK0E
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on April 18, 2008, 04:52:02 PM
Just saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

OMFG, LOL repeatedly.  One of these days the Judd Apatow gang is going to go to the well one time too many, but this is not it.  This is for 25-somethings what Knocked Up was for the 29-somethings.

Best line:

(Main char. Peter visiting his doctor after a 1-night-stand, imm. after his breakup with the titular character)

Peter (Jason Segal, who also wrote several of the musical numbers):  I used a condom, but you can't be too sure.  I think I got an STD.  Can you take a look?
Dr. Rosenbaum (Steven 'Det. Dietrich from Barney Miller' Landesberg):  You want me to look at your dick?
Peter (pulliing his sweats out from his waist): Yes.
Dr. Rosenbaum:  It's a beautiful dick Peter.
Peter: You barely looked at it!
Dr. Rosenbaum:  It's a beautiful dick Peter.  You should fuck anything that moves.  But wear a condom.

ETA: if you've ever watched That 70's Show, which gave us Topher Grace and Ashton 'Mr. Demi Moore/Punk'd' Kutcher, this is a breakouot role for Mila Kunis.  She was a recent immigrant from Ukraine who had only barely mastered English when she was cast to play Kelso's girlfriend Jackie (and who, alone among the cast, was actually a sophomore in HS when she played one 10 yrs ago...so she's still only 25 today). 

so...as soon as I can find a suitable image I think you can guess what my next avatar will be!

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 18, 2008, 08:00:34 PM
Just saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

One of these days the Judd Apatow gang is going to go to the well one time too many, but this is not it. 

Guess you didn't see Drillbit Taylor  ;)

But as I've been on the fence about FSM (I didn't think much of the trailer), your rave means I'll probably see it this week. And their next biggie, Pineapple Express (coming this summer), is said to also be HIGH-larious -- pun intended; it's a stoner comedy with Seth Rogen.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on April 18, 2008, 10:00:18 PM
ETA: if you've ever watched That 70's Show, which gave us Topher Grace and Ashton 'Mr. Demi Moore/Punk'd' Kutcher, this is a breakouot role for Mila Kunis.  She was a recent immigrant from Ukraine who had only barely mastered English when she was cast to play Kelso's girlfriend Jackie (and who, alone among the cast, was actually a sophomore in HS when she played one 10 yrs ago...so she's still only 25 today).

Useless trivia: She also voices Meg Griffin on Family Guy.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on April 21, 2008, 11:57:53 AM
Just saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

One of these days the Judd Apatow gang is going to go to the well one time too many, but this is not it. 

Guess you didn't see Drillbit Taylor  ;)


Didn't know that was part of the Apatow extended family, but the trailer sure looked horrible.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 21, 2008, 08:45:28 PM
Just saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

One of these days the Judd Apatow gang is going to go to the well one time too many, but this is not it. 

Guess you didn't see Drillbit Taylor  ;)

But as I've been on the fence about FSM (I didn't think much of the trailer), your rave means I'll probably see it this week. And their next biggie, Pineapple Express (coming this summer), is said to also be HIGH-larious -- pun intended; it's a stoner comedy with Seth Rogen.

Just saw FSM. Very funny, tho' not (for me) as uproarious as 40-YOV, Knocked Up or Superbad.  "Dude -- you should not be putting your P in a V right now".

Also saw trailers for Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder, which both look hilarious, and What Happens in Vegas and My Best Friend's Girl, which look atrocious. As to that last one, Dane Cook + title-of-a-Cars-song = yeesh.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 30, 2008, 07:56:37 AM
Nicole Kidman as Dusty Springfield?

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2008/04/dusty_trails.php
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on April 30, 2008, 08:28:57 AM
Nicole Kidman as Dusty Springfield?

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2008/04/dusty_trails.php

Better her than Miss Lady Bunny.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on April 30, 2008, 11:00:19 AM
Nicole Kidman as Dusty Springfield?

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2008/04/dusty_trails.php

Better her than Miss Lady Bunny.

Not quite sure who Miss Lady Bunny is, but for a posting anomaly, right now Gaz is at 8808 and I'm at 9909.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on April 30, 2008, 08:45:27 PM
Nicole Kidman as Dusty Springfield?

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2008/04/dusty_trails.php

Better her than Miss Lady Bunny.

Not quite sure who Miss Lady Bunny is, but for a posting anomaly, right now Gaz is at 8808 and I'm at 9909.
(http://www.frankdecaro.com/photos/wigstock04/full_size/LadyBunny.JPG)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on May 01, 2008, 03:49:45 AM
Nicole Kidman as Dusty Springfield?

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2008/04/dusty_trails.php

i'd prefer duffy as dusty.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 01, 2008, 07:44:30 AM
Nicole Kidman as Dusty Springfield?

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2008/04/dusty_trails.php

i'd prefer duffy as dusty.

Yes!

(http://www.clickmusic.com/upload/duffy300.jpg)

special appearance by Amy Whinehouse as Cilla Black.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 02, 2008, 08:41:23 PM
Iron Man rawks!  Very entertaining, Downey is quite wonderful, he totally makes the film worthwhile all by himself, tho' Paltrow is also very good. Saw it at AMC Van Ness in a half-full theater at a 1:45 show -- not sure if that bodes ill for the ultimate weekend gross or if AMC Van Ness is just losing market share to the Metreon/SF Centre combo. See it ASAP, and make sure you stay thru the end credits!

BTW, I was a complete pig at Ton Kiang -- when I arrived I was the only person in the upstairs dining room, so they were bringing everything directly to me, right from the kitchen. And I didn't say no to anything. Shrimp dumplings, shrimp-and-scallop dumplings, shrimp-and-spinach dunplings, shrimp-and-mushroom dumplings, shrimp shiu mai...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 05, 2008, 08:15:32 AM
after joking that Duffy's "Mercy" sounds like "Amy Winehouse singing the theme to an Austin Powers sequel", I note that Ms Winehouse has backed out of doing the next James Bond theme. Bet Duffy's available...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/05/03/international/i031205D87.DTL&tsp=1
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 05, 2008, 10:18:48 AM
Saw Iron Man too, also thought it RAWKS! 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 05, 2008, 12:52:59 PM
Saw Iron Man too, also thought it RAWKS! 

"Let's be honest, this isn't the worst thing you've caught me doing."  Downey totally nailed the role. I hope you stayed to the end -- worth it. Bring on the sequel!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 05, 2008, 01:49:39 PM
Saw Iron Man too, also thought it RAWKS! 

"Let's be honest, this isn't the worst thing you've caught me doing."  Downey totally nailed the role. I hope you stayed to the end -- worth it. Bring on the sequel!


No, I almost always do, but for some reason I didn't this time.  What'd I miss?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 05, 2008, 02:00:27 PM
Saw Iron Man too, also thought it RAWKS! 

"Let's be honest, this isn't the worst thing you've caught me doing."  Downey totally nailed the role. I hope you stayed to the end -- worth it. Bring on the sequel!


No, I almost always do, but for some reason I didn't this time.  What'd I miss?

can't be a spoiler -- I have to wait 'til everyone's seen it who plans to.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on May 05, 2008, 03:16:18 PM
Saw Iron Man too, also thought it RAWKS! 
"Let's be honest, this isn't the worst thing you've caught me doing."  Downey totally nailed the role. I hope you stayed to the end -- worth it. Bring on the sequel!
No, I almost always do, but for some reason I didn't this time.  What'd I miss?
can't be a spoiler -- I have to wait 'til everyone's seen it who plans to.
please wait a week at least!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on May 05, 2008, 03:54:45 PM
Saw Iron Man too, also thought it RAWKS! 
"Let's be honest, this isn't the worst thing you've caught me doing."  Downey totally nailed the role. I hope you stayed to the end -- worth it. Bring on the sequel!
No, I almost always do, but for some reason I didn't this time.  What'd I miss?
can't be a spoiler -- I have to wait 'til everyone's seen it who plans to.
please wait a week at least!

Yes, I appreciate your restraint--give me a week--or two, if you can. Very busy right now so not sure when I'll get to the theater.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on May 06, 2008, 08:30:11 AM
Saw Iron Man too, also thought it RAWKS! 
"Let's be honest, this isn't the worst thing you've caught me doing."  Downey totally nailed the role. I hope you stayed to the end -- worth it. Bring on the sequel!
"Iron Man 2" due in 2010, plus "Thor" and "Captain America" films:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080505/en_nm/ironman_dc_3;_ylt=A9j8e93XdyBIjEEATgAE1vAI (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080505/en_nm/ironman_dc_3;_ylt=A9j8e93XdyBIjEEATgAE1vAI)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 10, 2008, 06:03:53 PM
Spielberg and Ford go gay: This may be old news but I just found out about it. The new Indy 4, aka Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will play at the Castro starting May 22 (they've committed to showing it for a month). I may be wrong, but I think this is the first time the Castro has shown a first-run, major-studio blockbuster in a non-exclusive situation (i.e., it will also be at Metreon, AMC Van Ness, etc) in decades. An experiment, I suppose.  Interesting.

No truth to the rumor that the marquee will read Indiana Jones in the Kingdom of Crystal Meth. ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on May 11, 2008, 08:19:34 PM
Spielberg and Ford go gay: This may be old news but I just found out about it. The new Indy 4, aka Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will play at the Castro starting May 22 (they've committed to showing it for a month). I may be wrong, but I think this is the first time the Castro has shown a first-run, major-studio blockbuster in a non-exclusive situation (i.e., it will also be at Metreon, AMC Van Ness, etc) in decades. An experiment, I suppose.  Interesting.

No truth to the rumor that the marquee will read Indiana Jones in the Kingdom of Crystal Meth. ;)

How about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skullf***?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 11, 2008, 09:06:54 PM
Spielberg and Ford go gay: This may be old news but I just found out about it. The new Indy 4, aka Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will play at the Castro starting May 22 (they've committed to showing it for a month). I may be wrong, but I think this is the first time the Castro has shown a first-run, major-studio blockbuster in a non-exclusive situation (i.e., it will also be at Metreon, AMC Van Ness, etc) in decades. An experiment, I suppose.  Interesting.

No truth to the rumor that the marquee will read Indiana Jones in the Kingdom of Crystal Meth. ;)

How about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skullf***?

Bwahahahaha!  Y'know, there *is* a gay porn vid called Raiders of the Lost Arse...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on May 14, 2008, 10:54:59 PM
Had free movie pass (trying not to spend too much while unemployed) so I saw Baby Mama today. Fun flick. Saw a preview for new Sandler movie which I hope I remember to see in June, http://www.youdontmesswiththezohan.com/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 15, 2008, 07:49:39 AM
Had free movie pass (trying not to spend too much while unemployed) so I saw Baby Mama today. Fun flick. Saw a preview for new Sandler movie which I hope I remember to see in June, http://www.youdontmesswiththezohan.com/


The Sandler looks slightly less awful than his other stuff usually looks to me. But since Judd Apatow is involved, I suspect it'll get better reviews than his movies usually get.  I enjoyed Baby Mama too, but then I worship Ms. Fey -- 30 Rock is a brilliant show.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on May 16, 2008, 09:44:26 PM
Saw Iron Man too, also thought it RAWKS! 
"Let's be honest, this isn't the worst thing you've caught me doing."  Downey totally nailed the role. I hope you stayed to the end -- worth it. Bring on the sequel!
No, I almost always do, but for some reason I didn't this time.  What'd I miss?
can't be a spoiler -- I have to wait 'til everyone's seen it who plans to.
please wait a week at least!
Yes, I appreciate your restraint--give me a week--or two, if you can. Very busy right now so not sure when I'll get to the theater.
just saw it tonight; are we all in yet so we can discuss?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 16, 2008, 09:55:05 PM
Saw Iron Man too, also thought it RAWKS! 
"Let's be honest, this isn't the worst thing you've caught me doing."  Downey totally nailed the role. I hope you stayed to the end -- worth it. Bring on the sequel!
No, I almost always do, but for some reason I didn't this time.  What'd I miss?
can't be a spoiler -- I have to wait 'til everyone's seen it who plans to.
please wait a week at least!
Yes, I appreciate your restraint--give me a week--or two, if you can. Very busy right now so not sure when I'll get to the theater.
just saw it tonight; are we all in yet so we can discuss?

Actually EW gave the "secret" away last week, so it's no longer a "spoiler" -- but I defer to urth, who is the last holdout I think.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on May 16, 2008, 10:11:08 PM
Saw Iron Man too, also thought it RAWKS! 
"Let's be honest, this isn't the worst thing you've caught me doing."  Downey totally nailed the role. I hope you stayed to the end -- worth it. Bring on the sequel!
No, I almost always do, but for some reason I didn't this time.  What'd I miss?
can't be a spoiler -- I have to wait 'til everyone's seen it who plans to.
please wait a week at least!
Yes, I appreciate your restraint--give me a week--or two, if you can. Very busy right now so not sure when I'll get to the theater.
just saw it tonight; are we all in yet so we can discuss?

Actually EW gave the "secret" away last week, so it's no longer a "spoiler" -- but I defer to urth, who is the last holdout I think.
If my softball games are cancelled tomorrow (which looks increasingly likely by the hour), I'll probably catch it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on May 17, 2008, 10:31:31 PM
Saw Iron Man too, also thought it RAWKS! 
"Let's be honest, this isn't the worst thing you've caught me doing."  Downey totally nailed the role. I hope you stayed to the end -- worth it. Bring on the sequel!
No, I almost always do, but for some reason I didn't this time.  What'd I miss?
can't be a spoiler -- I have to wait 'til everyone's seen it who plans to.
please wait a week at least!
Yes, I appreciate your restraint--give me a week--or two, if you can. Very busy right now so not sure when I'll get to the theater.
just saw it tonight; are we all in yet so we can discuss?

Actually EW gave the "secret" away last week, so it's no longer a "spoiler" -- but I defer to urth, who is the last holdout I think.
If my softball games are cancelled tomorrow (which looks increasingly likely by the hour), I'll probably catch it.

I don't watch EW.  Maybe I'll have to avoid this thread until it comes on to cable.

Speaking of cable... 

Last night, double bill, Jesus Christ Superstar and Juno.

JCS was hilarious, I haven't seen it in years.  Two excellent songs, one other decent, but the rest just doesn't do much for me.  But you have to love the 60's.

Juno was good, not great.  Love the character and actress that was Juno, but the portrayal of the adoptive parents just didn't seem real to me.  Way too contrived, the Justin Bateman going from the cool one to the dickhead, the Jennifer Garner from the yuppie harridan to the loving mother, all to serve the plot.  Anyway, I enjoyed it, but it was at least partly false for me.

Tonight, I watched Starter for 10 and Lars and the Real Girl.

Starter is an HBO film from last year (produced by Tom Hanks), a British comedy.  Very enjoyable, I recommend it to HBO subscribers -- check it out.

Lars was just wonderful.  You have to see it too believe it.  Renews your faith in humanity, community.

ETA:  BTW, Starter for 10, set in 1985, had an excellent 80's soundtrack (The Cure, The Smiths, etc.).  I'm listening to the Cure now...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 18, 2008, 07:21:46 PM
Last night, double bill, Jesus Christ Superstar and Juno.

JCS was hilarious, I haven't seen it in years.  Two excellent songs, one other decent, but the rest just doesn't do much for me.  But you have to love the 60's.

Juno was good, not great.  Love the character and actress that was Juno, but the portrayal of the adoptive parents just didn't seem real to me.  Way too contrived, the Justin Bateman going from the cool one to the dickhead, the Jennifer Garner from the yuppie harridan to the loving mother, all to serve the plot.  Anyway, I enjoyed it, but it was at least partly false for me.

Tonight, I watched Starter for 10 and Lars and the Real Girl.

Starter is an HBO film from last year (produced by Tom Hanks), a British comedy.  Very enjoyable, I recommend it to HBO subscribers -- check it out.

Lars was just wonderful.  You have to see it too believe it.  Renews your faith in humanity, community.

ETA:  BTW, Starter for 10, set in 1985, had an excellent 80's soundtrack (The Cure, The Smiths, etc.).  I'm listening to the Cure now...

Indeed, the whole hippie-Jesus thing is quite dated at this point. (And I say that as a Catholic boy who loved the orig LP -- countless classroom hours at my high school were devoted to analyzing it). I know a woman who is a JCS fanatic -- she's seen it on stage something like 8 different times. Scary.

I liked Juno but I can understand people who quibble with the screenplay. But...

I absolutely hated, *hated* H-A-T-E-D Lars. Ohmygawd how I hated it. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on May 18, 2008, 07:32:52 PM
Last night, double bill, Jesus Christ Superstar and Juno.

JCS was hilarious, I haven't seen it in years.  Two excellent songs, one other decent, but the rest just doesn't do much for me.  But you have to love the 60's.

Indeed, the whole hippie-Jesus thing is quite dated at this point. (And I say that as a Catholic boy who loved the orig LP -- countless classroom hours at my high school were devoted to analyzing it). I know a woman who is a JCS fanatic -- she's seen it on stage something like 8 different times. Scary.
Of course I'm going to rise to the defense of JCS.  Some of it is contrived, but theater by its nature is contrived; more important, I remain awed by the recurrence of melodic and conceptual themes - it's really tight, story-wise - and by the sheer vocal power of the parties involved (I've never heard Ian Gillian sing the part on the OST, but every version I've heard/seen had amazing vocal perfs).  And on a more personal note, JCS's conceptualization of Judas - his person and motives - makes a great deal of sense to me and actually resolves some of the deep issues I have with Christianity (I identify to some degree as a Buddhist but take spirituality and comparative religions very seriously).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 18, 2008, 09:28:08 PM
Last night, double bill, Jesus Christ Superstar and Juno.

JCS was hilarious, I haven't seen it in years.  Two excellent songs, one other decent, but the rest just doesn't do much for me.  But you have to love the 60's.

Indeed, the whole hippie-Jesus thing is quite dated at this point. (And I say that as a Catholic boy who loved the orig LP -- countless classroom hours at my high school were devoted to analyzing it). I know a woman who is a JCS fanatic -- she's seen it on stage something like 8 different times. Scary.
Of course I'm going to rise to the defense of JCS.  Some of it is contrived, but theater by its nature is contrived; more important, I remain awed by the recurrence of melodic and conceptual themes - it's really tight, story-wise - and by the sheer vocal power of the parties involved (I've never heard Ian Gillian sing the part on the OST, but every version I've heard/seen had amazing vocal perfs).  And on a more personal note, JCS's conceptualization of Judas - his person and motives - makes a great deal of sense to me and actually resolves some of the deep issues I have with Christianity (I identify to some degree as a Buddhist but take spirituality and comparative religions very seriously).

I don't disagree with anything you've said. As an atheist Judas interests me too; if one buys into Jesus as god's-son-sent-here-to-die, then Judas helped him fulfill his destiny and is therefore an instrument of God, right?  (We drove the nuns crazy with that one!) And Webber and Rice's work remains among their best. I'm just saying Jesus-as-hippie is VERY 1971 (see also: Godspell). The only thing more cliche is the whole Pilate-as-mincing-queen thing.

Ian Gillan blows Ted Neely away, BTW (sorry, princess!).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 19, 2008, 09:51:23 AM
Christina & I saw Lars recently and loved it.  Definitely indescribable, as Rod said, you have to see it to believe it.  Ryan Gosling is a fantastic actor.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 19, 2008, 10:18:47 AM
Christina & I saw Lars recently and loved it.  Definitely indescribable, as Rod said, you have to see it to believe it.  Ryan Gosling is a fantastic actor.

OK, here's my gripe(s):  I did not buy the set-up For. A. Second. -- the ENTIRE town, including the entire medical staff of the hospital (!) are all involved in humoring this guy, because... why? And the tone is all wrong, particularly in Gosling's performance. I think he's been brilliant in other things (see Half Nelson), but he's investing all his intense "serious actor" energy in the peformance and the guy comes off as seriously disturbed -- Lars needs professional help, not cutesy-poo coddling. With, say, a young Tom Hanks in the role, maybe I'd've bought in, but not the way it's played. My most-hated film of 2007. Ugh.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on May 20, 2008, 03:18:09 PM
Saw Iron Man too, also thought it RAWKS! 
"Let's be honest, this isn't the worst thing you've caught me doing."  Downey totally nailed the role. I hope you stayed to the end -- worth it. Bring on the sequel!
No, I almost always do, but for some reason I didn't this time.  What'd I miss?
can't be a spoiler -- I have to wait 'til everyone's seen it who plans to.
please wait a week at least!
Yes, I appreciate your restraint--give me a week--or two, if you can. Very busy right now so not sure when I'll get to the theater.
just saw it tonight; are we all in yet so we can discuss?

Actually EW gave the "secret" away last week, so it's no longer a "spoiler" -- but I defer to urth, who is the last holdout I think.

I truly appreciate your holding out on my account, but you might as well go ahead and discuss. I'm hip deep in the whole moving thing right now, and doubt that I'll be seeing the inside of a movie theater any time in the next three weeks at least.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on May 21, 2008, 04:42:19 AM


Ian Gillan blows Ted Neely away, BTW (sorry, princess!).

"kill.....KILL!"
(i don't know what that line is from. i think it's carol burnett in annie)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 28, 2008, 12:53:22 PM
it's official -- Fraggle Rock: The Movie!

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/05/28/fraggle-movie-movie-details-revealed/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on May 28, 2008, 03:19:37 PM
it's official -- Fraggle Rock: The Movie!

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/05/28/fraggle-movie-movie-details-revealed/

down with fraggle rock.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 28, 2008, 03:54:15 PM
it's official -- Fraggle Rock: The Movie!

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/05/28/fraggle-movie-movie-details-revealed/

down with fraggle rock.

hey princess, has the French film Roman de Gare played in Spain yet? saw it the other day, it's a really cool mystery/puzzle type movie. Fanny Ardant is surely on your list of, um, women-of-a-certain-age?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on May 28, 2008, 08:31:43 PM
it's official -- Fraggle Rock: The Movie!

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/05/28/fraggle-movie-movie-details-revealed/

down with fraggle rock.

hey princess, has the French film Roman de Gare played in Spain yet? saw it the other day, it's a really cool mystery/puzzle type movie. Fanny Ardant is surely on your list of, um, women-of-a-certain-age?
I'd be ardent for that Fanny!  She looks like a brunette Candace Bergen, kinda.
(http://www.lefigaro.fr/medias/2007/08/26/20070826.WWW000000004_16026_1.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 28, 2008, 09:20:02 PM
it's official -- Fraggle Rock: The Movie!

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/05/28/fraggle-movie-movie-details-revealed/

down with fraggle rock.

hey princess, has the French film Roman de Gare played in Spain yet? saw it the other day, it's a really cool mystery/puzzle type movie. Fanny Ardant is surely on your list of, um, women-of-a-certain-age?
I'd be ardent for that Fanny!  She looks like a brunette Candace Bergen, kinda.


Gaz, be tender with that Fanny.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on May 29, 2008, 12:27:11 AM
I'd be ardent for that Fanny!  She looks like a brunette Candace Bergen, kinda.

Not just kinda--she's a dead ringer for Ms. Bergen in a brunette wig, imo
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on May 30, 2008, 04:44:50 AM
it's official -- Fraggle Rock: The Movie!

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/05/28/fraggle-movie-movie-details-revealed/

down with fraggle rock.

hey princess, has the French film Roman de Gare played in Spain yet? saw it the other day, it's a really cool mystery/puzzle type movie. Fanny Ardant is surely on your list of, um, women-of-a-certain-age?

haven't heard of it yet. fanny's pretty hot!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 19, 2008, 01:44:00 PM
The Muppets are coming back, with help from... Judd Apatow!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/parenting/detail?&entry_id=27187
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 20, 2008, 07:57:52 AM
Well, true to form, Mick laSalle hated Get Smart, but said Love Guru isn't half-bad -- the exact opposite of the critical consensus.  Guru looks (from the commercials) like one of the un-funniest moves ever. Verne Troyer getting hit in the face with a hockey puck -- oh yeah, *that's* comedy!  "dreary dick jokes and elephant poop" was one critic's description.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 20, 2008, 10:07:09 PM
Well, true to form, Mick laSalle hated Get Smart, but said Love Guru isn't half-bad -- the exact opposite of the critical consensus.  Guru looks (from the commercials) like one of the un-funniest moves ever. Verne Troyer getting hit in the face with a hockey puck -- oh yeah, *that's* comedy!  "dreary dick jokes and elephant poop" was one critic's description.

Just came from seeing Get Smart -- it doesn't suck.  Coulda been shorter (at a tight 85 mins instead of 110, it might've killed) but it has its moments.

Meanwhile, TCM is giving us a disco-cheese double bill tonite: Roller Boogie, which I saw a few years back at the Castro with Xanadu, and the little-seen cult fave The Apple, which I've never seen.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on June 21, 2008, 12:23:20 AM
Well, true to form, Mick laSalle hated Get Smart, but said Love Guru isn't half-bad -- the exact opposite of the critical consensus.  Guru looks (from the commercials) like one of the un-funniest moves ever. Verne Troyer getting hit in the face with a hockey puck -- oh yeah, *that's* comedy!  "dreary dick jokes and elephant poop" was one critic's description.

Just came from seeing Get Smart -- it doesn't suck.  Coulda been shorter (at a tight 85 mins instead of 110, it might've killed) but it has its moments.

Meanwhile, TCM is giving us a disco-cheese double bill tonite: Roller Boogie, which I saw a few years back at the Castro with Xanadu, and the little-seen cult fave The Apple, which I've never seen.
Please let me know what you think of The Apple!  I barely know anyone else who's seen it.  Among its attributes are the greatest deus ex machina ever.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 21, 2008, 12:12:21 PM
Well, true to form, Mick laSalle hated Get Smart, but said Love Guru isn't half-bad -- the exact opposite of the critical consensus.  Guru looks (from the commercials) like one of the un-funniest moves ever. Verne Troyer getting hit in the face with a hockey puck -- oh yeah, *that's* comedy!  "dreary dick jokes and elephant poop" was one critic's description.

Just came from seeing Get Smart -- it doesn't suck.  Coulda been shorter (at a tight 85 mins instead of 110, it might've killed) but it has its moments.

Meanwhile, TCM is giving us a disco-cheese double bill tonite: Roller Boogie, which I saw a few years back at the Castro with Xanadu, and the little-seen cult fave The Apple, which I've never seen.
Please let me know what you think of The Apple!  I barely know anyone else who's seen it.  Among its attributes are the greatest deus ex machina ever.

Well, I didn't make it to the end (watched the first hour) so I missed the deus ex machina, but since the bad guy is literally the Devil, I can only imagine.  I found it pretty deadly -- the songs are quite awful.  I'm not big on camp to begin with; sometimes bad is bad, as Huey Lewis once sang.  And so things like Xanadu and Can't Stop the Music are just terrible, IMHO, with no redeeming value.

The Apple isn't quite in their league; this one seemed to have a budget and a concept at least (if not a terribly original one). Pretty bad acting, mostly. Catherine Mary Stewart's first film, I'm guessing; she made quite a few in the '80s, like The Last Starfighter. I *HIGHLY* recommend getting hold of Privilege, a 1967 British film about a future Fascist gov't in the UK that controls the populace thru pop music.  Shot in documentary style, long before that became a standard/cliche method. Paul Jones (former lead singer of Manfred Mann) and Jean Shrimpton (the model) play the leads.  Great stuff.

ETA: great comment on IMDB about The Apple: "The varied use of MYLAR throughout the movie never ceased to amaze me!"
 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on June 21, 2008, 11:20:38 PM
The Apple isn't quite in their league; this one seemed to have a budget and a concept at least (if not a terribly original one). Pretty bad acting, mostly. Catherine Mary Stewart's first film, I'm guessing; she made quite a few in the '80s, like The Last Starfighter. I *HIGHLY* recommend getting hold of Privilege, a 1967 British film about a future Fascist gov't in the UK that controls the populace thru pop music.  Shot in documentary style, long before that became a standard/cliche method. Paul Jones (former lead singer of Manfred Mann) and Jean Shrimpton (the model) play the leads.  Great stuff.

ETA: great comment on IMDB about The Apple: "The varied use of MYLAR throughout the movie never ceased to amaze me!"
 
1. I've never heard of Privilege, but will seek it out; so thank you.

2. Yes!  I actually referred to that mylar quote when writing about The Apple in the Voice about 2 years ago.  It was a short piece and thus ungoogleable now.   :-[
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 22, 2008, 07:42:56 PM
Would you believe Get Smart made $100 million at the box office this weekend?

Would you believe $65 million?

OK, would you believe $39 million?

39's the actual figure; it was #1.  The almost universally loathed Love Guru only made $14 million, even worse than expected.  Guess Mr Meyers will be working on Austin Powers 4 starting tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on June 22, 2008, 11:13:54 PM
Well, true to form, Mick laSalle hated Get Smart, but said Love Guru isn't half-bad -- the exact opposite of the critical consensus.  Guru looks (from the commercials) like one of the un-funniest moves ever. Verne Troyer getting hit in the face with a hockey puck -- oh yeah, *that's* comedy!  "dreary dick jokes and elephant poop" was one critic's description.
We just saw Love Guru today, and laughed our asses off.  I don't expect any critics to like it, but there are some killer jokes.  Offensive to all.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 23, 2008, 07:45:07 AM
Well, true to form, Mick laSalle hated Get Smart, but said Love Guru isn't half-bad -- the exact opposite of the critical consensus.  Guru looks (from the commercials) like one of the un-funniest moves ever. Verne Troyer getting hit in the face with a hockey puck -- oh yeah, *that's* comedy!  "dreary dick jokes and elephant poop" was one critic's description.
We just saw Love Guru today, and laughed our asses off.  I don't expect any critics to like it, but there are some killer jokes.  Offensive to all.

Wow, that's tells us more about you than we wanted to know, Geoff! ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on June 23, 2008, 09:44:37 AM
Well, true to form, Mick laSalle hated Get Smart, but said Love Guru isn't half-bad -- the exact opposite of the critical consensus.  Guru looks (from the commercials) like one of the un-funniest moves ever. Verne Troyer getting hit in the face with a hockey puck -- oh yeah, *that's* comedy!  "dreary dick jokes and elephant poop" was one critic's description.
We just saw Love Guru today, and laughed our asses off.  I don't expect any critics to like it, but there are some killer jokes.  Offensive to all.
Wow, that's tells us more about you than we wanted to know, Geoff! ;)
TMI Baby!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 10, 2008, 08:57:10 AM
The in-flight movie goes the way of the dinosaur:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/10/us-airways-to-cut-movies_n_111838.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on July 10, 2008, 11:04:45 AM
The in-flight movie goes the way of the dinosaur:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/10/us-airways-to-cut-movies_n_111838.html

Not a huge loss, imo. I always thought an airplane was a lousy place to watch a film--noisy, always getting interrupted by drink/meal service, or when the person next to you has to get up to go to the loo, and invariably one channel of the headphones was shorted out. Yeah, if they have to cut something, this is as expendable a choice as they could have made.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on July 10, 2008, 11:17:56 AM
The in-flight movie goes the way of the dinosaur:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/10/us-airways-to-cut-movies_n_111838.html

Not a huge loss, imo. I always thought an airplane was a lousy place to watch a film--noisy, always getting interrupted by drink/meal service, or when the person next to you has to get up to go to the loo, and invariably one channel of the headphones was shorted out. Yeah, if they have to cut something, this is as expendable a choice as they could have made.

Plus, the movie would always be hacked to pieces to conform to the lowest common denominator of decency.  One of the major reasons R rated films are rarely released anymore is that they are too hard to cut to airline specifications.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 10, 2008, 11:30:01 AM
The in-flight movie goes the way of the dinosaur:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/10/us-airways-to-cut-movies_n_111838.html

Not a huge loss, imo. I always thought an airplane was a lousy place to watch a film--noisy, always getting interrupted by drink/meal service, or when the person next to you has to get up to go to the loo, and invariably one channel of the headphones was shorted out. Yeah, if they have to cut something, this is as expendable a choice as they could have made.

Plus, the movie would always be hacked to pieces to conform to the lowest common denominator of decency.  One of the major reasons R rated films are rarely released anymore is that they are too hard to cut to airline specifications.

I'm trying to imagine the airline versions of Superbad or 40-Year-Old Virgin... (shudder)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 10, 2008, 08:18:27 PM
Re the above, I always thought there were great opportunities for indie musicians to strike licensing deals with the airlines, but no one seemed interested in the idea.  Inexpensive radio programming seems low on people's lists, to my chagrin.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 10, 2008, 08:53:35 PM
Re the above, I always thought there were great opportunities for indie musicians to strike licensing deals with the airlines, but no one seemed interested in the idea.  Inexpensive radio programming seems low on people's lists, to my chagrin.

Of course, major labels have done that for decades. Remember, it was on an airplane that Roberta Flack first heard Lori Lieberman's orig version of "Killing Me Softly"...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on July 18, 2008, 10:09:24 AM
I was just checking show times for Mamma Mia! and noticed the Sandler Zohan flick no longer playing. Was that a bomb of a movie?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 18, 2008, 10:12:17 AM
I was just checking show times for Mamma Mia! and noticed the Sandler Zohan flick no longer playing. Was that a bomb of a movie?

Well, it made nearly 100 million, but that makes it his biggest (wide-release) flop since Little Nicky.  Oddly, it got some of his better reviews in years.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on July 18, 2008, 10:14:56 AM
I was just checking show times for Mamma Mia! and noticed the Sandler Zohan flick no longer playing. Was that a bomb of a movie?
if I'd had the energy, I woulda gone to last night's midnight showing.  There were 6 post-midnight showings of Dark Knight to the one Mama Mia at the Daly City 20.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 18, 2008, 10:40:41 AM

Oddly, it got some of his better reviews in years.


Not just 'oddly', utterly inexplicably (imho).  I saw most of it & it wasn't just dumb, it was offensive.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 18, 2008, 10:46:32 AM

Oddly, it got some of his better reviews in years.


Not just 'oddly', utterly inexplicably (imho).  I saw most of it & it wasn't just dumb, it was offensive.

as I predicted before it opened, the fact that Judd Apatow's name was attached (as a producer) meant certain critics might go easier on it -- and they did.

Speaking of Apatow, I'm very much looking forward to Pineapple Express on Aug 8th.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 20, 2008, 07:02:59 PM
Dark Knight is awesome!  Some of the pyrotechnics demand a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, and the Joker pulls off some things that require deus-ex-machina omniscience, but, that being said, it does not play down to the lowest common denominator.  If anything it will probably lose some points with the general public for its overall density - you really have to pay attention & things happen fast - but that's only because Christopher Nolan tops his Batman Begins in both action set-pieces and in character development...

You absolutely cannot Take. Your. Eyes. Off. of Heath Ledger's Joker.  F***ing brilliant.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on July 21, 2008, 10:00:03 PM
Made it to Mamma Mia! today. I laughed, I cried, I laughed. Still have SOS playing in my head. Very enjoyable. Nice production. Meryl was/is incredibly delicious, Amanda Seyfried kept making me think of Goldie Hawn. Pierce Brosnan is aging well. Wish I had been with a more outgoing audience (singing, dancing, etc...). There was no participation other than anemic clapping at the end.

Saw a few previews I want to try to remember to see, The Lucky Ones and maybe the House Bunny when it makes it to DVD which probably won't take long. Zohan ought to make the DVD scene any moment now.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 21, 2008, 11:19:23 PM
Wish I had been with a more outgoing audience (singing, dancing, etc...). There was no participation other than anemic clapping at the end.
Which is exactly why I won't go see it unless I'm with a gaggle of gay geese.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 22, 2008, 07:44:29 AM
Wish I had been with a more outgoing audience (singing, dancing, etc...). There was no participation other than anemic clapping at the end.
Which is exactly why I won't go see it unless I'm with a gaggle of gay geese.

Actually, that's why I avoided it on stage here in SF -- a theater full of middle-aged gay men who know Every. Single. Lyric? -- no, thanks.  But the Castro really should've booked MM rather than Indy 4.  I'm SURE there'll be a "sing-along" version down the road.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on July 22, 2008, 09:41:15 AM
Made it to Mamma Mia! today. I laughed, I cried, I laughed. Still have SOS playing in my head. Very enjoyable. Nice production. Meryl was/is incredibly delicious, Amanda Seyfried kept making me think of Goldie Hawn. Pierce Brosnan is aging well. Wish I had been with a more outgoing audience (singing, dancing, etc...). There was no participation other than anemic clapping at the end.

Saw a few previews I want to try to remember to see, The Lucky Ones and maybe the House Bunny when it makes it to DVD which probably won't take long. Zohan ought to make the DVD scene any moment now.
We also went last night.  Had a great time.  I also wish I had gone on a more crowded showing this last weekend.  The audience that was there was enthusiastic, but on a Monday night in Daly City, pretty deserted.  I'd seen the stage play too, but still enjoyed almost everything, except of course for Pierce Brosnan's singing!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 22, 2008, 09:52:58 AM
Made it to Mamma Mia! today. I laughed, I cried, I laughed. Still have SOS playing in my head. Very enjoyable. Nice production. Meryl was/is incredibly delicious, Amanda Seyfried kept making me think of Goldie Hawn. Pierce Brosnan is aging well. Wish I had been with a more outgoing audience (singing, dancing, etc...). There was no participation other than anemic clapping at the end.

Saw a few previews I want to try to remember to see, The Lucky Ones and maybe the House Bunny when it makes it to DVD which probably won't take long. Zohan ought to make the DVD scene any moment now.
We also went last night.  Had a great time.  I also wish I had gone on a more crowded showing this last weekend.  The audience that was there was enthusiastic, but on a Monday night in Daly City, pretty deserted.  I'd seen the stage play too, but still enjoyed almost everything, except of course for Pierce Brosnan's singing!

one critic said "Brosnan does the best imitation of a water buffalo I've ever heard" LOL!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 25, 2008, 09:55:48 AM

Wish I had been with a more outgoing audience (singing, dancing, etc...). There was no participation other than anemic clapping at the end.


Peter mentioned this morning that the Camera theater in SJ will be doing a sing-a-long thsi Satruday, even handing out the lyrics to the audience.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on July 25, 2008, 03:59:50 PM

Wish I had been with a more outgoing audience (singing, dancing, etc...). There was no participation other than anemic clapping at the end.
Peter mentioned this morning that the Camera theater in SJ will be doing a sing-a-long thsi Satruday, even handing out the lyrics to the audience.
Dave read my email on air yesterday morning, said he'd get back to me, but I haven't heard anything.  This sounds promising.  Long drive.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 25, 2008, 07:16:38 PM

Wish I had been with a more outgoing audience (singing, dancing, etc...). There was no participation other than anemic clapping at the end.
Peter mentioned this morning that the Camera theater in SJ will be doing a sing-a-long thsi Satruday, even handing out the lyrics to the audience.
Dave read my email on air yesterday morning, said he'd get back to me, but I haven't heard anything.  This sounds promising.  Long drive.

I'll be very surprised if Dave makes the trip to SJ.  And I've no doubt that after MM completes its run, there'll be a "real" sing-along version (with subtitles rather than paper lyric sheets) at the Castro -- bet on it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on July 25, 2008, 11:13:29 PM

Wish I had been with a more outgoing audience (singing, dancing, etc...). There was no participation other than anemic clapping at the end.
Peter mentioned this morning that the Camera theater in SJ will be doing a sing-a-long thsi Satruday, even handing out the lyrics to the audience.
Dave read my email on air yesterday morning, said he'd get back to me, but I haven't heard anything.  This sounds promising.  Long drive.

I'll be very surprised if Dave makes the trip to SJ.  And I've no doubt that after MM completes its run, there'll be a "real" sing-along version (with subtitles rather than paper lyric sheets) at the Castro -- bet on it.

*runs screaming from the room*

I'll do sing-along-handel, sing-along-rockyhorror, hell, even sing-along-thesongremainsthesame -- but I can't stand ABBA when ABBA is singing it.  Bleh.

I may never see this movie. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on July 26, 2008, 10:55:48 AM

Wish I had been with a more outgoing audience (singing, dancing, etc...). There was no participation other than anemic clapping at the end.
Peter mentioned this morning that the Camera theater in SJ will be doing a sing-a-long thsi Satruday, even handing out the lyrics to the audience.
Dave read my email on air yesterday morning, said he'd get back to me, but I haven't heard anything.  This sounds promising.  Long drive.

I'll be very surprised if Dave makes the trip to SJ.  And I've no doubt that after MM completes its run, there'll be a "real" sing-along version (with subtitles rather than paper lyric sheets) at the Castro -- bet on it.

*runs screaming from the room*

I'll do sing-along-handel, sing-along-rockyhorror, hell, even sing-along-thesongremainsthesame -- but I can't stand ABBA when ABBA is singing it.  Bleh.

I may never see this movie. 
LOL! To each his own. I would so go to the Castro for that.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on July 27, 2008, 03:57:09 PM

*runs screaming from the room*

I'll do sing-along-handel, sing-along-rockyhorror, hell, even sing-along-thesongremainsthesame -- but I can't stand ABBA when ABBA is singing it.  Bleh.

I may never see this movie. 

welcome to the official 10@10 anti-abba squadron of the naval seals, soldier! we specialise in erasure tactics,  and whitney houston sneaks. if you're more of a debbie boone man, you can go join the army!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 27, 2008, 04:34:46 PM

*runs screaming from the room*

I'll do sing-along-handel, sing-along-rockyhorror, hell, even sing-along-thesongremainsthesame -- but I can't stand ABBA when ABBA is singing it.  Bleh.

I may never see this movie. 

welcome to the official 10@10 anti-abba squadron of the naval seals, soldier! we specialise in erasure tactics
Bad covers of "Take a Chance on Me"?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on July 27, 2008, 07:09:45 PM

*runs screaming from the room*

I'll do sing-along-handel, sing-along-rockyhorror, hell, even sing-along-thesongremainsthesame -- but I can't stand ABBA when ABBA is singing it.  Bleh.

I may never see this movie. 

welcome to the official 10@10 anti-abba squadron of the naval seals, soldier! we specialise in erasure tactics
Bad covers of "Take a Chance on Me"?

if you change your mind...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 28, 2008, 09:39:43 PM
Just came from Mamma Mia!. I wish I could say it's a good movie -- it could've been, in better hands, but it's not. Love the songs; would rather hear ABBA sing them, for the most part. Not very well directed; atrocious (non-)choreography, Pierce Brosnan Can. Not. Sing. Songs on top of songs for no reason other than to shoehorn another hit into the mix (the last 10 minutes has a musical WTF? moment that rivals the one in Hancock). Streep CAN sing; but it's not her finest acting hour. Yeah, I know, it ain't Shakespeare, but somebody could've done something with this and they left it in the hands of a first-time director and that was a shame, IMHO. Oh, and it's a bleeping *ABBA* musical that *revolves* around a wedding, and they barely sing ONE verse of "I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do"? What??

Best moments/nicest surprises: the obscure ballads "Our Last Summer" and "Slipping Thru My Fingers", nicely underplayed while everything else is breathlessly oversold.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 29, 2008, 10:09:39 AM
I just happened to check something on IMDb regarding The Dark Knight, and it is now the #1 movie on their rankings (1-10 scale).  And it's not even close.  Only three other movies top 8.9, and they are all 9.0 to 9.1.  The Dark Knight has a score of 9.4.  And as many total votes as Godfather II, which is 4th now.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 29, 2008, 10:20:52 AM
I just happened to check something on IMDb regarding The Dark Knight, and it is now the #1 movie on their rankings (1-10 scale).  And it's not even close.  Only three other movies top 8.9, and they are all 9.0 to 9.1.  The Dark Knight has a score of 9.4.  And as many total votes as Godfather II, which is 4th now.

that's just crazy -- that's why geeks are called, er, geeks.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 01, 2008, 09:44:05 PM
Dark Knight is awesome!  Some of the pyrotechnics demand a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, and the Joker pulls off some things that require deus-ex-machina omniscience, but, that being said, it does not play down to the lowest common denominator.  If anything it will probably lose some points with the general public for its overall density - you really have to pay attention & things happen fast - but that's only because Christopher Nolan tops his Batman Begins in both action set-pieces and in character development...

You absolutely cannot Take. Your. Eyes. Off. of Heath Ledger's Joker.  F***ing brilliant.

Just came from seeing TDK and I agree, pretty much -- nothing could live up to the kinda hype it's gotten, of course, but it's very good and very dark and Ledger is indeed amazing. Very crowded aud at Metreon for a 5:45 show on a Friday as the film begins its third week in theaters -- it will break the $400M mark on Monday, probably.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on August 01, 2008, 11:35:03 PM
Dark Knight is awesome!  Some of the pyrotechnics demand a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, and the Joker pulls off some things that require deus-ex-machina omniscience, but, that being said, it does not play down to the lowest common denominator.  If anything it will probably lose some points with the general public for its overall density - you really have to pay attention & things happen fast - but that's only because Christopher Nolan tops his Batman Begins in both action set-pieces and in character development...

You absolutely cannot Take. Your. Eyes. Off. of Heath Ledger's Joker.  F***ing brilliant.

Just came from seeing TDK and I agree, pretty much -- nothing could live up to the kinda hype it's gotten, of course, but it's very good and very dark and Ledger is indeed amazing. Very crowded aud at Metreon for a 5:45 show on a Friday as the film begins its third week in theaters -- it will break the $400M mark on Monday, probably.

Sarah and I just saw it tonight as well, at a small, single-screen house in Newberg (the closest "big" town to us). Can't find a thing to argue with what's been said about it already--its overriding darkness, Ledger's tour de force performance as the joker, and pretty fine turns by Gary Oldman and Aaron Eckhart as well. (Anyone else think The Joker's voice sounded like Tom Waits' speaking voice? An uncanny similarity, imo. And did anyone notice Anthony Michael Hall in it? I didn't but saw his name in the credits at the end.)

Spotted something in the press today that predicted TDK might surpass Titanic as the top-grossing film ever. Even after it hits $400M it's still got a ways to go (Titanic did just over $600M domestically), but it's definitely in the running.

Gotta give props to the Cameo (www.99w.com), where we saw it. It's a great old theater, a survivor of the 50s, and run with the same sort of ethos as, say, SF's Balboa. Deco carpeting, original light fixtures, and other accessories, an old projector on display upstairs, and other enhancements. They show old home movies of goings on in this area from the 40s and 50s, as well as some great vintage pre-film ads pushing popcorn and admonishing the crowd about talking, and "public displays of affection." A great movie going experience, and probably the coolest thing going on in the city of Newberg. These guys definitely get it (they also run a drive-in at the other end of town, see link above).

Oh, and one more thing: the cost of admission? Six bucks for a loge seat, and a mere five-spot if you're willing to sit in the less cozy seats--when was the last time you went to a movie that offered loge seating? The snack bar is almost as cheap, so the whole evening (two loge seats, two large drinks and a medium popcorn) was a mere $21.50. I can't imagine there's any place on the west coast showing that film any cheaper.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 10, 2008, 06:10:53 PM
I couldn't remember where Gaz posted about Wild in the Streets recently, so I'll put this here.

TANC1: WITS is available free on my Comcast On-Demand thingy -- just watched it, first time in years. Still an entertaining '60s B-movie, and events in it presage Woodstock and Kent State. The Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil songs are quite good, if a bit all-over-the-place (one minute Max Frost is Jim Morrison, the next he's Tommy James), and of course Shelley Winters RULES -- "I'm sure my son has a VERY good reason for paralyzing the country!". LSD for everyone!

TANC2: Privilege, which I recommended to Gaz in that same post, has just been released on DVD! Highly recommended.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 13, 2008, 03:21:02 PM
VHM the Xanadu commercial. Worst. Musical. EVAH (even with stiff competion from Can't Stop the Music and Mamma Mia!). But the song itself woulda been cheezy fun.

Jon & Vangelis? BOS4!
And don't forget Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.  It's up there.

Oh my yes.  (and Gaz will chime in with The Apple, also a contendah)

importing this from KFOG 1980 thread from yesterday, to add this TANC -- "6 Movies That Killed Disco" :

http://www.avclub.com/content/node/49874

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 13, 2008, 04:21:05 PM
So Mike, you mentioned having seen Pineapple Express, what did you think?

I liked it a lot, parts were pants-wettingly funny, but I supect it won't hold up to multiple viewings (which I have found to be true of Borat, f'rinstance).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 14, 2008, 07:56:59 AM
So Mike, you mentioned having seen Pineapple Express, what did you think?

I liked it a lot, parts were pants-wettingly funny, but I supect it won't hold up to multiple viewings (which I have found to be true of Borat, f'rinstance).

I thought it was very funny, and (as a non-user) stoner humor is not my favorite kind.  I place it somewhere below Superbad  but a few notches above Forgetting Sarah Marshall in the Apatow ouvre.

But I can't *wait* to see Tropic Thunder.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 14, 2008, 10:45:56 AM
OK Mark -- here's yer big chance:

http://www.scarlettjohansson.com/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 14, 2008, 11:25:57 AM
just rented "death of a president" (i think that's the title in english) the other day. it was in the theatres here last year. did anyone else catch it? i think it was only playing at the red vic. it was enjoyable as a mockumentary, mostly because of all the angles they covered. and the mixing of real and fake footage was great, too.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 14, 2008, 11:29:52 AM
just rented "death of a president" (i think that's the title in english) the other day. it was in the theatres here last year. did anyone else catch it? i think it was only playing at the red vic. it was enjoyable as a mockumentary, mostly because of all the angles they covered. and the mixing of real and fake footage was great, too.

indeed, it barely played theaters here -- the right-wing blogosphere was outraged by it and made a big stink.

But last week I saw a terrific French suspense thriller, Tell No One. And last night: Elegy, with Ben Kingsley having hot sex with Penelope Cruz and Patricia Clarkson! Not as icky as it sounds -- quite a good film, actually, based on a Philip Roth novel. Dennis Hopper's in it too -- is that him on your avatar, princess? I was astounded to hear he's a big right-winger now.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 14, 2008, 11:37:47 AM
just rented "death of a president" (i think that's the title in english) the other day. it was in the theatres here last year. did anyone else catch it? i think it was only playing at the red vic. it was enjoyable as a mockumentary, mostly because of all the angles they covered. and the mixing of real and fake footage was great, too.

indeed, it barely played theaters here -- the right-wing blogosphere was outraged by it and made a big stink.

But last week I saw a terrific French suspense thriller, Tell No One. And last night: Elegy, with Ben Kingsley having hot sex with Penelope Cruz and Patricia Clarkson! Not as icky as it sounds -- quite a good film, actually, based on a Philip Roth novel. Dennis Hopper's in it too -- is that him on your avatar, princess? I was astounded to hear he's a big right-winger now.

well, "death of a president" is def worth the rental.

yes, it's hopper on the avatar. "the american way" was the second part of my double feature rental the other night. it starts off as a trippy post-war drama, but quickly descends into wannabe camp comedy. even still, it's hard to hear of hopper as...well, just exactly how *big* of a right-winger could he be?

"elegy" was ok. the sex scenes weren't at all icky (i'm hot for kingsley! what a sexy beast!), but the plot...puh-lease...dragge quite a bit. maybe i don't understand because i'm not an old man. maybe i'd get it if i'd read roth's novel.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 14, 2008, 11:55:29 AM
it's hard to hear of hopper as...well, just exactly how *big* of a right-winger could he be?


there's a group in Hollywood called "Friends of Abe" that's a collection of right-wing Repubs -- its membership includes Hopper, Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer, Gary Sinise.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 14, 2008, 12:45:11 PM
it's hard to hear of hopper as...well, just exactly how *big* of a right-winger could he be?


there's a group in Hollywood called "Friends of Abe" that's a collection of right-wing Repubs -- its membership includes Hopper, Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer, Gary Sinise.

you're not making that up?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 14, 2008, 01:13:42 PM
it's hard to hear of hopper as...well, just exactly how *big* of a right-winger could he be?


there's a group in Hollywood called "Friends of Abe" that's a collection of right-wing Repubs -- its membership includes Hopper, Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer, Gary Sinise.

you're not making that up?

Nope. Granted, this is from the Washington Times, not the Post, but it's legit:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/23/hollywoods-conservative-underground/

Voight wrote a scathing, fact-free attack on Obama for the Wash Times last week that got a lot of attention:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/28/voight/

I assume the "Abe" in the group's name refers to Lincoln, but at first I thought -- "Abe (Grandpa) Simpson? Oh, you mean because they're all old and cranky?"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on August 14, 2008, 07:23:43 PM

Nope. Granted, this is from the Washington Times, not the Post, but it's legit:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/23/hollywoods-conservative-underground/

Voight wrote a scathing, fact-free attack on Obama for the Wash Times last week that got a lot of attention:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/28/voight/

I assume the "Abe" in the group's name refers to Lincoln, but at first I thought -- "Abe (Grandpa) Simpson? Oh, you mean because they're all old and cranky?"

ok, aside from the let me voight my concerns rant (angie gotsta be angry with daddy), i don't think there's any reason to criticise friends of abe. (and it wouldn't really be so bad if chaka khan, jeffrey wright, roy ayers and michelle pfeiffer started demoralising the country). lincoln was a republican, and so were most democrats before world war II. the article is written from an angle that assumes that being liberal = wanting to poop on troops, and that being conservative = wanting to send high school students off to their death in a senseless war. not everything is black and white. not everything is one long episode of "cops".

as voight writes (parentheses mine): "If Mr. Obama (mr. bush) had his way, he would have pulled (kept) our troops from (in) Iraq (for) years ago (STRIKE) and initiated an unprecedented bloodbath, turning over that country to the barbarianism of our enemies."

you're gonna tell me there's no lines in between which to read?

(i'm gonna go have a long drink to soothe my disavoightment)

ETA: incedently, that article doesn't mention hopper.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 15, 2008, 07:34:55 AM
ETA: incedently, that article doesn't mention hopper.

Sorry, I got the link to that article from a piece on Hollywood-Elsewhere that metioned Hopper -- apparently a bunch of these folks, including Voight, Hopper and Grammer, are working on a right-wing version of AChristmas Carol, (I kid you not!) coming in November:

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2008/08/dust_settles.php
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on August 17, 2008, 11:27:20 PM
So Mike, you mentioned having seen Pineapple Express, what did you think?

I liked it a lot, parts were pants-wettingly funny, but I supect it won't hold up to multiple viewings (which I have found to be true of Borat, f'rinstance).

I thought it was very funny, and (as a non-user) stoner humor is not my favorite kind.  I place it somewhere below Superbad  but a few notches above Forgetting Sarah Marshall in the Apatow ouvre.

But I can't *wait* to see Tropic Thunder.

Tropic Thunder was awesome.  Laughed and laughed.

Also, watched In Bruges On Demand today (on my new hi-def tv).  Awesome, as well.  Laughed and cried. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on August 18, 2008, 03:02:35 PM
my Mummy-Mamma evening

Somehow I got my hands on two vouchers worth $7.50 toward the purchase of tickets to see the new Mummy movie, so I finally used them this past Friday.  It's pretty bad in a lot of ways.  I knew it wouldn't be in the AFI's Top 100 anytime, but the gf and I went.

But I'm not here to talk about that.  After The Mummy wrapped up  ;)  , we sneaked into see Mamma Mia.  And I really enjoyed it.  A lot of folks have mentioned how loose it seemed, but I actually appreciated that aspect.  Silly story, some amateurish singing (Pierce-ing might be an apt descrption, but warbly might be better), and the dancing sequences aren't going to make Busby Berkeley jealous (esp b/e he's been dead for decades), but it was pretty decent feel-good light-hearted and that's what I needed after laboring through Brendan Fraser and his cohorts' efforts in The Mummy.  The scenery is great, a lot of sexy bodies, and I can get into ABBA.  it worked for me.

I suppose if I had made a special date to see Mamma, paid full price and had high expectations, it might've felt more underwhelming, but as it played out, it was a good time.    My gf was dragged by her mother to see the stage production, and she thought the movie experience was several notches better.   (btw, the threater was pretty empty, so there wasn't a crowd of people singing along.  That would've been too much for me..)

Maybe we can talk about other musicals later (Dennis Potter's takes are so fantastic) but for now, just thought I'd chime in....

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on August 18, 2008, 09:08:55 PM
After The Mummy wrapped up  ;) 

(http://www.loti.com/articles/Timeless_Laughter_html_58a3d304.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 19, 2008, 10:01:22 AM
the theater was pretty empty, so there wasn't a crowd of people singing along.  That would've been too much for me....


TANC (sorta): the Castro is doing sing-along Little Mermaid for a week starting this Friday.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 21, 2008, 09:50:33 AM
the theater was pretty empty, so there wasn't a crowd of people singing along.  That would've been too much for me....


TANC (sorta): the Castro is doing sing-along Little Mermaid for a week starting this Friday.

also on the Castro's big screen next month: the newly restored versions of Godfather I & II, prior to its release on DVD/Blu-Ray.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 23, 2008, 08:47:51 PM
It's all true: Tropic Thunder is just f---ing HIGH-larious. From the fake trailers before it starts to the big climax, non-stop bust-a-gut funniness.  Downey Jr gets special praise but, really, everybody's at the top of their game.

And I also saw Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and it really is one of Woody's best of the decade. Scarlet Jo and Penelope Cruz in hot girl-on-girl action -- yowsah!

"yeah, sure, I'll come up to your room... but you'll have to seduce me." (ScarJo says that to Javier, actually)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 24, 2008, 10:13:52 PM
It's all true: Tropic Thunder is just f---ing HIGH-larious. From the fake trailers before it starts to the big climax, non-stop bust-a-gut funniness.  Downey Jr gets special praise but, really, everybody's at the top of their game.

And I also saw Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and it really is one of Woody's best of the decade. Scarlet Jo and Penelope Cruz in hot girl-on-girl action -- yowsah!

"yeah, sure, I'll come up to your room... but you'll have to seduce me." (ScarJo says that to Javier, actually)

I loved TT too.  The faux Downey/Maguire trailer was worth the ticket by itself.  And I don't want to be a spoiler, but at what point did you figure out the uncredited cameo?  I didn't have a clue until pretty far in.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on August 24, 2008, 11:02:02 PM
Please rank these in the order in which I should see them:

Tropic Thunder
Dark Knight
Pineapple Express
Swing Voter
Wall-E


Graz,
Gaz.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on August 24, 2008, 11:28:33 PM
Please rank these in the order in which I should see them:

Tropic Thunder
Dark Knight
Pineapple Express
Swing Voter
Wall-E


Graz,
Gaz.

Well, I haven't seen Swing Voter or TT, but of the remaining trio, I'd rank them thusly:

1) Dark Knight
2) Wall-E
5,342) Pineapple Express

I saw the last of these because it was it was 101 out that day and it was the only thing both my wife and I both had any curiousity about that we hadn't seen yet (TT was not out yet), and we both regretted it--should have seen Dark Knight a second time. (Admittedly, movie pickings around here lean heavily toward mainstream multiplex fodder, unless we drive into Portland--and it's only slightly better there.) Apatow, attach your name to another flick as bad as this and your reputation will be forever trashed, if it's not already.

Not having seen them, I'd still guess Tropic Thunder probably ranks after Dark Knight, and Swing Voter after Wall-E.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 25, 2008, 07:47:34 AM
I don't want to be a spoiler, but at what point did you figure out the uncredited cameo?  I didn't have a clue until pretty far in.


I knew about it beforehand (it's gotten tons of publicity, so It's not exactly a secret) And it's pretty easy to figure out who it is once the person in question appears, IMHO.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on August 25, 2008, 09:47:30 AM
Please rank these in the order in which I should see them:

Tropic Thunder
Dark Knight
Pineapple Express
Swing Voter
Wall-E


Graz,
Gaz.
I've only seen Wall-E, and you should see it too.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on August 25, 2008, 09:48:10 AM
Please rank these in the order in which I should see them:

Tropic Thunder
Dark Knight
Pineapple Express
Swing Voter
Wall-E


Graz,
Gaz.

Well, I haven't seen Swing Voter or TT, but of the remaining trio, I'd rank them thusly:

1) Dark Knight
2) Wall-E
5,342) Pineapple Express

I saw the last of these because it was it was 101 out that day and it was the only thing both my wife and I both had any curiousity about that we hadn't seen yet (TT was not out yet), and we both regretted it--should have seen Dark Knight a second time. (Admittedly, movie pickings around here lean heavily toward mainstream multiplex fodder, unless we drive into Portland--and it's only slightly better there.) Apatow, attach your name to another flick as bad as this and your reputation will be forever trashed, if it's not already.

Not having seen them, I'd still guess Tropic Thunder probably ranks after Dark Knight, and Swing Voter after Wall-E.

I've only seen two, which should be seen in this order:

1.  Tropic Thunder
5,342.  Pineapple Express

To be fair, I saw PE straight -- undoubtedly it's much funnier stoned.  But it didn't do much for me, especially in comparison to TT.

Of the remaining 3, I'm not tempted to see any of them.  I will look forward to Wall-E on cable, and will catch the other two on cable as well, perhaps even renting the Dark Knight OnDemand before it comes out for free.  I'm not a big fan of the Batman franchise, or Batman in general.  Not my cup of super-hero.





Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on August 25, 2008, 09:53:41 AM
I don't want to be a spoiler, but at what point did you figure out the uncredited cameo?  I didn't have a clue until pretty far in.


I knew about it beforehand (it's gotten tons of publicity, so It's not exactly a secret) And it's pretty easy to figure out who it is one the person in question appears, IMHO.

Which uncredited cameo?  I didn't read the credits much, and there were a lot of cameos (like Lance Bass, who was only there for a second, but got a big laugh).  I assume you mean the Les Grossman character, but I thought he was credited.  Hilarious, regardless.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on August 25, 2008, 09:59:10 AM
[I will look forward to Wall-E on cable
Well, it is pretty high-rez animation dude!  We saw it in Kauai, and my memory is hazy due to the vacation induced dream state, but it seemed pretty good at the time!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 25, 2008, 10:28:33 AM
I don't want to be a spoiler, but at what point did you figure out the uncredited cameo?  I didn't have a clue until pretty far in.


I knew about it beforehand (it's gotten tons of publicity, so It's not exactly a secret) And it's pretty easy to figure out who it is one the person in question appears, IMHO.


Which uncredited cameo?  I didn't read the credits much, and there were a lot of cameos (like Lance Bass, who was only there for a second, but got a big laugh).  I assume you mean the Les Grossman character, but I thought he was credited.  Hilarious, regardless.


Yes, the Les - "a nutless monkey could do your job" - Grossman character (and that line's about where I realized who it was). I guess I should've said, un-billed cameo.  You're right that he was credited, in fact he was the credits.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 25, 2008, 10:35:19 AM
Please rank these in the order in which I should see them:

Tropic Thunder
Dark Knight
Pineapple Express
Swing Voter
Wall-E


Graz,
Gaz.

I've seen all but Swing Vote, but I would say that TT, DK & W-E are all must sees.  Probably my 3 favorite films of the year, with Iron Man a close follower.  In terms of tone, W-E & DK are polar opposites, so make sure you're in the right mood.  Can't imagine that Swing Vote is anything more a than a nice one to see when there's nothing else on cable.

I liked PE quite well, but can see how others didn't like it so much.  And I was totally straight when I saw it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 25, 2008, 11:11:04 AM
the theater was pretty empty, so there wasn't a crowd of people singing along.  That would've been too much for me....


TANC (sorta): the Castro is doing sing-along Little Mermaid for a week starting this Friday.

And -- Breaking News! -- apprently starting Friday in "selected theaters", Universal is rolling out a sing-along version of Mamma Mia!, trying to strike while the iron is, well, reasonably warm.

http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/19/mamma-mia-to-become-louder-more-annoying-via-sing-along-edi/

"And the best part is, even if you're a terrible singer, you can take comfort in knowing you're still better than Pierce Brosnan..."  LOL!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on August 25, 2008, 11:18:02 AM
[I will look forward to Wall-E on cable
Well, it is pretty high-rez animation dude!  We saw it in Kauai, and my memory is hazy due to the vacation induced dream state, but it seemed pretty good at the time!

Have I mentioned that I just bought a 46" hi-def tv?  Reduces the need to see more visual movies on the big screen...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on August 31, 2008, 09:26:57 PM
I loved TT too.  The faux Downey/Maguire trailer was worth the ticket by itself.  And I don't want to be a spoiler, but at what point did you figure out the uncredited cameo?  I didn't have a clue until pretty far in.
we saw it tonight, and it was quite confusing.  It took me a while to figure out who was playing Les Grossman, even though I had heard about it on the Daily Show.  Are you referring to someone else?  We paid our money; don't leave us in suspense!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 02, 2008, 11:13:34 AM
I loved TT too.  The faux Downey/Maguire trailer was worth the ticket by itself.  And I don't want to be a spoiler, but at what point did you figure out the uncredited cameo?  I didn't have a clue until pretty far in.
we saw it tonight, and it was quite confusing.  It took me a while to figure out who was playing Les Grossman, even though I had heard about it on the Daily Show.  Are you referring to someone else?  We paid our money; don't leave us in suspense!

Yes, that's what I was talking about.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on September 05, 2008, 10:47:17 PM
My only movie of the year was I Am Legend, which was interesting but ultimately unsatisfying and anticlimactic.  They could have been a lot more imaginative (and given its 1:40 running time, it's not like they didn't have room to).
just watched it on DVD for the first time.  I remember my students saying last year how cool it was, but it doesn't seem like their kind of movie.  I'm not sure whose kind of movie it was.  Martha gave up on it after not too long.  I watched the whole thing, and found it quite dark and challenging.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on September 06, 2008, 09:15:04 AM
but it doesn't seem like their kind of movie.  I'm not sure whose kind of movie it was. 

This is a great dig, even if you didn't mean it as such.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on September 06, 2008, 09:38:15 PM
but it doesn't seem like their kind of movie.  I'm not sure whose kind of movie it was. 
This is a great dig, even if you didn't mean it as such.
I'm not sure how I felt about it.  It was a very emotional day yesterday, as I knew we were going to have to take our 16+ year old dog Lucy (http://ggould.blogspot.com/2008/09/lucy-in-sky.html) to the vet for euthanasia.  There is a very strong part in the movie for a dog, and a very emotional scene.  Recalling the movie today in the personal context of our dog was very hard.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on September 07, 2008, 12:41:28 AM
but it doesn't seem like their kind of movie.  I'm not sure whose kind of movie it was. 
This is a great dig, even if you didn't mean it as such.
I'm not sure how I felt about it.  It was a very emotional day yesterday, as I knew we were going to have to take our 16+ year old dog Lucy (http://ggould.blogspot.com/2008/09/lucy-in-sky.html) to the vet for euthanasia.  There is a very strong part in the movie for a dog, and a very emotional scene.  Recalling the movie today in the personal context of our dog was very hard.

Geoff, my deepest sympathy on the loss of your longtime companion and friend. We had to make that same difficult decision about our dog Charlie about a year and a half ago and it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

By no small coincidence, we just adopted a new dog, an English springer spaniel, from a shelter in Vancouver, WA last Monday. We named him Alistair, and he's a really sweet, smart pooch. (I'd lobbied hard for Farley, but it's too close to Charlie, poetically speaking.) I'm sure one day, in your own time, you'll be ready to take in a new friend too. I'm glad we did.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on September 07, 2008, 09:23:27 AM
Geoff, I'm very sorry to hear this news about Lucy.  But I hope you're taking comfort in having made the right decision.

Meantime, this could have gone in a number of threads - it's the trailer for the new Michael Moore moving, Slacker Uprising, which will be available in its entirety as a free download upon release Sept. 23.

http://slackeruprising.com/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on September 07, 2008, 11:52:10 AM
Geoff, I'm very sorry to hear this news about Lucy.  But I hope you're taking comfort in having made the right decision.

Meantime, this could have gone in a number of threads - it's the trailer for the new Michael Moore moving, Slacker Uprising, which will be available in its entirety as a free download upon release Sept. 23.

http://slackeruprising.com/

Hope that gets through to the populace of Portland. Very high slacker factor here.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on September 07, 2008, 04:27:25 PM
Geoff, I'm very sorry to hear this news about Lucy.  But I hope you're taking comfort in having made the right decision.

Meantime, this could have gone in a number of threads - it's the trailer for the new Michael Moore moving, Slacker Uprising, which will be available in its entirety as a free download upon release Sept. 23.

http://slackeruprising.com/

Hope that gets through to the populace of Portland. Very high slacker factor here.
Invite people over for a cheese tasting / movie showing?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on September 08, 2008, 09:39:47 AM
but it doesn't seem like their kind of movie.  I'm not sure whose kind of movie it was. 
This is a great dig, even if you didn't mean it as such.
I'm not sure how I felt about it.  It was a very emotional day yesterday, as I knew we were going to have to take our 16+ year old dog Lucy (http://ggould.blogspot.com/2008/09/lucy-in-sky.html) to the vet for euthanasia.  There is a very strong part in the movie for a dog, and a very emotional scene.  Recalling the movie today in the personal context of our dog was very hard.
Sorry to hear Geoff. Hope time heals the pain and only the good memories remain.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 12, 2008, 01:55:18 PM
Do not pass go. 

Do not collect $200.

Go directly to Burn After Reading.  (unless you really don't get the Coen bros sense of humor; if you liked Raising Arizona &/or Big Lebowski, you will love this). 

If only because George Clooney gets to deliver the following line:

"It's a hundred bucks, all in.  Not counting my labor...and the price of the dildo."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on September 12, 2008, 08:58:34 PM
Serious question: Are Clooney, Pitt, and Jolie actually talented actors, or do we collectively just love the beautiful people?  (FWIW, I find them vaguely attractive but am not attracted to any of the three.)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 12, 2008, 09:17:16 PM
Serious question: Are Clooney, Pitt, and Jolie actually talented actors, or do we collectively just love the beautiful people?  (FWIW, I find them vaguely attractive but am not attracted to any of the three.)

IMHO, Clooney is the most talented of the three (he can direct, too). I think he has the most range and depth, in an old-school movie star kinda way. Pitt and Jolie have talent but are, I think, a little too in love with celebrity. She was quite good as Daniel Pearl's wife, for example, but she makes a lot of high-paying crap like Wanted.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 16, 2008, 08:48:22 AM
Do not pass go. 

Do not collect $200.

Go directly to Burn After Reading.  (unless you really don't get the Coen bros sense of humor; if you liked Raising Arizona &/or Big Lebowski, you will love this). 

If only because George Clooney gets to deliver the following line:

"It's a hundred bucks, all in.  Not counting my labor...and the price of the dildo."

Saw it last nite -- very VERY funny.  Malkovich especially, doing his specialty of funny/angry. "*I* have a drinking problem?? You're a Mormon -- compared to you we ALL have a drinking problem!"

and yes, the situation in which Clooney delivers that line brought down the house.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 17, 2008, 04:11:26 PM
news to me, but apparently in the pipeline:

"Whatever they’re paying Mos Def’s agent, it’s not enough. Fresh off his high-profile performance in Be Kind, Rewind, the mighty Mos has recently been cast as Chuck Berry in Cadillac Records, the upcoming film on the rise and fall of the influential Chicago label Chess Records.

Alongside him, Adrien Brody will play label founder Leonard Chess, Cedric The Entertainer will portray session musician Willie Dixon, Eamonn Walker will play Howlin’ Wolf, and, as previously reported, Beyoncι Knowles will do her best Etta James. Knowles will also contribute four songs to the soundtrack, though there's no word on whether they’ll be remakes of James material. "


Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on September 17, 2008, 10:28:33 PM
Mos Def, FWIW, was *fabulous* as Ford Prefect in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  I wish I liked his music more, but it's spotty.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on September 18, 2008, 09:14:01 AM
Mos Def, FWIW, was *fabulous* as Ford Prefect in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  I wish I liked his music more, but it's spotty.

He was also good in the Bruce Willis vehicle, 16 Blocks. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 19, 2008, 03:01:54 PM
Best movie title I've heard in ages:  Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1122775/) .
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on September 29, 2008, 11:09:47 AM
Do not pass go. 

Do not collect $200.

Go directly to Burn After Reading.  (unless you really don't get the Coen bros sense of humor; if you liked Raising Arizona &/or Big Lebowski, you will love this). 

If only because George Clooney gets to deliver the following line:

"It's a hundred bucks, all in.  Not counting my labor...and the price of the dildo."

Finally saw this last night in a theater with four other people. Raucous laughter from most of us--Sarah's not such a big fan of the Coen's sense of humor.

And to respond to the question about Clooney, Brad, and Angelina, I agree that Clooney is probably the most talented of the three, but Pitt was really good as the vapid and dense Chad in this film. Like he was born to the part. :)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 29, 2008, 11:15:10 AM
DAMN! If this doesn't make you want to see Josh Brolin as Dubya, nothing will:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0HHHJXJUU8

I. Cannot. WAIT.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on September 29, 2008, 11:42:44 AM
Tis the season for films about disgraced presidents, I guess. Before Burn After Reading last night we saw a trailer for Frost / Nixon, a film version of the play about David Frost's interviews with Richard Nixon in 1977. Looks good, but Frank Langella's Nixon seemed almost an exaggeration of Dick's vocal mannerisms. They couldn't get Rich Little?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0870111/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 29, 2008, 11:50:31 AM
Tis the season for films about disgraced presidents, I guess. Before Burn After Reading last night we saw a trailer for Frost / Nixon, a film version of the play about David Frost's interviews with Richard Nixon in 1977. Looks good, but Frank Langella's Nixon seemed almost an exaggeration of Dick's vocal mannerisms. They couldn't get Rich Little?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0870111/

I saw Frost/Nixon on B'way last year with Langella and the great Michael Sheen (he was Tony Blair in The Queen and plays Frost here).  It was good, not great, but certainly entertaining. The movie is a Ron Howard thing, so I'm skeptical -- no doubt they'll be pushing both actors for the Oscar race.  I'm still betting on Brolin, but then I predicted Sheen would be a shoo-in for The Queen, and he wasn't even nominated.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 29, 2008, 04:18:35 PM
Over the weekend I saw the French thriller Tell No One, and recommend it highly.  It's not playing on too many screens, but it is well worth the effort to find it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 30, 2008, 12:13:58 PM
Over the weekend I saw the French thriller Tell No One, and recommend it highly.  It's not playing on too many screens, but it is well worth the effort to find it.

A terriffic movie. Sort of like The Fugitive in French (tho' it's based on an American novel). And Kristin Scott-Thomas as a lesbian! If she wasn't on the princess' "list" before, she will be now...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 09, 2008, 09:35:04 AM
Saw Religulous last nite and thoroughly enjoyed. Of course, I totally agree with Bill Maher's opinions on religion, so I was pretty much predisposed to like it.  Great exchange (you may have seen it in the commercials):

Pastor of an "ex-gay" ministry: "Nobody is born gay"

Maher: "Have you ever met Little Richard?"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on October 10, 2008, 12:44:53 PM
Saw Religulous last nite

I hope it comes out here. There was a repot on the news the other day about that film, the new Michael Moore film, the "new" Michael Moore spoof film, and Oliver Stone's film about Bush. I wouldn't mind seeing all of them.

For now, though, we rejoice because "Mad Money" hit theatres today!! Gosh, what a nightmare that film must be. Who decided to put Queen Latifah, Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes together? Does Katie Holmes even act? And Queen Latifah was already in a bankrobbing movie (granted, it wasn't a comedy). OK, I just had to look it up - Ted Danson is in it, too! Super!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 10, 2008, 01:10:07 PM
Saw Religulous last nite

I hope it comes out here. There was a repot on the news the other day about that film, the new Michael Moore film, the "new" Michael Moore spoof film, and Oliver Stone's film about Bush. I wouldn't mind seeing all of them.

For now, though, we rejoice because "Mad Money" hit theatres today!! Gosh, what a nightmare that film must be. Who decided to put Queen Latifah, Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes together? Does Katie Holmes even act? And Queen Latifah was already in a bankrobbing movie (granted, it wasn't a comedy). OK, I just had to look it up - Ted Danson is in it, too! Super!

The Moore spoof is the one with the "cream" of the H'wood GOP (Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Jon Voight) and Chris Farley's little brother as the Moore character -- An American Carol. It's supposed to be pretty awful.  Queen Latifah RULED in her Sat Nite Live cameo this week as PBS's Gwen Ifill, moderating the Palin/Biden debate. I am TOTALLY looking fwd to W.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on October 11, 2008, 09:26:32 AM
Queen Latifah RULED in her Sat Nite Live cameo this week as PBS's Gwen Ifill, moderating the Palin/Biden debate.

they removed it from youtube, but i found it here:
http://mediahangout.blogspot.com/2008/10/snl-vp-debate-spoof-100408-saturday_9661.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on October 12, 2008, 10:05:34 PM
Queen Latifah RULED in her Sat Nite Live cameo this week as PBS's Gwen Ifill, moderating the Palin/Biden debate.
they removed it from youtube, but i found it here:
http://mediahangout.blogspot.com/2008/10/snl-vp-debate-spoof-100408-saturday_9661.html
It's not like it's being hidden, it's the top video on nbc.com:
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/update-thursday-debate-open/742065/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 24, 2008, 07:42:06 AM
Bizarre movie item of the week: Steven Soderburgh is planning a rock musical about Cleopatra -- in 3-D!  With Catherine Zeta-Jones as Cleo. And music by Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117994550.html?categoryId=13&cs=1&nid=2854

He's also working on a Liberace biopic with Michael Douglas as Liberace (!) and Matt Damon as his boyfriend.

Ya can't make this stuff up!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on October 28, 2008, 03:31:20 AM
Bizarre movie item of the week: Steven Soderburgh is planning a rock musical about Cleopatra -- in 3-D!  With Catherine Zeta-Jones as Cleo. And music by Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117994550.html?categoryId=13&cs=1&nid=2854

He's also working on a Liberace biopic with Michael Douglas as Liberace (!) and Matt Damon as his boyfriend.

Ya can't make this stuff up!

???? well, i'll definitely catch the cleopatra!

just finished watching "birds of america". great acting!! and zoλ kravitz is in it! she's 20 already!

ETA: and she acts about as well as her mother.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on October 31, 2008, 09:04:02 AM
Zack and Miri banned in Utah

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/zackandmiri_blog.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on October 31, 2008, 09:28:22 AM
Zack and Miri banned in Utah

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/zackandmiri_blog.html

Loved the last line of the article:  "But at least they didn't see Seth Rogen in his underwear."

Has there ever been a less likely box-office star?
Title: Bond, James Bond
Post by: ggould on November 08, 2008, 09:53:13 PM
http://media.entertainment.sky.com/image/unscaled/2008/10/29/Quantum-of-solace-Background.jpg
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on November 14, 2008, 03:10:34 PM
Mshray's review of Quantum Of Solace:

A) You gots to pay attention.  Lot's of David Mamet style insider dialogue & almost complete lack of exposition.  Paul Haggis has a screenwriting credit on top of Bond vets Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, which tells you something.
B) You need to remember Casino Royale pretty well, because this is definitely a sequel & they don't stop to do any flashbacks (even though I saw at least one trailer that did contain one).  If you don't remember who Mr. White, Vesper & Mathis are (as well as the 21st century version of Felix Leiter), go back and rewatch.  In fact I think this is actually the middle chapter of a trilogy.  At least one person's fate is unresolved, and at the very end another's fate is slightly different than what you thought (if you're paying attention).
C) Building on a long term 007 trend, Dame Judy's M continues to have a significantly greater dramatic role each time.
D) Olga Kurilenko is HAWT!!! (and sorry for the spoiler, but that's even though she doesn't disrobe).
E) The minor character Strawberry Fields, who does disrobe, is also easy on the eyes, and according to IMDb, she was born with 6 fingers on each hand(!).
F) I'm becoming a huge Daniel Craig fan ever since Munich, but even in Lara Croft he was pretty cool.  Hope he keeps the franchise for a couple more films. Physically he's my favorite Bond now, although Connery still #1 for style.  Looking forward to him in Defiance.
G) There are a couple of very nice blink-and-you-miss-them touches to the production, that don't have anything to do with the plot, but when you do notice them you can pat yourself on the back for being observant.  For example, watch the MI6 computer screen when Bond is being debriefed on the name of the villain.  Makes someone like me want to get the DVD and see what else I may have missed.

I can see how some might think this movie is a little too fast paced, too many rapid jump cuts, not a lot spelled out for the viewer, in general kind of challenging a la the last two Bourne flicks.  But how the Merc can accuse it of being 'bland' is incomprehensible to me.  Crowd I saw it with during lunch hour definitely seemed to enjoy it.

(oh, and we got to see the first trailer for the new Star Trek, smartly taking a page from Batman Begins & reinventing the whole thing from Kirk's & Spock's childhoods forward, as well as the trailer for Watchmen.  I can NOT WAIT for Watchmen, which is coming out on my birthday no less!)


Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on November 14, 2008, 11:06:30 PM
the trailer for Watchmen.  I can NOT WAIT for Watchmen, which is coming out on my birthday no less!)

As indifferent as I am to film, even I am anxious for Watchmen.  The illo novel affected me heavily.  I'm not sold on the castings, though Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach seems inspired.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on November 15, 2008, 10:50:06 AM
the trailer for Watchmen.  I can NOT WAIT for Watchmen, which is coming out on my birthday no less!)

As indifferent as I am to film, even I am anxious for Watchmen.  The illo novel affected me heavily.  I'm not sold on the castings, though Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach seems inspired.

Agreed on Jackie Earle Haley, although in an interesting coincidence, I read that they almost gave the part to the aforementioned Daniel Craig (!)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on November 15, 2008, 10:54:14 AM
Zack and Miri banned in Utah

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/zackandmiri_blog.html

Loved the last line of the article:  "But at least they didn't see Seth Rogen in his underwear."

Has there ever been a less likely box-office star?

Maybe not, but it was a pretty good flick imho.  I cannot believe Brandon Routh is still doing such a complete Christopher Reeve impression, up to and including taking a gay role after playing Superman (a la Reeve in Deathtrap).  Justin 'I'm-aMac' Long is utterly hysterical as Routh's boyfirend, that's his line in my sigquote.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 20, 2008, 08:34:10 AM
Mshray's review of Quantum Of Solace:


I saw it last nite and was underwhelmed. It's an OK action film, but the chase scenes all seemed cribbed from the Bourne flicks. (Maybe they should call the next one The Bond Ultimatum?)  I did like the nod to Goldfinger near the end, and the continuing theme of "what Bond does actually has real-world consequences for people he cares about -- innocent people who should never have gotten hurt". And that's something. But it's a pretty average action pic. (Worth noting, perhaps: the first Bond flick directed by an American, and the shortest at 106 mins).  Thank gawd for The Dench. And more Jeffrey Wright next time!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 20, 2008, 08:49:18 AM
From Peter Hartlaub's review of Twilight in today's Chron:

"One more small note, which is very important for the future of our economy: Several characters in this film have George Michael's gravity-defying bird's-nest hair from the Wham Make It Big sessions, which looks only slightly less ridiculous now than it did in 1984. Invest any spare cash you have in companies that deal in hair gel. I have a feeling this film is going to be huge."

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on November 22, 2008, 10:24:56 PM
Mshray's review of Quantum Of Solace:

A) You gots to pay attention.  Lot's of David Mamet style insider dialogue & almost complete lack of exposition.  Paul Haggis has a screenwriting credit on top of Bond vets Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, which tells you something.
B) You need to remember Casino Royale pretty well, because this is definitely a sequel & they don't stop to do any flashbacks (even though I saw at least one trailer that did contain one).  If you don't remember who Mr. White, Vesper & Mathis are (as well as the 21st century version of Felix Leiter), go back and rewatch.  In fact I think this is actually the middle chapter of a trilogy.  At least one person's fate is unresolved, and at the very end another's fate is slightly different than what you thought (if you're paying attention).
C) Building on a long term 007 trend, Dame Judy's M continues to have a significantly greater dramatic role each time.
D) Olga Kurilenko is HAWT!!! (and sorry for the spoiler, but that's even though she doesn't disrobe).
E) The minor character Strawberry Fields, who does disrobe, is also easy on the eyes, and according to IMDb, she was born with 6 fingers on each hand(!).
F) I'm becoming a huge Daniel Craig fan ever since Munich, but even in Lara Croft he was pretty cool.  Hope he keeps the franchise for a couple more films. Physically he's my favorite Bond now, although Connery still #1 for style.  Looking forward to him in Defiance.
G) There are a couple of very nice blink-and-you-miss-them touches to the production, that don't have anything to do with the plot, but when you do notice them you can pat yourself on the back for being observant.  For example, watch the MI6 computer screen when Bond is being debriefed on the name of the villain.  Makes someone like me want to get the DVD and see what else I may have missed.

I can see how some might think this movie is a little too fast paced, too many rapid jump cuts, not a lot spelled out for the viewer, in general kind of challenging a la the last two Bourne flicks.  But how the Merc can accuse it of being 'bland' is incomprehensible to me.  Crowd I saw it with during lunch hour definitely seemed to enjoy it.

(oh, and we got to see the first trailer for the new Star Trek, smartly taking a page from Batman Begins & reinventing the whole thing from Kirk's & Spock's childhoods forward, as well as the trailer for Watchmen.  I can NOT WAIT for Watchmen, which is coming out on my birthday no less!)
We went tonight, tried to get there early, and still couldn't get two seats together!  I really enjoyed it, and found the film quite graceful, if a little typical in the "why can't the bad guys shoot straight" sort of way.  The plane chase, for example!   Not at all a comedy, at all.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on November 23, 2008, 10:35:20 PM
Saw Quantum last night. Still selling out but got two seats in the back row, high up, not bad at all. I still prefer the classic Bond flicks but can't fault this for lack of action. Had me jumping in my seat. Took turns I didn't anticipate. It was worthy.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on November 24, 2008, 11:15:31 AM
This could also go on the Prop 8 thread, but here it is:  I got this email from my cousin Jerome, who came out about 2 yrs ago to my dad (my other gay cousin came out to me a year earlier).  I had not heard about the Cinemark angle on this & want to be sure we all know about it & spread the word.

Friends, as you may or may not know, "Milk," starring Sean Penn, is opening nationwide this week.  Harvey Milk was a San Francisco politician in the '70s, was openly gay and fought a ballot initiative which would have 'rooted out' gay teachers in the public schools there.  That proposition failed, but, as you probably know, another proposition, Prop 8, DID pass in the elections a few weeks ago which changed California's constitution banning same sex marriage.  Since gay marriage was legalized in California earlier this year, over 20,000 couples were legally married, now their status is in question.  The larger question, whether you're gay or not, is a simple question of denying a whole portion of the population the basic right to love and marry whomever they want, with all of the responsibilities and benefits a legally recognized marriage brings.

Cinemark Theaters, which run Tinseltown, Century Theaters and CineArts Theaters is one of the largest distributors of this film.  Alan Stock, the CEO of Cinemark, contributed $9999 to the campaign to pass Prop 8.  There is a movement afoot which is requesting that you see this movie (and I think it's important that you do) in a non-Cinemark Theater.  You can find a non-Cinemark Theater showing the film on this website:  www.fandango.com.

If you feel even more motivated, email Cinemark and tell them that you're not going to see the movie at their theater and, better yet, tell them why...you can email them here: http://www.cinemark.com/contactus.asp (http://www.cinemark.com/contactus.asp)

Please pass this on to whomever else you think may be interested in this issue.

Regards,

Jerome
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 24, 2008, 11:21:52 AM
This could also go on the Prop 8 thread, but here it is:  I got this email from my cousin Jerome, who came out about 2 yrs ago to my dad (my other gay cousin came out to me a year earlier).  I had not heard about the Cinemark angle on this & want to be sure we all know about it & spread the word.

Friends, as you may or may not know, "Milk," starring Sean Penn, is opening nationwide this week.  Harvey Milk was a San Francisco politician in the '70s, was openly gay and fought a ballot initiative which would have 'rooted out' gay teachers in the public schools there.  That proposition failed, but, as you probably know, another proposition, Prop 8, DID pass in the elections a few weeks ago which changed California's constitution banning same sex marriage.  Since gay marriage was legalized in California earlier this year, over 20,000 couples were legally married, now their status is in question.  The larger question, whether you're gay or not, is a simple question of denying a whole portion of the population the basic right to love and marry whomever they want, with all of the responsibilities and benefits a legally recognized marriage brings.

Cinemark Theaters, which run Tinseltown, Century Theaters and CineArts Theaters is one of the largest distributors of this film.  Alan Stock, the CEO of Cinemark, contributed $9999 to the campaign to pass Prop 8.  There is a movement afoot which is requesting that you see this movie (and I think it's important that you do) in a non-Cinemark Theater.  You can find a non-Cinemark Theater showing the film on this website:  www.fandango.com.

If you feel even more motivated, email Cinemark and tell them that you're not going to see the movie at their theater and, better yet, tell them why...you can email them here: http://www.cinemark.com/contactus.asp (http://www.cinemark.com/contactus.asp)

Please pass this on to whomever else you think may be interested in this issue.

Regards,

Jerome

indeed, I'd heard about the Cinemark boycott. Given that the film will be playing in other theaters as well, it seems a pretty easy way to "vote with your wallet".  (in SF it'll be at both the Castro and the Embarcadero).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 03, 2008, 12:42:02 PM
It's The Runaways: The Movie! Yes, it's about the band. Kristen Stewart of Twilight will play Joan Jett...

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/twilight-star-stakes-out-joan-jett-role/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 08, 2008, 08:27:09 PM
Just came from seeing Cadillac Records, which I very much enjoyed. Great music and terrific acting all around (Jeffrey Wright RULES, and even Beyonce is good). Yes, it follows the standard template of the genre (humble beginnings! drugs & alcohol! chart montages!) but for a movie that traffics in so many musical-biopic cliches, it's pretty nimble, and at just an hour & 45 mins, it whizzes by.   

Fun fact: I never knew that Etta James claimed her father was pool player Minnesota Fats!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etta_James
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 11, 2008, 11:52:55 AM
Headline of the week, from a hollywood-elsewhere.com article about how horrendously bad the remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still is:

"Klaatu Barada Ix-nay"

Well, it made *me* laugh, anyway...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 11, 2008, 12:14:58 PM
I saw Milk & loved it, but apparently the Hollywood Foreign Press did not, as it was shut out of the Golden Globe nominations  (http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2009/globes) revealed today.  As widely expected, Heath Ledger got a supporting nom for Dark Knight, but I didn't expect Tom Cruise to get one for Tropic Thunder.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 11, 2008, 12:31:06 PM
I saw Milk & loved it, but apparently the Hollywood Foreign Press did not, as it was shut out of the Golden Globe nominations  (http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2009/globes) revealed today.  As widely expected, Heath Ledger got a supporting nom for Dark Knight, but I didn't expect Tom Cruise to get one for Tropic Thunder.

They did nominate Penn, but yeah, quite a shutout otherwise, ignoring Van Sant and Josh Brolin.

Weirdest OMGWTF, though, is Best Song for Springsteen, who apparently wrote the title song for the Mickey Rourke film The Wrestler. :o
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on December 11, 2008, 10:20:41 PM
Weirdest OMGWTF, though, is Best Song for Springsteen, who apparently wrote the title song for the Mickey Rourke film The Wrestler. :o

Springsteen and Rourke are longtime friends - I just learned this last week when listening to some stuff at his site.  (Didn't hear the Wrestler song, though.)

As for Milk - I deeply enjoyed it.  I'm not the film buff most of you folks are, so my observations are a little elementary, but one thing I really appreciated about Gus Van Sant's direction and whoever did the casting was that they didn't try to excessively beautify the principal players.  Harvey Milk and Cleve Jones were funny-looking guys like me, and the movie respected and reflected that.

I was also intrigued - and I hope this doesn't count as a spoiler - by Van Sant's sugestion that Dan White's homophobia resulted from he himself being a closet case, and moreover, having some amount of attraction to Harvey.  I hadn't heard this hinted at before.

So I saw two movies in theaters this year, and James Franco was impressive in both of them.  Is he really that good?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 12, 2008, 10:49:13 AM

So I saw two movies in theaters this year, and James Franco was impressive in both of them.  Is he really that good?

I think that's what we're finding out.  Sure seems to have the chops.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 12, 2008, 11:02:11 AM

So I saw two movies in theaters this year, and James Franco was impressive in both of them.  Is he really that good?

I think that's what we're finding out.  Sure seems to have the chops.

I have never seen the TV movie where he played James Dean, but he's said to be quite impressive in that too. And I love that the Golden Globes nominated him for Pineapple Express

"I’m glad I dipped in your ink, bro'."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 17, 2008, 09:06:08 AM
there are 49 (count 'em) songs eligible for the Best Original Song Oscar this year... how many of these ditties can you hum? (besides "the unholy mess", that is)

Quote
Another Way to Die” from “Quantum of Solace”
“Barking at the Moon” from “Bolt”
“The Boys Are Back” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Broken and Bent” from “Role Models”
“By the Boab Tree” from “Australia”
“The Call” from “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
“Can I Have This Dance” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Chase the Morning” from “Repo! The Genetic Opera”
“Chromaggia” from “Repo! The Genetic Opera”
“The Code of Life” from “My Dream”
“Code of Silence” from “Save Me”
“Count on Me” from “The Women”
“Di Notte” from “The Lodger”
“Djoyigbe” from “Pray the Devil Back to Hell”
“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E”
"Dracula’s Lament” from “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”
“Drive” from “Fuel”
“Forever” from “They Killed Sister Dorothy”
“High School Musical” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Gran Torino” from “Gran Torino”
“I Thought I Lost You” from “Bolt”
“I Want It All” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“In Rodanthe” from “Nights in Rodanthe”
“It Ain’t Right” from “Dark Streets”
“Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire”
“Just Getting Started” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Just Wanna Be with You” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Little Person” from “Synecdoche, New York”
“The Little Things” from “Wanted”
“A Night to Remember” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Nothing but the Truth” from “Nothing but the Truth”
“Now or Never” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire”
“Once in a Lifetime” from “Cadillac Records”
“Right Here Right Now” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Right to Dream” from “Tennesee”
“Rock Me Sexy Jesus” from “Hamlet 2”
“Scream” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“The Story” from “My Blueberry Nights”
“Sweet Ballad” from “Yes Man”
“Too Much Juice” from “Dark Streets”
“The Traveling Song” from “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”
“Trouble the Water” from “Trouble the Water”
“Up to Our Nex” from “Rachel Getting Married”
“Walk Away” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Waterline” from “Pride and Glory”
“The Wrestler” from “The Wrestler”
“Yes Man” from “Yes Man”
“Zydrate Anatomy” from “Repo! The Genetic Opera”


Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 17, 2008, 10:35:52 AM
there are 49 (count 'em) songs eligible for the Best Original Song Oscar this year... how many of these ditties can you hum? (besides "the unholy mess", that is)


I'm officially out of it. I've never heard any of those songs. I haven't even seen any of those films. I've never even heard of most of them!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 17, 2008, 10:39:44 AM
there are 49 (count 'em) songs eligible for the Best Original Song Oscar this year... how many of these ditties can you hum? (besides "the unholy mess", that is)


I'm officially out of it. I've never heard any of those songs. I haven't even seen any of those films. I've never even heard of most of them!

If you haven't heard of High School Musical then you are indeed out of it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 17, 2008, 10:42:00 AM
there are 49 (count 'em) songs eligible for the Best Original Song Oscar this year... how many of these ditties can you hum? (besides "the unholy mess", that is)


I'm officially out of it. I've never heard any of those songs. I haven't even seen any of those films. I've never even heard of most of them!

If you haven't heard of High School Musical then you are indeed out of it.

besides "the unholy mess", I've heard the WALL-E song and "Rock Me Sexy Jesus"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 17, 2008, 10:47:57 AM
there are 49 (count 'em) songs eligible for the Best Original Song Oscar this year... how many of these ditties can you hum? (besides "the unholy mess", that is)


I'm officially out of it. I've never heard any of those songs. I haven't even seen any of those films. I've never even heard of most of them!

If you haven't heard of High School Musical then you are indeed out of it.

besides "the unholy mess", I've heard the WALL-E song and "Rock Me Sexy Jesus"

I'm assuming "the unholy mess" is the Bond song? What's so bad about it (I haven't heard it)? And while we're at things I haven't heard of until now, what's this Iraqi shoe business?

Unfortunately, i have heard of High School Musical, but, fortunately, I haven't seen it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 17, 2008, 10:50:24 AM
I'm assuming "the unholy mess" is the Bond song? What's so bad about it (I haven't heard it)? And while we're at things I haven't heard of until now, what's this Iraqi shoe business?



Yes, the Bond theme. I think it's just, well, a mess (Jack & Alicia don't mix, IMHO).  You really *are* out-of-touch if you haven't seen/heard/read the shoe story... it knocked Blagojevich off the front page.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on December 17, 2008, 10:51:26 AM
I'm assuming "the unholy mess" is the Bond song? What's so bad about it (I haven't heard it)? And while we're at things I haven't heard of until now, what's this Iraqi shoe business?



Yes, the Bond theme. I think it's just, well, a mess (Jack & Alicia don't mix, IMHO).  You really *are* out-of-touch if you haven't seen/heard/read the shoe story... it knocked Blagojevich off the front page.

"Blagojevich". I'm drawing a blank there, too...Off I go to the BBC...

ETA: Oh, that was a good laugh (the shoe)!! W is still quick on his feet!
I knew the Chicago story, just didn't remember Blago's name. Now I'll have to listen to "the unholy mess", I guess.

ETAL: It sounds like a mess alright.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 17, 2008, 11:18:26 AM
I was waiting for Gaz's comments on Milk since he saw it before I did, but I saw it Mon nite and it is indeed worth seeing; Penn (and everyone, really) is superb.  Spectacular re-creation of the time and place. You have until Tuesday (12/23) to see it at the Castro; worth the communal experience, and even on a Monday (traditionally a dead zone at movie theaters) it was a near-sellout. Everyone hissed when Anita Bryant appeared on screen.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on December 17, 2008, 11:25:55 AM
I was waiting for Gaz's comments on Milk since he saw it before I did, but I saw it Mon nite and it is indeed worth seeing; Penn (and everyone, really) is superb.  Spectacular re-creation of the time and place. You have until Tuesday (12/23) to see it at the Castro; worth the communal experience, and even on a Monday (traditionally a dead zone at movie theaters) it was a near-sellout. Everyone hissed when Anita Bryant appeared on screen.

Thanks for the reminder. Sarah and I have been wanting to see it--and it's finally playing at more than one theater in the entire PDX metro area. Unfortunately the weather hasn't been conducive to getting out much--we've got a pretty good snowstorm going on right now.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 18, 2008, 09:51:59 PM
So TCM is showing this odd, obscure 1969 film I'd never heard of called Model Shop, one of those existential things so fashionable back then, with people wandering aimlessly and contemplating the meaning of their existence. Very European (dir. by Jacques Demy) despite taking place in LA. Gary Lockwood (of 2001) becomes obsessed with French chick Anouk Aimee (best known for A Man and a Woman). And about 20 minutes into it, Lockwood's character goes to visit some friends who have a band, and they're played by... Spirit! And in the next scene he has a heart-to-heart conversation with Jay Ferguson! Weird.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 19, 2008, 08:51:48 AM
OMG -- this thing looks deliciously bad: the new Will Smith drama, Seven Pounds. the NYT sez: "may be among the most transcendently, eye-poppingly, call-your-friend-ranting-in-the-middle-of-the-night-just-to-go-over-it-one-more-time crazily awful motion pictures ever made."  Wow.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/movies/19seve.html?ref=movies
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on December 19, 2008, 01:27:30 PM
OMG -- this thing looks deliciously bad: the new Will Smith drama, Seven Pounds. the NYT sez: "may be among the most transcendently, eye-poppingly, call-your-friend-ranting-in-the-middle-of-the-night-just-to-go-over-it-one-more-time crazily awful motion pictures ever made."  Wow.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/movies/19seve.html?ref=movies

when I saw the trailer I thought "wow, I guess they chose to be really vague about this movie and NOT spoil the plot" --- which is unlike most trailers I've seen lately.  Now I know better. 

Has the look and feel of one of M. Knight Shama-lama-ding-dong's recent misguided attempts, only worse.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on January 05, 2009, 10:29:27 AM
We saw "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" Saturday night, and I couldn't help but draw parallels between the scam Lay and Skilling and their henchmen pulled, and the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme that's wreaking financial havoc now. And I just have to wonder how many other "smartest guys" are still out there undiscovered, running around trying to keep all the balls in the air.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 05, 2009, 10:35:42 AM
We saw "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" Saturday night, and I couldn't help but draw parallels between the scam Lay and Skilling and their henchmen pulled, and the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme that's wreaking financial havoc now. And I just have to wonder how many other "smartest guys" are still out there undiscovered, running around trying to keep all the balls in the air.

that's a terriffic doc, and the director went on to win the Oscar for another great one, Taxi to the Dark Side. And last year he did one on Hunter S Thompson.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 06, 2009, 11:05:08 AM
OMG -- this thing looks deliciously bad: the new Will Smith drama, Seven Pounds. the NYT sez: "may be among the most transcendently, eye-poppingly, call-your-friend-ranting-in-the-middle-of-the-night-just-to-go-over-it-one-more-time crazily awful motion pictures ever made."  Wow.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/movies/19seve.html?ref=movies

and lo... Seven Pounds is named Worst Movie of the Year:

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/01/vultures_critics_poll_whats_th.html#photo=1
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 06, 2009, 11:47:02 AM
OMG -- this thing looks deliciously bad: the new Will Smith drama, Seven Pounds. the NYT sez: "may be among the most transcendently, eye-poppingly, call-your-friend-ranting-in-the-middle-of-the-night-just-to-go-over-it-one-more-time crazily awful motion pictures ever made."  Wow.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/movies/19seve.html?ref=movies

and lo... Seven Pounds is named Worst Movie of the Year:

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/01/vultures_critics_poll_whats_th.html#photo=1

And they named the review you excerpted as the Movie Review of the Year ta boot!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 06, 2009, 11:49:05 AM
Saw Frost/Nixon, and really liked it.  Best performance of Langella's career (imho).  Probably Sheen's too.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 06, 2009, 11:53:59 AM
Saw Frost/Nixon, and really liked it.  Best performance of Langella's career (imho).  Probably Sheen's too.

Thumbs-up from me too, and I saw them do the stage version last year.  Solid work, tho' I don't know if it's Best-Pic Oscar-worthy. I really liked Benjamin Button, which I guess will be slugging it out with Slumdog Millionaire for the big prize.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on January 06, 2009, 12:26:55 PM
I just saw four movies in two days:

Sunday afternoon at the Castro for a Henry Mancini double feature:

Charade w Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn (fun thriller set in Paris) and then

Experiment in Terror (1962), slow moving heist/mystery set in SF starring Glenn Ford and Lee Remick.  Climactic scene shot in Candlestick park during a Giants/Dodgers game!  (you can see number 24 from the back in a couple shots) btw, the both groups of G-men were victorious: the Giants beat the Bums and the FBI shot the bad guy.  :)

The  (http://roxie.com)Roxie theater in SF has $5 Mondays! so last night we caught another double feature:

Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky, a mostly sweet comedy w a great performance form the charming Sally Hawkins, and Philip Kaufman's black comedy Synecdoche, New York starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, which was quite a workout: it's a play within a movie within a play within the lives of the actors playing themselves in real life... etc... 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 06, 2009, 12:31:31 PM

Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky, a mostly sweet comedy w a great performance from the charming Sally Hawkins

Just in the past few days I've been seeing this pop up on some people's lists as a sleeper Best Pic nominee.  Hadn't heard about it before then.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 06, 2009, 12:48:16 PM

Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky, a mostly sweet comedy w a great performance from the charming Sally Hawkins

Just in the past few days I've been seeing this pop up on some people's lists as a sleeper Best Pic nominee.  Hadn't heard about it before

crankypants time: I hated hated HATED Happy-Go-Lucky. I found her character to be one of THE most-annoying people I've ever encountered in a film. I wanted to throttle her after 5 mins.  And the only other character in the movie who challenges her in any way turns out to be a paranoid, racist, right-wing nutjob. So the deck is totally stacked in her favor. I'm astounded at how many Ten Best lists it's on, and Hawkins has won just about every critics group's Best Actress award (yes, I suppose it's good acting if she got under my skin, but still).  Poor Kristin Scott-Thomas, so brilliant in I've Loved You So Long (and in French, not her native language!) and she's been almost totally ignored.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on January 06, 2009, 01:10:30 PM
I've been seeing a fair share of films lately too--admittedly, some on DVD, but when the weather sucks out, what else are you gonna do? Saw Marley and Me a couple weeks ago--nice, holiday film, and a typical dog movie, but not gonna win many Oscars (although it's killing at the box office).

Then we watched The Point (yeah, the Ringo version--I fear the Dustin Hoffman original is lost to the ages) and Stardust on New Years' Eve. Hadn't seen the former in years, and was rather charmed by it, and LOVED all the Paul Frees voices in there. And found out Mike Lookinland (Bobby Brady) voiced Oblio--who knew? And Stardust is one of my wife's recent faves--some good fantasy, with a nice story and a couple of interesting turns from Robert DeNiro, Ricky Gervais, and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Saw Milk on Friday--LOVED it. Great performance from Penn and pretty historically accurate. I spotted only one detail that didn't ring true--there was an F Market streetcar in one of the scenes, and I don't think that line existed until a few years ago. Interesting also how they kept the Feinstein character out of any closeups, except in historical footage.

Then watched Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room Saturday--see my comments above. Good film, just left me disgusted with where our country is right now though. Effing GOP greedheads.

And I'll probably see Frost/Nixon tomorrow--it's Sarah's birthday and she really wants to see that one, so we'll probably drive to Tigard to see it--I kinda wonder if it'll ever make it to the McMinnville multiplex (Milk certainly won't).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 06, 2009, 01:36:21 PM

Saw Milk on Friday--LOVED it. Great performance from Penn and pretty historically accurate. I spotted only one detail that didn't ring true--there was an F Market streetcar in one of the scenes, and I don't think that line existed until a few years ago. Interesting also how they kept the Feinstein character out of any closeups, except in historical footage.


I always thought Sherilynn fenn woulda made a good DiFi:

(http://lydpublic.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/sherilyn_fenn1.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 06, 2009, 02:42:54 PM

Poor Kristin Scott-Thomas, so brilliant in I've Loved You So Long (and in French, not her native language!) and she's been almost totally ignored.

Here's at least one guy who has Kristin Scott-Thomas getting a nom  (http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/oscar-predictions-take-six-all-top-eight-categories/2) (and just slightly ahead of Sally Hawkins).  Haven't familiarized myself with this guy, but I found it on a direct link from IMDb.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on January 06, 2009, 04:20:54 PM

Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky, a mostly sweet comedy w a great performance from the charming Sally Hawkins

Just in the past few days I've been seeing this pop up on some people's lists as a sleeper Best Pic nominee.  Hadn't heard about it before

crankypants time: I hated hated HATED Happy-Go-Lucky. I found her character to be one of THE most-annoying people I've ever encountered in a film. I wanted to throttle her after 5 mins.  And the only other character in the movie who challenges her in any way turns out to be a paranoid, racist, right-wing nutjob. So the deck is totally stacked in her favor. I'm astounded at how many Ten Best lists it's on, and Hawkins has won just about every critics group's Best Actress award (yes, I suppose it's good acting if she got under my skin, but still).  Poor Kristin Scott-Thomas, so brilliant in I've Loved You So Long (and in French, not her native language!) and she's been almost totally ignored.

I can see what you mean (although I found her mostly charming), and I can't even say for sure if Sally Hawkins is a good actress, b/c she seemed to be SO natural that I felt she was playing herself.   I'd have to see her in something else to see her true range

This movie reminded me of Juno, in that I felt the actor's natural personality shaped the overall mood -- and probably the script, too, since I think Mike Leigh develops a lot of plot and dialogue based on improvisation.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 15, 2009, 03:33:39 PM
Too bad Mr Morey moved to Michigan: the Castro is showing Harold & Maude next week with a special appearance by Bud Cort:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/15/DDGB159AHQ.DTL&type=performance
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 19, 2009, 12:47:46 PM
Sci-Fi alert:  The good news is, they're finally making a film of Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy. The bad news is, it'll be directed by Roland Emmerich of Independence Day fame.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 19, 2009, 02:22:07 PM
Sci-Fi alert:  The good news is, they're finally making a film of Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy. The bad news is, it'll be directed by Roland Emmerich of Independence Day fame.

Well, if it stars Will Smith, like both ID & I, Robot, you can be sure it won't have much if anything to do with the actual writings of Asimov.  I, Robot certainly didn't.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 21, 2009, 08:19:01 AM
notes from the Sundance Film Festival:

Quote
"Coming into Sundance, we had a feeling the coming-of-age dramedy An Education would probably be pretty good," Defamer's Stu Van Airsdale wrote yesterday afternoon. "But as 282 lucky ticketholders at Sunday's premiere soon discovered, 'good' isn't the half of it.

"An Education all but blew the marquee off the Egyptian Theater, where over 100 latecomers were turned away onto a swarming Main Street before director Lone Scherfig nervously announced not even she had yet seen her film outside the lab. She had nothing to worry about:

"Led by 23-year-old Carey Mulligan in a breakthrough that makes Ellen Page's Juno turn look like a Lifetime reject, Scherfig's ensemble cast wrings a spry, otherworldly beauty from Nick Hornby's script and its corrosive glare at early '60s London. We have no idea if it's the festival's best film, as some have said, but if there is a likelier candidate for life beyond Park City -- as in awards-season, even canonical immortality -- let's have it."



er...WOW!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 22, 2009, 08:56:05 AM
Oscar noms announced; here's the list:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/01/22/entertainment/e055320S77.DTL

No Best Pic nom for Dark Knight.

No Best Actress for Sally Hawkins (can't say I'm upset)

Best Pic for The Reader?? Seriously?? and they nominated Winslet for Best Actress for that film rather than Revolutionary Road? Jeezus -- there are still a lot of old Jews in the Academy, I guess  ;)

I seriously disliked The Reader -- it's creepy and icky.

And no Best Song nom for Broooce; but 2 of the 3 Best Song noms are from Slumdog Millionaire ??? (the other Song nominee is the Peter Gabriel tune from WALL-E -- which got 6 nods altogether)

Benjamin Button leads the pack with 13 noms .
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 22, 2009, 11:19:34 AM
My first thoughts...

-Share your surprise at the shutout of Revolutionary Road.  Though I've only seen the trailers for it & The Reader, the buzz on both certainly didn't lead one to expect this.

-Awfully pleased to see Richard Jenkins' nom for The Visitor (dark horse anybody?) as well as Langella's, but I think it is a 2-man race between Penn & Rourke.  Both blew me away personally, so I don't know which to root for.

-The Brangelina paparazzi must be besides themselves now.

-I have no idea who will win Best Actress, but if it isn't Kate Winslett then she is well on her way to surpassing Richard Burton & Peter O'Toole for most-noms-without-a-win.

-just like last year, the Best Supporting Actor field is just impossibly competitive, but WTF is Philip Seymour Hoffman doing in there?  Wasn't he the Lead Actor?

-Marissa Tomei was awesome & is totally deserving, but I kinda think the voters will remember her first Oscar & vote for someone else.  So my money is on Penelope Cruz.

-nice to see In Bruges get a little recognition in the Original Screenplay category.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 22, 2009, 11:28:07 AM

Best Pic for The Reader?? Seriously?? and they nominated Winslet for Best Actress for that film rather than Revolutionary Road? Jeezus.

Was just comparing the Oscar noms to the SAG noms, and they got it right, I think, Winslett gets a Leading Role nom for Revolutionary Road and a Suporting Role nom for The Reader.

But they not only also have Hoffman in a Supporting Role nom, they gave Dev Patel one as well for Slumdog Millionaire!?  I mean sure, much of the movie was flashbacks with younger actors playing him at 2 diffferent stages, but he was definitely on screen long enough to be recognized as the Leading Role.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 22, 2009, 11:37:45 AM
My first thoughts...

-Share your surprise at the shutout of Revolutionary Road.  Though I've only seen the trailers for it & The Reader, the buzz on both certainly didn't lead one to expect this.

-Awfully pleased to see Richard Jenkins' nom for The Visitor (dark horse anybody?) as well as Langella's, but I think it is a 2-man race between Penn & Rourke.  Both blew me away personally, so I don't know which to root for.

-The Brangelina paparazzi must be besides themselves now.

-I have no idea who will win Best Actress, but if it isn't Kate Winslett then she is well on her way to surpassing Richard Burton & Peter O'Toole for most-noms-without-a-win.

-just like last year, the Best Supporting Actor field is just impossibly competitive, but WTF is Philip Seymour Hoffman doing in there?  Wasn't he the Lead Actor?

-Marissa Tomei was awesome & is totally deserving, but I kinda think the voters will remember her first Oscar & vote for someone else.  So my money is on Penelope Cruz.

-nice to see In Bruges get a little recognition in the Original Screenplay category.

I think (dunno if I've said it in this forum) that 2 brilliant seasons of Mad Men stole a lot of Rev Road's thunder. It's a very good movie (tho' it's only major nom, Michael Shannon, is it's weak link IMHO -- let's revisit that after you've seen it) but I'd've been more likely to have been blown away by it if MM didn't exist.

Yes, Hoffman is a lead being shoe-horned into the Supp category (they tried to do the same with Winslet and failed -- whothehell is she "supporting" in Reader? She has more screen time than anybody).  Also pleased about Jenkins, Melissa Leo (who apparently got the "indie" slot instead of Sally H), Tarji P Henson from Button, and In Bruges. Bummed about Kristin Scott-Thomas and Springsteen.

Trivia: according to awardsdaily.com, Benjamin Button today became only the 11th film ever to receive 13 nominations or more including Best Pic . 7 of those went on to win BP:

All About Eve (1950) (14 noms)
Titanic (1997) (14 noms)
Gone With The Wind (1939)
From Here to Eternity (1953)
Forrest Gump (1994)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Chicago (2002)

the other 3:

Mary Poppins (1964)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)




Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 22, 2009, 12:22:01 PM
Best Pic for The Reader?? Seriously?? and they nominated Winslet for Best Actress for that film rather than Revolutionary Road? Jeezus -- there are still a lot of old Jews in the Academy, I guess  ;)


uncredited quipster, quoted on one of the Oscar blogs: “There’s no business like Shoah business.”
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 22, 2009, 02:16:00 PM
Best Pic for The Reader?? Seriously?? and they nominated Winslet for Best Actress for that film rather than Revolutionary Road? Jeezus -- there are still a lot of old Jews in the Academy, I guess  ;)


uncredited quipster, quoted on one of the Oscar blogs: “There’s no business like Shoah business.”

that's a good one  :D :D
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 22, 2009, 04:06:31 PM
equal time for the bad: The razzie nominations are here...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/22/DD6M15EFNK.DTL&type=movies

No surprise that Mike Meyers' Love Guru leads the pack.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 23, 2009, 09:07:35 AM
equal time for the bad: The razzie nominations are here...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/22/DD6M15EFNK.DTL&type=movies

No surprise that Mike Meyers' Love Guru leads the pack.

Did you hear Renee totally ragging on Benjamin Button this a.m.?  And many callers also thought it was bad to awful.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 23, 2009, 09:19:04 AM

Did you hear Renee totally ragging on Benjamin Button this a.m.?  And many callers also thought it was bad to awful.

that's too bad -- I liked it a LOT, and didn't expect to after reading a lot of "it's a technical marvel but kinda cold" comments. It's Forrest Gump with brains and without the reactionary '60s-bashing.  Maybe my favorite of the five, with Milk a close second.  I think Slumdog is rather overrated, BTW. And Frost/Nixon is entertaining but hardly one of the Top Five achievements of the year. And The Reader... ick.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 23, 2009, 09:31:00 AM
a funny look at the Academy's thought processes...

(http://www.awardsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/oscarpreferences.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on February 08, 2009, 10:01:34 PM
The Pink Panther 2.

A few humorous moments but...I had trouble staying awake and in fact, dozed off a few times.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 09, 2009, 09:25:29 AM
Here's a very interesting list from IMDb of the Top 25 Box Office (http://www.imdb.com/features/poweroffilm/) films of all time, with the dollars adjusted for inflation to give an apples-to-apples comparison. 

I knew what #1 was already, but pretty 8 of the remaining top 10 I could never have guessed
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 09, 2009, 09:44:56 AM
Here's a very interesting list from IMDb of the Top 25 Box Office (http://www.imdb.com/features/poweroffilm/) films of all time, with the dollars adjusted for inflation to give an apples-to-apples comparison. 

I knew what #1 was already, but pretty 8 of the remaining top 10 I could never have guessed

You gotta realize the Disney cartoons have all been re-released multiple times (in the days before home video they were all re-issued every seven years to lure the next generation of small children -- genius strategy, really.)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 09, 2009, 09:47:56 AM
Here's a very interesting list from IMDb of the Top 25 Box Office (http://www.imdb.com/features/poweroffilm/) films of all time, with the dollars adjusted for inflation to give an apples-to-apples comparison. 

I knew what #1 was already, but pretty 8 of the remaining top 10 I could never have guessed

You gotta realize the Disney cartoons have all been re-released multiple times (in the days before home video they were all re-issued every seven years to lure the next generation of small children -- genius strategy, really.)

Oh I was well aware of "The Disney Vault", that's how I saw most of them growing up.  I just had now idea how profitable a genius strategy it was.

Neither Empire Strikes Back nor Return of the Jedi would have made the list if they hadn't been re-released as well circa 97-98 and racked up another $100 million or so.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on February 09, 2009, 10:05:07 AM
Here's a very interesting list from IMDb of the Top 25 Box Office (http://www.imdb.com/features/poweroffilm/) films of all time, with the dollars adjusted for inflation to give an apples-to-apples comparison. 

I knew what #1 was already, but pretty 8 of the remaining top 10 I could never have guessed

You gotta realize the Disney cartoons have all been re-released multiple times (in the days before home video they were all re-issued every seven years to lure the next generation of small children -- genius strategy, really.)

Oh I was well aware of "The Disney Vault", that's how I saw most of them growing up.  I just had now idea how profitable a genius strategy it was.

Neither Empire Strikes Back nor Return of the Jedi would have made the list if they hadn't been re-released as well circa 97-98 and racked up another $100 million or so.

Noticed that they punted the adjusted gross for Mary Poppins--they list it as having made $583M, which is $19M less than the film below it on the list (Peter Pan) and equal to the one below that, The Empire Strikes Back. Probably just a typo, as it def. should be on that list someplace.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 12, 2009, 10:43:52 AM
I saw He's Just Not That Into You, and rather liked it.  Good but not great movie, has a couple of the standard love story cliches, but it isn't dumbed down, and there's plenty of good acting.  Scarlett Jo is, of course, awesome, in fact in this movie she comes as close as anyone I can think of to capturing Marilyn Monroe's screen presence circa How to Marry a Millionaire.  And I continue to be impressed with Justin Long.
 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 12, 2009, 10:50:39 AM
I saw He's Just Not That Into You, and rather liked it.  Good but not great movie, has a couple of the standard love story cliches, but it isn't dumbed down, and there's plenty of good acting.  Scarlett Jo is, of course, awesome, in fact in this movie she comes as close as anyone I can think of to capturing Marilyn Monroe's screen presence circa How to Marry a Millionaire.  And I continue to be impressed with Justin Long.
 

did you see Zack & Miri make a Porno? Long was hilarious in that (not to mention he already has a porn name).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 12, 2009, 02:20:42 PM
I saw He's Just Not That Into You, and rather liked it.  Good but not great movie, has a couple of the standard love story cliches, but it isn't dumbed down, and there's plenty of good acting.  Scarlett Jo is, of course, awesome, in fact in this movie she comes as close as anyone I can think of to capturing Marilyn Monroe's screen presence circa How to Marry a Millionaire.  And I continue to be impressed with Justin Long.
 

did you see Zack & Miri make a Porno? Long was hilarious in that (not to mention he already has a porn name).

Brandon St. Randy:  Let me be your sherpa.  Your sherpa an the mountain of Gay.

(I even used that as my sig-quote right after I saw it).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 12, 2009, 02:35:02 PM
did you see Zack & Miri make a Porno? Long was hilarious in that (not to mention he already has a porn name).

Brandon St. Randy:  Let me be your sherpa.  Your sherpa an the mountain of Gay.

(I even used that as my sig-quote right after I saw it).

yikes -- I'm becoming as forgetful as Gaz!

In any case, you need to seek out the very NSFW "red-band" trailer for Observe and Report, the new Seth Rogen movie.  Looks hilarious.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 12, 2009, 02:43:57 PM
did you see Zack & Miri make a Porno? Long was hilarious in that (not to mention he already has a porn name).

Brandon St. Randy:  Let me be your sherpa.  Your sherpa an the mountain of Gay.

(I even used that as my sig-quote right after I saw it).

yikes -- I'm becoming as forgetful as Gaz!


Did you notice in Zack & Miri, that not only was Justin Long's character named Brandon, but Brandon Routh's character was surnamed Long?

Brandon St. Randy (to Bobby Long):  Shut your mouth, or I'll f**k it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 22, 2009, 07:12:49 PM
Anyone else watching the Oscars? We're (I think) about halfway thru as I write. Hugh Jackman? OK, a bold choice, but his opening number was a pale imitation of what Billy Crystal used to do, and that salute to musicals was a classic (maybe even legendary) Oscar clusterfuck -- no surprise that it was put together by Baz Luhrman.

And no surprises in the awards so far.  But Ben Stiller was funny spoofing Joaquin Phoenix, as was the filmed bit with Rogen and Franco.  Having Heath Ledger's parents and sister accept his award was quite nice.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 22, 2009, 07:39:09 PM
I will say that the idea of "clustering" the awards with one presenter (instead of a stream of people reading inane banter from the teleprompter) has been a good thing -- Will Smith gave out Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects and Film Editing in less than 10 minutes! This puppy may actually clock in under 3 hours for a change.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 22, 2009, 08:02:10 PM
And here's the "Best Song" medley -- sorry, but 2 songs from Slumdog seems redundant. But hey, they got John Legend to stand in for Peter Gabriel on the WALL-E number.

And the 2nd Slumdog number ("Jai Ho") wins it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 22, 2009, 08:08:52 PM
Surprise of the Night: Best Foreign Film goes to Japan's Departures, beating favorites The Class and Waltz With Bashir

It's worth noting that this is one of the few categories where voters are required to see all 5 nominees, which is why there's frequently a surprise when the votes are counted. Big night for Japan: it also won Best Animated Short earlier.

And here's Queen Latifah, singing "I'll Be Seeing You" to intro the annual montage of dead people.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 22, 2009, 08:46:54 PM
Credit where credit is due: I *LOVE* what they did with the acting categories, bringing 5 past winners out to salute the current nominees one-on-one. A masterstroke, whosever idea it was. For Best Actor, we had DeNiro, Hopkins,  Kingsley, Adrian Brody and Michael Douglas all on stage praising this year's guys.

And -- minor surprise -- Sean Penn beats Mickey Rourke, who seemed to have the momentum the past several weeks. "Oh, you Commie, homo-loving sons-o-guns!" sez Sean to the audience.

And the Best Picture clips, interweaving past winners, was also quite artful. Juxtaposing Harvey Milk with Braveheart must've pissed Mel Gibson off something fierce. LOL!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 22, 2009, 09:09:48 PM
Well, the show still ended up being a shade under 3-1/2 hours, even with a shorter Song Medley, only 2 production numbers and fewer/shorter montages. So much for "streamlining".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on February 22, 2009, 09:34:36 PM
Credit where credit is due: I *LOVE* what they did with the acting categories, bringing 5 past winners out to salute the current nominees one-on-one. A masterstroke, whosever idea it was. For Best Actor, we had DeNiro, Hopkins,  Kingsley, Adrian Brody and Michael Douglas all on stage praising this year's guys.

And -- minor surprise -- Sean Penn beats Mickey Rourke, who seemed to have the momentum the past several weeks. "Oh, you Commie, homo-loving sons-o-guns!" sez Sean to the audience.

And the Best Picture clips, interweaving past winners, was also quite artful. Juxtaposing Harvey Milk with [i}Braveheart[/i] must've pissed Mel Gibson off something fierce. LOL!
Just goes to show...I specifically disliked the acting nominee format and the montages.  I thought this was the worst Oscars show I'd ever seen.  But that's just me.  I'd only seen a few movies this year, missed most of the top ones.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 22, 2009, 10:07:50 PM
Anyone else watching the Oscars? We're (I think) about halfway thru as I write. Hugh Jackman? OK, a bold choice, but his opening number was a pale imitation of what Billy Crystal used to do, and that salute to musicals was a classic (maybe even legendary) Oscar clusterfuck -- no surprise that it was put together by Baz Luhrman.

And no surprises in the awards so far.  But Ben Stiller was funny spoofing Joaquin Phoenix, as was the filmed bit with Rogen and Franco.  Having Heath Ledger's parents and sister accept his award was quite nice.

I had ABC on during the red carpet stuff & paused it on my DVR to eat dinner, but when I came back later it skipped the whole first half & took me to the middle of the Will Smith presentations.  CRAP!!  Missed the supporting actors & screenplays, but I can't argue with the winners now that I look them up.  I wish I'd seen the Ben Stiller bit, I figured there had to be a reason for Reese Witherspoon zinging him.

I loved how the Queen Latifah montage ended with Paul Newman, and then his overdubbed quote about those who had good lives on top of the image of him and Joann Woodward.

Wife & I also loved the 5 winners introing the 5 nominees.  How much cooler it must have been for, say, Anne Hathaway to be addressed personally by Shirley MacLaine?  The Reader was the only major nominated film that I hadn't seen, so I can't speak to Kate W's deserving it over the rest of the field, but I loved how she said that all the rest of them were still getting over the shock of just being nominated alongside La Streep.  Also hadn't realized that both the late Sydney Pollack AND the late Anthony Minghella were on board for that film.

God bless Sean Penn.  That's all I have to say.  God bless him.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 22, 2009, 10:42:37 PM
Just goes to show...I specifically disliked the acting nominee format and the montages.  I thought this was the worst Oscars show I'd ever seen. 

I'm curious as to why you disliked. It seemed quite classy to me to recognize everyone, not to mention seeing that many winners from the past together at one time. (My gawd -- Eva Marie Saint!) And as Mark pointed out, you could see how thrilled (for example) Anne Hathaway was to be singled out by Ms. Maclaine -- you could read her lips saying "I love you Shirley!"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 23, 2009, 08:34:17 AM
Forgot to mention that Tina Fey and Steve Martin's bit presenting the writing awards was hilarious:

Quote
Fey: "It has been said that to write is to live forever."

Martin: "The man who said that is dead."

Fey: "Yet, we all know the importance of writing, because every great movie begins with a great screenplay."

Martin: "Or, a very good idea for the poster. But usually, with a screenplay."

Fey: "And every writer starts with a blank page."

Martin: "And every blank page was once a tree."

Fey: "And every tree was once a tiny seed."

Martin: "And every tiny seed on Earth was placed here by the alien king Rondelay, to foster our titrates and fuel our positive transfers!"

I suggest Fey, Martin and Seth Rogen should host next year. 

I still don't get the love for Slumdog: it went 8 for 10 (while Button was 3 for 13) and is now the 2nd-biggest winner among movies with no acting nominees -- Last Emperor went 9 for 9 back in '87.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on February 23, 2009, 09:46:12 AM
And here's Queen Latifah, singing "I'll Be Seeing You" to intro the annual montage of dead people.

My gripe was with all the shifting and panning camera angles of the onstage big screen during this montage. It made it difficult if not impossible to read the names of the people who weren't necessarily recognizable. And just hard to focus overall. Wish they'd just put the pics on screen as they've always done.

Btw, did Heath Ledger die before last year's ceremony? He wasn't included in this one--Paul Newman was the "marquee" dead guy.

I was OK with the 5-man tagteam presenting of the acting awards, but it seemed to draw out the process of presenting each one, and led to quite the mob scene at the podium when the winner came up to receive their statuette. Everyone had to get their congrats in with the winner, and just seemed kind of chaotic.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 23, 2009, 09:47:00 AM

I still don't get the love for Slumdog: it went 8 for 10 (while Button was 3 for 13) and is now the 2nd-biggest winner among movies with no acting nominees -- Last Emperor went 9 for 9 back in '87.

I have been pondering this question as well.  I mean, I sort of get it, as I really liked the movie myself, but I think it can be explained on two levels.

First, call it the Rocky effect - every now & then (and especially when times are tough) the Academy just falls in love with an underdog story & it gets enough votes to win, often beating out a much-lauded but very serious historical drama.  (c.f. Oliver! in 1969 over The Lion In Winter or Chariots Of Fire in 1981 over Reds).  This explains those who voted with their hearts for Slumdog over Milk or Frost/Nixon.  Remember the other nominees when Rocky won?  Network, Taxi Driver & All The President's Men.

Second, I think the members of the Academy who really vote with their heads thought to themselves, "If I went to Mumbai on a $14M budget, how could I possibly come up with a movie this good?"  And the answer being "I have NO idea how they did it", they are led to give it props for just about every category it's nommed for. This helps explain all the technical awards Slumdog won.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 23, 2009, 09:58:19 AM
...beating favorites The Class and Waltz With Bashir


Both of which I *highly* recommend. Really fine stuff.

Missed the Oscars, but I don't feel like I really missed much, reading your recaps (and if you read really quickly, fun things like "Newman...on top of...Woodward"). The only winner I saw was Milk.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 23, 2009, 09:58:39 AM
Btw, did Heath Ledger die before last year's ceremony? He wasn't included in this one--Paul Newman was the "marquee" dead guy.

Yup, Heath was in last year's montage iirc.

from another message board, some dead folks who were overlooked last nite:

Edie Adams
Guillaume Depardieu
Ivan Dixon
Mel Ferrer
George Furth
Beverly Garland
Neil Hefti
Eartha Kitt
John Philip Law
Patrick McGoohan
Robert Prosky

I can't explain all of those, but I think they went with people who are primarily identified with film in a bid to make it a bit shorter.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 23, 2009, 10:01:29 AM
from another message board, some dead folks who were overlooked last nite:

Edie Adams
Guillaume Depardieu
Ivan Dixon
Mel Ferrer
George Furth
Beverly Garland
Neil Hefti
Eartha Kitt
John Philip Law
Patrick McGoohan
Robert Prosky

I can't explain all of those, but I think they went with people who are primarily identified with film in a bid to make it a bit shorter.

Still - the Depardieu and Kitt are *big* snubs. HUGE, I would say.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 23, 2009, 10:07:25 AM
from another message board, some dead folks who were overlooked last nite:

Edie Adams
Guillaume Depardieu
Ivan Dixon
Mel Ferrer
George Furth
Beverly Garland
Neil Hefti
Eartha Kitt
John Philip Law
Patrick McGoohan
Robert Prosky

I can't explain all of those, but I think they went with people who are primarily identified with film in a bid to make it a bit shorter.

Still - the Depardieu and Kitt are *big* snubs. HUGE, I would say.

had it been GERARD Depardieu, yes, but nobody in America knew he even had a son, much less that he was an actor. I'll agree about Eartha, tho'. Bet Beej was pissed about Neal Hefti!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 23, 2009, 10:30:04 AM

had it been GERARD Depardieu, yes, but nobody in America knew he even had a son, much less that he was an actor. I'll agree about Eartha, tho'. Bet Beej was pissed about Neal Hefti!

I think the montage last night was really bad, as did Tim Goodman this a.m.  Hard to say for sure who they snubbed as there were lots of times I couldn't recognize the image nor make out the name.  But Eartha certainly wasn't in there & shoulda been.  I think McGoohan was also a significant omission, he had a very long career, including a major role in a Best-Picture-winning film.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on February 23, 2009, 11:15:51 AM
from another message board, some dead folks who were overlooked last nite:

Edie Adams
Guillaume Depardieu
Ivan Dixon
Mel Ferrer
George Furth
Beverly Garland
Neil Hefti
Eartha Kitt
John Philip Law
Patrick McGoohan
Robert Prosky

I can't explain all of those, but I think they went with people who are primarily identified with film in a bid to make it a bit shorter.

Still - the Depardieu and Kitt are *big* snubs. HUGE, I would say.

had it been GERARD Depardieu, yes, but nobody in America knew he even had a son, much less that he was an actor. I'll agree about Eartha, tho'. Bet Beej was pissed about Neal Hefti!

Not just Beej--I'm pretty pissed about that one. Seems like a lot of the changes in last night's ceremony were designed to cut time, which I think is just bullshit. But I don't have a problem with an Oscar ceremony lasting nearly 4 hours. Beyond that, yeah, gets a bit extreme.

One thing I noticed last night is that it seemed like everyone got as much time as they wanted for their acceptance speech--or at least they didn't use the orchestra as a means of cutting them off. There may have been a little red light flashing at the edge of the stage telling them they were going long, but if they chose to ignore it--and a few seemingly did--the TV audience had no way to know.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 23, 2009, 11:22:13 AM
Seems like a lot of the changes in last night's ceremony were designed to cut time, which I think is just bullshit. But I don't have a problem with an Oscar ceremony lasting nearly 4 hours. Beyond that, yeah, gets a bit extreme.

One thing I noticed last night is that it seemed like everyone got as much time as they wanted for their acceptance speech--or at least they didn't use the orchestra as a means of cutting them off. There may have been a little red light flashing at the edge of the stage telling them they were going long, but if they chose to ignore it--and a few seemingly did--the TV audience had no way to know.

I think 3-1/2 hours is pushing it; but I would've cut that 2nd musical number which i thought was dreadful. Great that they didn't cut any speeches off; it really is silly to cram the "big" categories into the last half-hour and then make the winners rush. (Blame Greer Garson who spoke for 40 minutes back in the day and inspired the time limit)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 23, 2009, 12:48:43 PM
One More Thing: dunno if it's a record, but with Cruz's win Woody Allen has now directed someone to a supporting acting Oscar *five* times. He's done it with Dianne Wiest (twice), Michael Caine and Mira Sorvino. Next year? Well, Patricia Clarkson is in his new one and she's surely due.

Speaking of, I saw in the "coming attractions" clips that Hilary Swank is playing Amelia Earhardt -- and every time Swank plays a butch woman she wins an Oscar. You've been warned...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 23, 2009, 03:38:33 PM
random Oscar quote from Television Without Pity: " Best Costume Design to The Duchess -- because anyone who can give Keira Knightley cleavage deserves an award"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 23, 2009, 04:27:45 PM
One More Thing: dunno if it's a record, but with Cruz's win Woody Allen has now directed someone to a supporting acting Oscar *five* times. He's done it with Dianne Wiest (twice), Michael Caine and Mira Sorvino. Next year? Well, Patricia Clarkson is in his new one and she's surely due.

Speaking of, I saw in the "coming attractions" clips that Hilary Swank is playing Amelia Earhardt -- and every time Swank plays a butch woman she wins an Oscar. You've been warned...

Allen is an Oscar machine. 

He has rec'd 21 nominations, including 14(!) for Original Screenplay, which must certainly also be a record, and won twice. He has 6 Best Director nominations & won once (for Annie Hall, which also got Best Picture), and in what must surely be yet another record, his other 5 Directing nominations were for films that weren't nominated for Best Picture.  He has directed 16 actors to nominations (if that's not a record he must be close) and they've won 6 times (12 Supporting noms including the 5 winners you mentioned + 4 Leading Role noms including Diane Keaton's win for Annie Hall).  He has rec'd writing nominations in 4 straight decades & directed an Oscar winning performance in 4 straight decades.

One of these days someone is going to start calling him the best director of all time, if only to start an argument.
(paging Mick LaSalle!) 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on February 23, 2009, 07:29:27 PM
Just goes to show...I specifically disliked the acting nominee format and the montages.  I thought this was the worst Oscars show I'd ever seen. 

I'm curious as to why you disliked. It seemed quite classy to me to recognize everyone, not to mention seeing that many winners from the past together at one time. (My gawd -- Eva Marie Saint!) And as Mark pointed out, you could see how thrilled (for example) Anne Hathaway was to be singled out by Ms. Maclaine -- you could read her lips saying "I love you Shirley!"

As noted elsewhere, the camera angles on the memorial bit were awful, and hurt the veiwability of the names.  As far as the big ego trip actor nominations, it was all done at the expense of actually seeing any significant amount of work in the nominated film, which was also my complaint about the best picture process.  The montage watered down and confused the presentation of the nominated film itself.  Oh, and one more thing...the top hat thing with Hugh Jackman was idiotic!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 23, 2009, 08:09:48 PM
As far as the big ego trip actor nominations, it was all done at the expense of actually seeing any significant amount of work in the nominated film, which was also my complaint about the best picture process.  The montage watered down and confused the presentation of the nominated film itself.  Oh, and one more thing...the top hat thing with Hugh Jackman was idiotic!

Well, we agree on that musical number; it was horrendous.

You're not alone in complaining about the lack of clips of the nominees; that was a recurring theme on many movie blogs and message boards today. But I think the producers' reasoning was: "there are 3 dozen other awards shows leading up to the Oscars, and there are 24-hour cable channels like E! and TVG etc etc... if you haven't seen multiple clips of the nominees by now, you probably don't care that much about movies anyway and you're not our target audience."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on February 23, 2009, 09:24:44 PM
As far as the big ego trip actor nominations, it was all done at the expense of actually seeing any significant amount of work in the nominated film, which was also my complaint about the best picture process.  The montage watered down and confused the presentation of the nominated film itself.  Oh, and one more thing...the top hat thing with Hugh Jackman was idiotic!

Well, we agree on that musical number; it was horrendous.

You're not alone in complaining about the lack of clips of the nominees; that was a recurring theme on many movie blogs and message boards today. But I think the producers' reasoning was: "there are 3 dozen other awards shows leading up to the Oscars, and there are 24-hour cable channels like E! and TVG etc etc... if you haven't seen multiple clips of the nominees by now, you probably don't care that much about movies anyway and you're not our target audience."
Well, I don't think I'm much of a target demographic for anyone anymore!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 24, 2009, 05:33:31 AM
One of these days someone is going to start calling him the best director of all time, if only to start an argument.


Ugh. And you'd certainly get one from me!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 24, 2009, 09:08:39 AM
Allen is an Oscar machine. 

He has 6 Best Director nominations & won once (for Annie Hall, which also got Best Picture), and in what must surely be yet another record, his other 5 Directing nominations were for films that weren't nominated for Best Picture. 

actually, he was nommed for Hannah & her Sisters, which was nommed for best pic. But it is odd that he was nominated for Broadway Danny Rose but not Manhattan, and that Bullets Over Broadway got 7 noms (including director) but not one for Best Pic.  BTW, the most directing noms is 12 (William Wyler).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 26, 2009, 08:43:56 AM
post-Oscar trivia. I don't know all the answers... yet. (I think I know #2)


1) SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE… is the first best picture winner to be set exclusively in Asia since the 1980s when there were THREE such films. Name the films

2) DANNY BOYLE…. is the first director winner from the UK for some time. Who was the last Best Director winner to hail from the UK?

3) SEAN PENN…. was the second straight prior winner to take home Best Actor. His closest competition was MICKEY ROURKE, who was previously not nominated (ditto perceived 3rd placer Frank Langella). Despite the perception that the Oscars hand out consolation prizes to overdue actors, only TWO actors in the past fifteen years were prior nominees of an acting award, but had yet to win one. Name them.

4) KATE WINSLET… was considered supporting during the Golden Globes Ceremony, but ultimately won the Best Actress Oscar. This has happened before, but decades earlier. What actress, prior to Winslet, won the Best Actress Oscar despite being nominated for Supporting Actress for the Golden Globes

5) DUSTIN LANCE BLACK ’s screenplay for Milk was considered original because it was not based on any biographical account or the famous documentary film on the subject. What script won an award for Original Screenplay despite being obviously based on famous and successful source material?

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 26, 2009, 09:58:04 AM
#1 - Platoon, Gandhi & The Last Emperor
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 26, 2009, 09:59:36 AM
#1 - Platoon, Gandhi & The Last Emperor

I believe you are correct!

I think #2 is Anthony Minghella (The English Patient).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 26, 2009, 10:02:35 AM
#1 - Platoon, Gandhi & The Last Emperor

I believe you are correct!

I think #2 is Anthony Minghella (The English Patient).

I think so too, but not 100% sure he's a Brit.  If not him then I think it goes all the way back to Attenborough for Gandhi.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 26, 2009, 10:09:04 AM
#1 - Platoon, Gandhi & The Last Emperor

I believe you are correct!

I think #2 is Anthony Minghella (The English Patient).

I think so too, but not 100% sure he's a Brit.  If not him then I think it goes all the way back to Attenborough for Gandhi.

oops, wait... Sam Mendes is British, and American Beauty was in '99 (only 9 Oscars ago)  The bastard has an Oscar AND he gets to be married to Kate Winslet.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 26, 2009, 10:13:38 AM
Is #5 referring to Shakespeare In Love?  If not I have no clue.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 26, 2009, 10:21:23 AM
Is #5 referring to Shakespeare In Love?  If not I have no clue.

That one may actually *be* Ghandi.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 26, 2009, 10:33:11 AM

3) SEAN PENN…. was the second straight prior winner to take home Best Actor. His closest competition was MICKEY ROURKE, who was previously not nominated (ditto perceived 3rd placer Frank Langella). Despite the perception that the Oscars hand out consolation prizes to overdue actors, only TWO actors in the past fifteen years were prior nominees of an acting award, but had yet to win one. Name them.

The wording on this is unclear...don't they mean only two "winners of Oscar for Best Actor"?  I assume they must, in which case Sean Penn must be one, as he had 3 noms before Mystic River.  Wasn't Russell Crowe nommed before Gladiator?  Have to look that up.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 26, 2009, 10:33:29 AM

3) SEAN PENN…. was the second straight prior winner to take home Best Actor. His closest competition was MICKEY ROURKE, who was previously not nominated (ditto perceived 3rd placer Frank Langella). Despite the perception that the Oscars hand out consolation prizes to overdue actors, only TWO actors in the past fifteen years were prior nominees of an acting award, but had yet to win one. Name them.


I see 3, not 2 (depending how you interpret the "15 years" time-frame):

Penn won for Mystic River in '03 after several noms.

Russell Crowe won for Gladiator in '00 after a nom for Insider

Tom Hanks' first win for Philadelphia in '93 came after a nom for Big
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 26, 2009, 10:56:49 AM

3) SEAN PENN…. was the second straight prior winner to take home Best Actor. His closest competition was MICKEY ROURKE, who was previously not nominated (ditto perceived 3rd placer Frank Langella). Despite the perception that the Oscars hand out consolation prizes to overdue actors, only TWO actors in the past fifteen years were prior nominees of an acting award, but had yet to win one. Name them.


I see 3, not 2 (depending how you interpret the "15 years" time-frame):

Penn won for Mystic River in '03 after several noms.

Russell Crowe won for Gladiator in '00 after a nom for Insider

Tom Hanks' first win for Philadelphia in '93 came after a nom for Big


I think they said 15 yrs specifically so that Hanks' win for Forrest Gump would be a repeat, and Philadelphia would be outside the range.

And I figured out the Kate Winslett question.  I had to start looking down the list of Best Actress winners & checking their Golden Globe info on IMDb.  There were 4 or 5 in the 80's or 70's that I couldn't be sure of - not remembering or never having seen the movie - but if they had a GG nom it was also for Best Actress.  Once I got to the 60's it became pretty obvious who it must be, and sure enough, it checked out.  But I'll leave that as a big enough hint.

Where did this come from btw?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 26, 2009, 11:00:04 AM

Where did this come from btw?


http://www.iconoclastentertainment.blogspot.com/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on February 26, 2009, 11:58:01 AM

5) DUSTIN LANCE BLACK ’s screenplay for Milk was considered original because it was not based on any biographical account or the famous documentary film on the subject. What script won an award for Original Screenplay despite being obviously based on famous and successful source material?

The Ten Commandments?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on February 26, 2009, 01:20:10 PM
And I figured out the Kate Winslett question.  I had to start looking down the list of Best Actress winners & checking their Golden Globe info on IMDb.  There were 4 or 5 in the 80's or 70's that I couldn't be sure of - not remembering or never having seen the movie - but if they had a GG nom it was also for Best Actress.  Once I got to the 60's it became pretty obvious who it must be, and sure enough, it checked out.  But I'll leave that as a big enough hint.

Audrey Hepburn?

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 27, 2009, 02:03:23 AM

5) DUSTIN LANCE BLACK ’s screenplay for Milk was considered original because it was not based on any biographical account or the famous documentary film on the subject. What script won an award for Original Screenplay despite being obviously based on famous and successful source material?

The Ten Commandments?

Gone with the Wind.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on February 27, 2009, 08:46:18 AM

5) DUSTIN LANCE BLACK ’s screenplay for Milk was considered original because it was not based on any biographical account or the famous documentary film on the subject. What script won an award for Original Screenplay despite being obviously based on famous and successful source material?

The Ten Commandments?

Gone with the Wind.

That was goiing to be my joke answer.  It did win screenplay, but they didn't distinguish original and adapted in 1940.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 27, 2009, 10:00:40 AM
And I figured out the Kate Winslett question.  I had to start looking down the list of Best Actress winners & checking their Golden Globe info on IMDb.  There were 4 or 5 in the 80's or 70's that I couldn't be sure of - not remembering or never having seen the movie - but if they had a GG nom it was also for Best Actress.  Once I got to the 60's it became pretty obvious who it must be, and sure enough, it checked out.  But I'll leave that as a big enough hint.

Audrey Hepburn?


Nope, Patricia Neal for Hud.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 27, 2009, 10:11:37 AM

#1 - Platoon, Gandhi & The Last Emperor

I believe you are correct!


On second thought, Question #1 is in error, because Gandhi is *not* set 'exclusively in Asia'.  The early part is set in South Africa.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 27, 2009, 02:45:53 PM

#1 - Platoon, Gandhi & The Last Emperor

I believe you are correct!


On second thought, Question #1 is in error, because Gandhi is *not* set 'exclusively in Asia'.  The early part is set in South Africa.

What's the one with Mel Gibson and Linda Hunt?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 27, 2009, 02:58:49 PM

#1 - Platoon, Gandhi & The Last Emperor

I believe you are correct!


On second thought, Question #1 is in error, because Gandhi is *not* set 'exclusively in Asia'.  The early part is set in South Africa.

What's the one with Mel Gibson and Linda Hunt?

Year of Living Dangerously -- but the only award that won was Ms Hunt for Best Supporting Midget Actress ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on February 27, 2009, 04:22:46 PM

#1 - Platoon, Gandhi & The Last Emperor

I believe you are correct!


On second thought, Question #1 is in error, because Gandhi is *not* set 'exclusively in Asia'.  The early part is set in South Africa.

What's the one with Mel Gibson and Linda Hunt?

Year of Living Dangerously -- but the only award that won was Ms Hunt for Best Supporting Midget Actress ;)

I can't find a picture, but there's a guy who does the KQED TV Pledge drives that could be Linda Hunts taller brother.   know who I mean?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 02, 2009, 08:23:50 AM
There IS a god, perhaps: The Jonas Bros concert film grossed less than $13M this week end, less than half of what most were predicting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/movies/02arts-MADEAHOLDSOF_BRF.html?ref=arts
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 02, 2009, 10:17:14 AM
There IS a god, perhaps: The Jonas Bros concert film grossed less than $13M this week end, less than half of what most were predicting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/movies/02arts-MADEAHOLDSOF_BRF.html?ref=arts

The Tri-Valley Times review headline read: Jonas Brothers Concert Movie Lacks Dimension.  Which is saying something since it was a 3D movie.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 04, 2009, 08:13:20 AM
someone's list of the 10 most-overdue-for-an-Oscar actors:

http://filmexperience.blogspot.com/2009/03/top-ten-after-kate-winslet-who.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 04, 2009, 10:48:10 AM
someone's list of the 10 most-overdue-for-an-Oscar actors:

http://filmexperience.blogspot.com/2009/03/top-ten-after-kate-winslet-who.html

I don't think I've ever agreed with someone so completely before. Or so completely agreed. Before. Bookmarking the site...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 04, 2009, 01:01:31 PM
someone's list of the 10 most-overdue-for-an-Oscar actors:

http://filmexperience.blogspot.com/2009/03/top-ten-after-kate-winslet-who.html

I don't think I've ever agreed with someone so completely before. Or so completely agreed. Before. Bookmarking the site...

That was great.  I had to tear myself away to prepare for a meeting before I was done with the comments.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 04, 2009, 03:53:19 PM
someone's list of the 10 most-overdue-for-an-Oscar actors:

http://filmexperience.blogspot.com/2009/03/top-ten-after-kate-winslet-who.html

This is the best thread I can find to comment on your avatar and sig quote -- In Bruges was awesome, as I beleive I mentioned once in this very thread. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 04, 2009, 03:58:12 PM
someone's list of the 10 most-overdue-for-an-Oscar actors:

http://filmexperience.blogspot.com/2009/03/top-ten-after-kate-winslet-who.html

This is the best thread I can find to comment on your avatar and sig quote -- In Bruges was awesome, as I beleive I mentioned once in this very thread. 

indeed, one of my favorite films of 2008; it was on HBO last nite and I caught the first half-hour or so. Which inspired the new av and quote.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on March 04, 2009, 04:34:33 PM
someone's list of the 10 most-overdue-for-an-Oscar actors:

http://filmexperience.blogspot.com/2009/03/top-ten-after-kate-winslet-who.html

This is the best thread I can find to comment on your avatar and sig quote -- In Bruges was awesome, as I beleive I mentioned once in this very thread. 

indeed, one of my favorite films of 2008; it was on HBO last nite and I caught the first half-hour or so. Which inspired the new av and quote.

I enjoyed In Bruges, too.  I never knew Colin Ferrel could act!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 04, 2009, 04:46:49 PM
someone's list of the 10 most-overdue-for-an-Oscar actors:

http://filmexperience.blogspot.com/2009/03/top-ten-after-kate-winslet-who.html

This is the best thread I can find to comment on your avatar and sig quote -- In Bruges was awesome, as I beleive I mentioned once in this very thread. 

indeed, one of my favorite films of 2008; it was on HBO last nite and I caught the first half-hour or so. Which inspired the new av and quote.

I enjoyed In Bruges, too.  I never knew Colin Ferrel could act!

It deservedly got an Oscar nom for screenplay, and it's now in the IMDb Top 250.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 04, 2009, 09:12:11 PM
The other day I was thinking about underrated films of the '80s, and lo, what pops up on HBO but Top Secret!, the Zucker/Abrams/Zucker WWII spoof (they made it after the 2 Airplane! movies). It flopped at the box office, but damn it's hilarious.

"Your hog balls, sir!"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 05, 2009, 01:40:23 PM
The other day I was thinking about underrated films of the '80s, and lo, what pops up on HBO but Top Secret!, the Zucker/Abrams/Zucker WWII spoof (they made it after the 2 Airplane! movies). It flopped at the box office, but damn it's hilarious.

"Your hog balls, sir!"

Agreed.  That whole scene that they filmed backwards & played forwards was genius.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 05, 2009, 01:48:03 PM
M. LaSalle falling out of chair in review of Watchmen:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/05/BA5M16993S.DTL&type=movies
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 05, 2009, 02:05:12 PM
M. LaSalle falling out of chair in review of Watchmen:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/05/BA5M16993S.DTL&type=movies

there's an emerging love-it-otr-hate it streak in the reviews.  I'm not a fanboy/geek (I've never read the com -- er, graphic novel) And i can't decide if I'n ready for another 2-hour-and-40-minute "dark" superhero thing.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 05, 2009, 05:47:45 PM
M. LaSalle falling out of chair in review of Watchmen:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/05/BA5M16993S.DTL&type=movies

there's an emerging love-it-otr-hate it streak in the reviews.  I'm not a fanboy/geek (I've never read the com -- er, graphic novel) And i can't decide if I'n ready for another 2-hour-and-40-minute "dark" superhero thing.

I had never heard of Watchmen until a preview at the movie theater several months back, so I'm not all that worked up about it either.  May or may not see it after the opening week(s) hoopla calms down.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on March 06, 2009, 11:55:41 AM
Coming up to see Milk at the Marina tomorrow. Looking forward to it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 06, 2009, 09:46:39 PM
M. LaSalle falling out of chair in review of Watchmen:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/05/BA5M16993S.DTL&type=movies

there's an emerging love-it-otr-hate it streak in the reviews.  I'm not a fanboy/geek (I've never read the com -- er, graphic novel) And i can't decide if I'n ready for another 2-hour-and-40-minute "dark" superhero thing.

I had never heard of Watchmen until a preview at the movie theater several months back, so I'm not all that worked up about it either.  May or may not see it after the opening week(s) hoopla calms down.

I'm not heavily into illustrated novels, but I've read Watchmen a few times and find it fascinating.  I'll see the film at some point, waiting for the theaters to shake out the fanboys and kiddies first.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 07, 2009, 10:12:00 PM
M. LaSalle falling out of chair in review of Watchmen:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/05/BA5M16993S.DTL&type=movies

there's an emerging love-it-otr-hate it streak in the reviews.  I'm not a fanboy/geek (I've never read the com -- er, graphic novel) And i can't decide if I'n ready for another 2-hour-and-40-minute "dark" superhero thing.

I had never heard of Watchmen until a preview at the movie theater several months back, so I'm not all that worked up about it either.  May or may not see it after the opening week(s) hoopla calms down.

I'm not heavily into illustrated novels, but I've read Watchmen a few times and find it fascinating.  I'll see the film at some point, waiting for the theaters to shake out the fanboys and kiddies first.

I saw it today & it was bloody awesome.  If you were a fan of the graphic novel like I was, I can guarantee you will love it.  It sticks exceptionally closely to the original text, and brings it to full realization, even more so than, say, the Lord of the Rings movies.  If you've never read the graphic novel I would highly recommend taking a look at it before seeing the film, it will only add to your appreciation of the film's achievement.

And I was really surprised how maintstream the audience was when I saw it.  It was an IMAX presentation (also highly recommended if it's an option for you), about 75% full, and very few who were obviously fanboys.  Lot's of couples in fact.




 :) ;) :D ;D >:(

my son Gabriel is sitting on my lap as I type this & he demanded that I put in a bunch of smileys.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on March 08, 2009, 10:37:05 AM
Made it to see Milk yesterday. Saw a TV promo that it'll be out on DVD March 10 so I'm glad I got to the theatre. BTW, lovely small theater on Chestnut. I'm used to the humongo movie places down my way. There were 7 rows of seats here and probably no more that 75 capacity. I remember all that was going on at the time fairly well but didn't know anyone involved in the fight. I didn't know how many times Harvey tried running before getting elected. Sean Penn gave a great performance. I was so touched/affected by at least a half dozen scenes. It was hard knowing that he and Moscone were going to be killed. On my way home I headed down VanNess to 101 and driving past a beautifully illuminated City Hall was very touching. Made me reflect on the candle-lit procession of so many thousands of people after Harvey's death.

eta: I saw in the credits that Tom Ammiano played himself...I don't recall seeing him in the movie.

Both thumbs up.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 08, 2009, 08:43:27 PM
eta: I saw in the credits that Tom Ammiano played himself...I don't recall seeing him in the movie.

He was arguing with someone about gay teachers' capacity to teach well.  It was a brief scene but a powerful one; Tom captured the feeling of righteous desperation with a single line.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 09, 2009, 12:36:43 PM
M. LaSalle falling out of chair in review of Watchmen:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/05/BA5M16993S.DTL&type=movies

there's an emerging love-it-otr-hate it streak in the reviews.  I'm not a fanboy/geek (I've never read the com -- er, graphic novel) And i can't decide if I'n ready for another 2-hour-and-40-minute "dark" superhero thing.

I had never heard of Watchmen until a preview at the movie theater several months back, so I'm not all that worked up about it either.  May or may not see it after the opening week(s) hoopla calms down.

I'm not heavily into illustrated novels, but I've read Watchmen a few times and find it fascinating.  I'll see the film at some point, waiting for the theaters to shake out the fanboys and kiddies first.

I saw it today & it was bloody awesome. 

didya notice the amazing resemblance of jeffrey Dean Morgan to Javier Bardem?

(http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/11/6/128704902069462589.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on March 09, 2009, 01:46:10 PM
M. LaSalle falling out of chair in review of Watchmen:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/05/BA5M16993S.DTL&type=movies

there's an emerging love-it-otr-hate it streak in the reviews.  I'm not a fanboy/geek (I've never read the com -- er, graphic novel) And i can't decide if I'n ready for another 2-hour-and-40-minute "dark" superhero thing.

I had never heard of Watchmen until a preview at the movie theater several months back, so I'm not all that worked up about it either.  May or may not see it after the opening week(s) hoopla calms down.

I'm not heavily into illustrated novels, but I've read Watchmen a few times and find it fascinating.  I'll see the film at some point, waiting for the theaters to shake out the fanboys and kiddies first.

I saw it today & it was bloody awesome.  If you were a fan of the graphic novel like I was, I can guarantee you will love it.  It sticks exceptionally closely to the original text, and brings it to full realization, even more so than, say, the Lord of the Rings movies.  If you've never read the graphic novel I would highly recommend taking a look at it before seeing the film, it will only add to your appreciation of the film's achievement.

And I was really surprised how maintstream the audience was when I saw it.  It was an IMAX presentation (also highly recommended if it's an option for you), about 75% full, and very few who were obviously fanboys.  Lot's of couples in fact.




 :) ;) :D ;D >:(

my son Gabriel is sitting on my lap as I type this & he demanded that I put in a bunch of smileys.

I also want to see this, but am waiting to finish the book first.  I bought it maybe 6 years ago from Al's Comics, when he use to be on Guerrero near 17th (he's since moved to Market near Valencia)  Figured I might as well get around to it now that the movie is out. 

I'm on Chapter V, and we're learning Rorshach's past...!  :)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 09, 2009, 03:37:11 PM

didya notice the amazing resemblance of jeffrey Dean Morgan to Javier Bardem?

Actually I noticed that when I was watching an old episode of Weeds last night (JDM played the deceased husband of Mary Louise Parker is a couple of flashbacks, and in real life they were a couple for quite a while).  In Watchmen his character The Comedian is styled very much like Robert Downey Jr. (deliberately so imho), and many people have commented on that similarity from the bit in the trailer where he's wielding a flamethrower.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 09, 2009, 08:32:10 PM

didya notice the amazing resemblance of jeffrey Dean Morgan to Javier Bardem?

Actually I noticed that when I was watching an old episode of Weeds last night (JDM played the deceased husband of Mary Louise Parker is a couple of flashbacks, and in real life they were a couple for quite a while).  In Watchmen his character The Comedian is styled very much like Robert Downey Jr. (deliberately so imho), and many people have commented on that similarity from the bit in the trailer where he's wielding a flamethrower.

So, did Dr Manhattan's voice make you want to go out and apply for a MasterCard?

Budget of Watchmen: $120M

Opening Weekend gross: $55.7M

Having a humongous blue penis: Priceless.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on March 09, 2009, 09:26:40 PM

didya notice the amazing resemblance of jeffrey Dean Morgan to Javier Bardem?

Actually I noticed that when I was watching an old episode of Weeds last night (JDM played the deceased husband of Mary Louise Parker is a couple of flashbacks, and in real life they were a couple for quite a while).  In Watchmen his character The Comedian is styled very much like Robert Downey Jr. (deliberately so imho), and many people have commented on that similarity from the bit in the trailer where he's wielding a flamethrower.

Having a humongous blue penis: Priceless.
All I envision now is the blue man group running around naked. Everythings blue isn't it?  ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 18, 2009, 11:51:12 AM
Hearing some great stuff about I Love You, Man!, the new imitation-Apatow.  This EW rave is pretty amazing:

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20266402,00.html

Love the quote: "Peter has no trouble relating to women, but to relate to men he must first figure out how to be one. And he does: by jamming with Sydney to songs by Rush (who they think is the best band in history—talk about masculine delusions!)"  ROTFL!

And Duplicity, the Clive Owen/Julia Roberts caper (from the guy who made Michael Clayton) is getting even better reviews.  Movies for grown-ups! What a concept!

 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 19, 2009, 01:54:35 PM
The Visitor finally made it to Spain. I remain blown away. Richard Jenkins is a gem. The entire story was so over-the-top unbelievable, but I didn't care. The acting was so great, and it made me feel....feel....argh! Just rent it, already.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 19, 2009, 02:40:09 PM
The Visitor finally made it to Spain. I remain blown away. Richard Jenkins is a gem. The entire story was so over-the-top unbelievable, but I didn't care. The acting was so great, and it made me feel....feel....argh! Just rent it, already.

We watched it recently and loved it too.  Highly recommended.  A very deserving Oscar nom.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 20, 2009, 08:00:45 AM
Duplicity, the Clive Owen/Julia Roberts caper (from the guy who made Michael Clayton) is getting even better reviews.  Movies for grown-ups! What a concept!

 

Sometimes ya gotta wonder if Mick LaSalle sees the same movies as everyone else.  Duplicity is getting mostly raves; he's the only critic to slam it with an absolute pan:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/19/DDB116IULR.DTL&type=movies
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on March 20, 2009, 08:26:48 AM
Duplicity, the Clive Owen/Julia Roberts caper (from the guy who made Michael Clayton) is getting even better reviews.  Movies for grown-ups! What a concept!

 

Sometimes ya gotta wonder if Mick LaSalle sees the same movies as everyone else.  Duplicity is getting mostly raves; he's the only critic to slam it with an absolute pan:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/19/DDB116IULR.DTL&type=movies
Maybe he hasn't actually seen the movie.  I haven't seen it, and from the preview clips, it looks pretty lame.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on March 20, 2009, 08:42:33 AM
Duplicity, the Clive Owen/Julia Roberts caper (from the guy who made Michael Clayton) is getting even better reviews.  Movies for grown-ups! What a concept!

 

Sometimes ya gotta wonder if Mick LaSalle sees the same movies as everyone else.  Duplicity is getting mostly raves; he's the only critic to slam it with an absolute pan:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/19/DDB116IULR.DTL&type=movies
Maybe he hasn't actually seen the movie.  I haven't seen it, and from the preview clips, it looks pretty lame.

There was a Chronicle music critic years ago who submitted a review to the paper which was printed.  The review mentioned a piece that the orchestra NEVER PLAYED.. doh!  He got busted, of course.  CAtuionary tale for any reviewer who thinks they can get away with shortcut reviews.

I think Mick would never risk writing a review w/o seeing the movie.  He might've have dozed OFF in the movie, but I'm sure he went to a screening -- or watched a screener DVD.  I think he just has tastes that a lot of people don't agree with.  He might find about a certain actor, say Julia Roberts, to be intolerable. :)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 20, 2009, 09:07:33 AM
There was a Chronicle music critic year ago who submitted a review to the paper which was printed.  The review mentioned a piece that the orchestra NEVER PLAYED.. doh!  He got busted, of course.  CAtuionary tale for any reviewer who thinks they can get away with shortcut reviews.


there's a great old Peter Sellers movie (the name of which escapes me) in which he plays a theater critic who's having an affair. Instead of going to the play he's supposed to review, he meets his mistress; he writes the review ahead of time and slips it under his editor's door.  Meanwhile, the theater burns to the ground on opening night; the next day the story about the fire appears side-by-side with his review about what a boring night at the theater he'd had!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 24, 2009, 07:53:38 AM
Saw I Love You, Man! last nite -- just hilarious, Paul Rudd is wonderful and the whole gay-subtext thing is priceless. Not to spoil too much but Rudd's character, who is this wimpy metrosexual straight guy, has a gay brother (SNL's Andy Samberg) who is butcher than he is (he's a personal trainer and a total meathead fratboy type).  *AND* -- DUUUUUUUUUUDE! -- a cameo appearance by Rush! Highly recommended.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 24, 2009, 09:00:34 AM
for the princess especially: the Streep as Julia Child (coming this summer)!

(http://www.awardsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/meryl-julia-2.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 24, 2009, 09:35:08 AM
for the princess especially: the Streep as Julia Child (coming this summer)!

I'm curious--in what film does she play Julia? Never thought about it, but JC would make an interesting biopic subject, since before becoming a food icon, she was a counterintelligence operative during WWII. Really.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 24, 2009, 09:58:32 AM
for the princess especially: the Streep as Julia Child (coming this summer)!

I'm curious--in what film does she play Julia? Never thought about it, but JC would make an interesting biopic subject, since before becoming a food icon, she was a counterintelligence operative during WWII. Really.

it's not a biopic, per se, it's called Julie & Julia, based on Julie Powell's book about the year she quit her job and devoted herself to cooking every. single. recipe in Child's book Mastering the Art of French Cooking (Amy Adams plays Powell). Not clear whether she actually met Child, or if Julia is seen in flashbacks.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 24, 2009, 10:07:46 AM
for the princess especially: the Streep as Julia Child (coming this summer)!

I'm curious--in what film does she play Julia? Never thought about it, but JC would make an interesting biopic subject, since before becoming a food icon, she was a counterintelligence operative during WWII. Really.

I just want to see her weeping tears of joy at Tu Lan at 6th and Mission.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 24, 2009, 10:13:11 AM
for the princess especially: the Streep as Julia Child (coming this summer)!

I'm curious--in what film does she play Julia? Never thought about it, but JC would make an interesting biopic subject, since before becoming a food icon, she was a counterintelligence operative during WWII. Really.

I just want to see her weeping tears of joy at Tu Lan at 6th and Mission.

Are they still there? That place milked Julia's recco for all it was worth, even though it was pretty filthy the last couple times I was in there. Loved their imperial rolls and pan fried noodles though. Lots of Warfield staff ate their regularly, since they're right across the street. Also Cancun, for the same reason.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 24, 2009, 10:21:24 AM
for the princess especially: the Streep as Julia Child (coming this summer)!

I'm curious--in what film does she play Julia? Never thought about it, but JC would make an interesting biopic subject, since before becoming a food icon, she was a counterintelligence operative during WWII. Really.

I just want to see her weeping tears of joy at Tu Lan at 6th and Mission.

Are they still there? That place milked Julia's recco for all it was worth, even though it was pretty filthy the last couple times I was in there. Loved their imperial rolls and pan fried noodles though. Lots of Warfield staff ate their regularly, since they're right across the street. Also Cancun, for the same reason.

I ate there when I visited in December.  The place is a hole, as is the whole block, but it's really got the best bun cha I've had in my life.  I try to stop by every time I'm in town.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 24, 2009, 10:29:51 AM
for the princess especially: the Streep as Julia Child (coming this summer)!

I'm curious--in what film does she play Julia? Never thought about it, but JC would make an interesting biopic subject, since before becoming a food icon, she was a counterintelligence operative during WWII. Really.

I just want to see her weeping tears of joy at Tu Lan at 6th and Mission.

Are they still there? That place milked Julia's recco for all it was worth, even though it was pretty filthy the last couple times I was in there. Loved their imperial rolls and pan fried noodles though. Lots of Warfield staff ate their regularly, since they're right across the street. Also Cancun, for the same reason.

I ate there when I visited in December.  The place is a hole, as is the whole block, but it's really got the best bun cha I've had in my life.  I try to stop by every time I'm in town.

No kidding about that 'hood--it's quite literally one of the worst blocks in SF. I always kept one hand on my wallet whenever I went over there, and tried to make sure I got in and out before dark if possible. But the food is great.

(Have to wonder if that place could have been a lot more successful if they'd just move to a better location. I can't imagine what sort of daily weirdness they have to deal with just to do business.)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 24, 2009, 11:57:38 AM
for the princess especially: the Streep as Julia Child (coming this summer)!

I'm curious--in what film does she play Julia? Never thought about it, but JC would make an interesting biopic subject, since before becoming a food icon, she was a counterintelligence operative during WWII. Really.

I just want to see her weeping tears of joy at Tu Lan at 6th and Mission.

Are they still there? That place milked Julia's recco for all it was worth, even though it was pretty filthy the last couple times I was in there. Loved their imperial rolls and pan fried noodles though. Lots of Warfield staff ate their regularly, since they're right across the street. Also Cancun, for the same reason.

I ate there when I visited in December.  The place is a hole, as is the whole block, but it's really got the best bun cha I've had in my life.  I try to stop by every time I'm in town.

we've gotta get you to Shanghai Dumpling King next trip.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 24, 2009, 12:06:25 PM
for the princess especially: the Streep as Julia Child (coming this summer)!

I'm curious--in what film does she play Julia? Never thought about it, but JC would make an interesting biopic subject, since before becoming a food icon, she was a counterintelligence operative during WWII. Really.

I just want to see her weeping tears of joy at Tu Lan at 6th and Mission.

Are they still there? That place milked Julia's recco for all it was worth, even though it was pretty filthy the last couple times I was in there. Loved their imperial rolls and pan fried noodles though. Lots of Warfield staff ate their regularly, since they're right across the street. Also Cancun, for the same reason.

I ate there when I visited in December.  The place is a hole, as is the whole block, but it's really got the best bun cha I've had in my life.  I try to stop by every time I'm in town.

we've gotta get you to Shanghai Dumpling King next trip.

The one out on Balboa, a few blocks from the Balboa theater, yes? Also a great place.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 25, 2009, 02:36:32 PM
for the princess especially: the Streep as Julia Child (coming this summer)!

(http://www.awardsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/meryl-julia-2.jpg)

God, how I love those women!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 26, 2009, 11:03:11 AM
Demetri Martin "premiered" the trailer for Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock last nite on his show; Martin plays Elliot Tiber, who was instrumental in getting the music festival held in White Lake NY after the original site pulled out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Iq8z2WDbKo&feature=player_embedded

What i didn't know was that Tiber was also a gay man who was at the Stonewall Riots!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliot_Tiber
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 26, 2009, 11:13:33 PM
Demetri Martin "premiered" the trailer for Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock last nite on his show; Martin plays Elliot Tiber, who was instrumental in getting the music festival held in White Lake NY after the original site pulled out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Iq8z2WDbKo&feature=player_embedded

What i didn't know was that Tiber was also a gay man who was at the Stonewall Riots!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliot_Tiber

Wow - his 1969 makes for one hell of a "How I Spent My Summer Vacation"!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 27, 2009, 07:22:43 AM
Demetri Martin "premiered" the trailer for Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock last nite on his show; Martin plays Elliot Tiber, who was instrumental in getting the music festival held in White Lake NY after the original site pulled out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Iq8z2WDbKo&feature=player_embedded

What i didn't know was that Tiber was also a gay man who was at the Stonewall Riots!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliot_Tiber

Wow - his 1969 makes for one hell of a "How I Spent My Summer Vacation"!

indeed, I can't wait for this -- how many people were at Woodstock AND Stonewall?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 29, 2009, 05:38:22 PM
Sci-Fi Alert! KOFY TV-20 is showing 4 classic Twilight Zone eps tonite starting at 8, including "To Serve Man" and the adaptation of Ray Bradbury's "I Sing The Body Electric".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on March 29, 2009, 09:33:09 PM
Sci-Fi Alert! KOFY TV-20 is showing 4 classic Twilight Zone eps tonite starting at 8, including "To Serve Man" and the adaptation of Ray Bradbury's "I Sing The Body Electric".
I just watched "To Serve Man" and I thought the main alien
-- from a race called Kanamits -- looked familiar. 

He was played by Richard "Jaws" Kiel:

(http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/attachment.php?attachmentid=16767)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 30, 2009, 10:41:07 AM
For fans of Mockumentarys, tournament poker, and/or Dune, I recommend The Grand, now out on video.  Simply hilarious.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 01, 2009, 12:43:17 PM
Mark will be happy to hear this: Cronenberg is doing a sequel to Eastern Promises:

http://www.awardsdaily.com/?p=8451

This is for real, unlike the fake story that made the rounds earlier today about the Dark Knight sequel (which said Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher and Jim Carrey were all collaborating with Christopher Nolan!)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 03, 2009, 12:42:10 PM
Came across this review on MetaCritic. The movie's only playing in LA (so far) but it sure sounds like the WTF/so-bad-its-good flick of the year to me:

Quote
C ME DANCE Faith-based films have made great strides in the past decade or so, from mainstream stars like Mel Gibson and Kirk Cameron giving passion projects a boost to evangelicals like Matthew Crouch becoming more savvy about the ins and outs of studio production. And yet, if any movie could undo all that progress in one fell swoop, it’s C Me Dance, an overwrought piece of (apparently) unintentional camp that, if it is remembered at all, will be only because some low-brow cinephile chooses to place it on a drunken rep-house double-bill with Tommy Wiseau’s The Room. Written, produced, directed by and starring “veteran” Greg Robbins (Pastor Greg), who has fewer movies on his IMDB profile than I do and whose filmmaking career seems to stretch back all of four years, C Me Dance plays like a fake Christian movie Troy McClure might end up starring in on an episode of The Simpsons, though it’s apparently for real. When high school ballerina Sheri (Christina DeMarco) is diagnosed with the world’s most flattering case of leukemia (no chemo or wasting away for this cancer girl!), her devastation quickly subsides as the power of the Lord descends, giving Sheri the ability to communicate telepathically, and in turn causing anybody she touches to hallucinate an image of the nails driven into Christs hands. This naturally angers Satan (Peter Kent), who appears as a paunchy guy in a trenchcoat, who sometimes forgets to put his monster-eye contacts in. But Sheri and her dad (Robbins) cleverly counter the Devil ... by evangelizing on TV! Had Trinity Broadcasting Network come up with this feature in 1980, it would have been easier to sympathize with its flaws. In 2009, its hilarious ineptitude makes it border on becoming a cult classic for the ages ... and we’re not talking religious cult.

 :o :o :o
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 07, 2009, 11:04:49 AM
worst idea ever: a remake of Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid starring.... Tom Cruise and John Travolta.  Xenu will be SO proud...

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/13767/cruise-travolta-do-butch-cassidy-remake-/

Miss Travolta will make a *very* "butch" Cassidy!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on April 09, 2009, 01:46:26 PM

worst idea ever: a remake of Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid starring.... Tom Cruise and John Travolta.  Xenu will be SO proud...


maybe Greta Van Susteren can play the Katherine Ross role?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 09, 2009, 02:23:24 PM

worst idea ever: a remake of Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid starring.... Tom Cruise and John Travolta.  Xenu will be SO proud...


maybe Greta Van Susteren can play the Katherine Ross role?

bwahahaha!  I went looking for celeb Scientologists, to find an actress that might fit; best I could do was Jenna Elfman and (of course) Katie Holmes. Was sad to see that Giovanni Ribisi is one (the princess will be heartbroken) and shocked to see Chaka Khan on the list -- I thought she was big into Louis Farrakhan and I doubt he'd be pleased.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on April 10, 2009, 07:42:00 AM

worst idea ever: a remake of Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid starring.... Tom Cruise and John Travolta.  Xenu will be SO proud...


maybe Greta Van Susteren can play the Katherine Ross role?

bwahahaha!  I went looking for celeb Scientologists, to find an actress that might fit; best I could do was Jenna Elfman and (of course) Katie Holmes. Was sad to see that Giovanni Ribisi is one (the princess will be heartbroken) and shocked to see Chaka Khan on the list -- I thought she was big into Louis Farrakhan and I doubt he'd be pleased.

I thought Chaka had joined the JWs in exchange for Prince producing one of her albums.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 10, 2009, 07:48:38 AM

worst idea ever: a remake of Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid starring.... Tom Cruise and John Travolta.  Xenu will be SO proud...


maybe Greta Van Susteren can play the Katherine Ross role?

bwahahaha!  I went looking for celeb Scientologists, to find an actress that might fit; best I could do was Jenna Elfman and (of course) Katie Holmes. Was sad to see that Giovanni Ribisi is one (the princess will be heartbroken) and shocked to see Chaka Khan on the list -- I thought she was big into Louis Farrakhan and I doubt he'd be pleased.

I thought Chaka had joined the JWs in exchange for Prince producing one of her albums.

she's a god-whore!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on April 10, 2009, 10:45:12 AM

Was sad to see that Giovanni Ribisi is one (the princess will be heartbroken)

I'm heartbroken, too.

He's in the upcoming Public Enemies, as Alvin Karpis.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 10, 2009, 01:58:16 PM
First, check out this trailer for a movie called Moon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIexG8179K8&feature=player_embedded

Looks like a pretty cool sci-fi flick, but note the director's name: Duncan Jones.

For 25 big Frink points (without Googling), under what other name is Duncan Jones known? (the answer blew my mind)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on April 10, 2009, 08:07:08 PM
First, check out this trailer for a movie called Moon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIexG8179K8&feature=player_embedded

Looks like a pretty cool sci-fi flick, but note the director's name: Duncan Jones.

For 25 big Frink points (without Googling), under what other name is Duncan Jones known? (the answer blew my mind)

OK, watched the trailer and paused on the credits to see if there were any clues there. The only one I could come up with was the name "Trudie Styler" who is listed as one of the producers. She is also Mrs. Gordon Sumner, aka Sting. So if that's who Duncan Jones is, then I'm completely gobsmacked. COMPLETELY.

Am going to Google now, as I just gotta know.

ETA: Have googled and was completely wrong. But the answer is almost as good.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on April 10, 2009, 10:29:09 PM
First, check out this trailer for a movie called Moon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIexG8179K8&feature=player_embedded

Looks like a pretty cool sci-fi flick, but note the director's name: Duncan Jones.

For 25 big Frink points (without Googling), under what other name is Duncan Jones known? (the answer blew my mind)

I see the movie is done by Xingu Films and Limelight. I was going to guess it's someone from South America, maybe Brazil -- b/c Xingu is a Portuguese word, at least it seems to me.  Completely wild guess, but I'll say it's someone who has had a musical connection w Brazil. Specifically: David Byrne...

Now I'll chk Google, b/c I gotta know, too.

ETA: Like urth, I was wrong as well, but that was a fun exercise.   :)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on April 11, 2009, 10:35:55 PM
M. LaSalle falling out of chair in review of Watchmen:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/05/BA5M16993S.DTL&type=movies

there's an emerging love-it-otr-hate it streak in the reviews.  I'm not a fanboy/geek (I've never read the com -- er, graphic novel) And i can't decide if I'n ready for another 2-hour-and-40-minute "dark" superhero thing.

I had never heard of Watchmen until a preview at the movie theater several months back, so I'm not all that worked up about it either.  May or may not see it after the opening week(s) hoopla calms down.

I'm not heavily into illustrated novels, but I've read Watchmen a few times and find it fascinating.  I'll see the film at some point, waiting for the theaters to shake out the fanboys and kiddies first.

I saw it today & it was bloody awesome. 

didya notice the amazing resemblance of jeffrey Dean Morgan to Javier Bardem?

(http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/11/6/128704902069462589.jpg)
Just got back from seeing it.  Besides the movie being somewhat spoiled by jerky punks who disrupted the movie, and lame security who did nothing about it, it was way too long.  Now, since I didn't read the book ahead of time, take my opinion with a grain of salt.  I did pickup on a great deal of the inside jokes, and many things only older folk would be able to get, and much of the music was from my generation.  It just seemed too long, without the plot being very involved.  I haven't even read the Chronicle review yet; guess I should.  The actress who played Lori looked a lot like Danica McKeller (Winnie!) and I had trouble getting Denny from Grey's Anatomy out of my mind when I saw The Comedian, who seemed based on Ernie Kovacs.  I guess I should read the reviews and maybe the book(comic?) to see if I just missed it or not.  The previews in the theater do presage more and more special effects, I wonder at what price.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on April 12, 2009, 08:53:51 AM
Biggest box office flops of past 25 years:
http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/getback-movie-flops.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on April 13, 2009, 10:28:52 PM
I saw Observe and Report last night: most sociopathic comedy in the history of ever.  That date rape is arguably not the primary character's worst offense says a lot about the film's sensibilities.  That said, I did laugh quite a few times.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 14, 2009, 07:44:14 AM
I saw Observe and Report last night: most sociopathic comedy in the history of ever.  That date rape is arguably not the primary character's worst offense says a lot about the film's sensibilities.  That said, I did laugh quite a few times.

I laughed a LOT. It seems to be a love-it-or-hate it movie, but I liked it. And I'm not a huge fan of Jody Hill; Foot Fist Way was hit-and-miss for me, and the HBO series Eastbound & Down (both starred Danny McBride) I found quite unfunny.  I think he lucked out having Seth Rogen in the lead rather than the more-abrasive McBride.

That said, not exactly a movie to see after a day of being sick in bed, Gaz.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 14, 2009, 11:46:25 AM
Saw Adventureland last night -- highly recommended (and it woulda been a better choice for you, Gaz, as it takes place in Pittsburgh in 1987).  Sweet and funny with a killer sndtk -- everything from "Bastards of Young" to Shannon's "Let the Music Play".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on April 14, 2009, 04:44:38 PM
I saw Synecdoche, New York yesterday. Still don't like Kaufman. Also saw Le jour de la jupe (Isabelle Adjani) and La Famille brasilenne. Rainy days in Toulouse...Good cinema.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 14, 2009, 09:01:13 PM
I saw Synecdoche, New York yesterday. Still don't like Kaufman.

I've liked his past screenplays (Eternal Sunshine, Adaptation, Being John Malkovitch) but Synecdoche didn't work for me at all -- it's one of those willfully obscure movies (the cinematic equivalent of a Rush lyric!) that just made me want to scream. He lost me at the perpetually burning house.

Speaking of Malkovich, you need to see The Great Buck Howard; if it doesn't get distributed over there, put it in your Netflix queue.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on April 15, 2009, 09:28:22 AM
I saw Observe and Report last night: most sociopathic comedy in the history of ever.  That date rape is arguably not the primary character's worst offense says a lot about the film's sensibilities.  That said, I did laugh quite a few times.

It looks pretty funny, and I'm sure it will make me laugh, but I'm in no hurry to see it.  Feel-bad, creepy-mean comedy isn't all that appealing to me, The Cable Guy being a prime example.  I like to enjoy comedy and want to feel good doing it -- if I want to feel bad, I'll watch a drama.

I read an dumbass article yesterday the claimed this is the new trend in comedy (black comedy, no likeable characters), though it was the only example of the trend they could come up with (the HBO thing Mike mentions, too, but that's cheating as it's by the same guy).  One movie -- and one that probably isn't going to do that well at the box office -- does not a trend make.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on April 15, 2009, 10:09:52 AM
I read an dumbass article yesterday the claimed this is the new trend in comedy (black comedy, no likeable characters), though it was the only example of the trend they could come up with (the HBO thing Mike mentions, too, but that's cheating as it's by the same guy).  One movie -- and one that probably isn't going to do that well at the box office -- does not a trend make.

I think Sideways from a few years ago falls into this category. There wasn't any character that I found likeable in that film.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 15, 2009, 10:14:33 AM
I read an dumbass article yesterday the claimed this is the new trend in comedy (black comedy, no likeable characters), though it was the only example of the trend they could come up with (the HBO thing Mike mentions, too, but that's cheating as it's by the same guy).  One movie -- and one that probably isn't going to do that well at the box office -- does not a trend make.

I think Sideways from a few years ago falls into this category. There wasn't any character that I found likeable in that film.

but Sideways isn't nearly as black or violent as O&R. Or Pineapple Express, for that matter.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on April 15, 2009, 10:31:15 AM
I read an dumbass article yesterday the claimed this is the new trend in comedy (black comedy, no likeable characters), though it was the only example of the trend they could come up with (the HBO thing Mike mentions, too, but that's cheating as it's by the same guy).  One movie -- and one that probably isn't going to do that well at the box office -- does not a trend make.

I think Sideways from a few years ago falls into this category. There wasn't any character that I found likeable in that film.

but Sideways isn't nearly as black or violent as O&R. Or Pineapple Express, for that matter.

I thought most of the portrayals in that film were pretty deplorable. How black does it need to be?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on April 15, 2009, 11:23:23 AM
I read an dumbass article yesterday the claimed this is the new trend in comedy (black comedy, no likeable characters), though it was the only example of the trend they could come up with (the HBO thing Mike mentions, too, but that's cheating as it's by the same guy).  One movie -- and one that probably isn't going to do that well at the box office -- does not a trend make.

I think Sideways from a few years ago falls into this category. There wasn't any character that I found likeable in that film.

but Sideways isn't nearly as black or violent as O&R. Or Pineapple Express, for that matter.

I thought most of the portrayals in that film were pretty deplorable. How black does it need to be?


Hmm, you have a good point.  I guess I don't think of Sideways as strictly a comedy.  And while Giamatti's character starts out pathetic and despicable, he becomes less so (and more sympathetic) through his experiences.  So at least you hope he's becoming somebody you could like.

I don't think Pineapple Express is all that dark (or funny), though it is undeniably violent.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 20, 2009, 12:24:47 PM
Especially for the princess... another shot of La Streep as Julia Child.

(http://www.awardsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/julia2.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on April 20, 2009, 05:42:59 PM
I've seen a few movies recently, and can recommend all of them for various reasons.

Duplicity is fun, and if you like Giamatti, he has his moments.  I am developing a huge man-crush on Clive Owen*, and Julia Roberts is better than she's been for years.  Plus the ending is neatly twisted.

Clive Owen rocks again in The International, a somewhat uneven film redeemed (imho) by excellent acting top to bottom, from Owen & Naomi Watts to Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ullrich Thomsen (who also has a small role in Duplicity) & Brian F. O'Byrne as the guy Owen spends most of the movie chasing.  But the main reason to see it is the shootout at the Guggenheim, which does for shooutouts what Bullitt did for car chases.

Monsters vs. Aliens is fun, and the 3D is great.  But not quite up to Pixar level.

I Love You Man was great for all the reasons Mike already posted, and may I just add that J.K. Simmons is the M. Emmitt Walsh of this generation.

State of Play was also really good, again the ensemble acting somewhat better that the film as a whole (although in her last couple scenes Helen Mirren kind of mails it in).  And I still want to see the Bill Nighy BBC miniseries.  However, like the Chron review, I think they whiffed on the ending.  I've been accused of spoilers before, so let me just say that I envisioned Robin Wright Penn's character being used differently at the end.  If anyone else sees this let me know, I'd really like to suggest an alternate ending.

*if you don't know much about Clive Owen, see the following Gosford Park (another great plot twist at the end), Children Of Men (a great plot twist 1/3 in!), Inside Man (sequel filming now with Spike & Denzel both on board!), Sin City (again with the sequel), and of course his Oscar nommed role in Closer.



Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on April 20, 2009, 11:37:09 PM
I've seen a few movies recently, and can recommend all of them for various reasons.

Duplicity is fun, and if you like Giamatti, he has his moments.  I am developing a huge man-crush on Clive Owen*, and Julia Roberts is better than she's been for years.  Plus the ending is neatly twisted.

Clive Owen rocks again in The International, a somewhat uneven film redeemed (imho) by excellent acting top to bottom, from Owen & Naomi Watts to Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ullrich Thomsen (who also has a small role in Duplicity) & Brian F. O'Byrne as the guy Owen spends most of the movie chasing.  But the main reason to see it is the shootout at the Guggenheim, which does for shooutouts what Bullitt did for car chases.

Monsters vs. Aliens is fun, and the 3D is great.  But not quite up to Pixar level.

I Love You Man was great for all the reasons Mike already posted, and may I just add that J.K. Simmons is the M. Emmitt Walsh of this generation.

State of Play was also really good, again the ensemble acting somewhat better that the film as a whole (although in her last couple scenes Helen Mirren kind of mails it in).  And I still want to see the Bill Nighy BBC miniseries.  However, like the Chron review, I think they whiffed on the ending.  I've been accused of spoilers before, so let me just say that I envisioned Robin Wright Penn's character being used differently at the end.  If anyone else sees this let me know, I'd really like to suggest an alternate ending.

*if you don't know much about Clive Owen, see the following Gosford Park (another great plot twist at the end), Children Of Men (a great plot twist 1/3 in!), Inside Man (sequel filming now with Spike & Denzel both on board!), Sin City (again with the sequel), and of course his Oscar nommed role in Closer.
for me, Clive Owen was killer in Second Sight, which we watched all episodes of.  I also liked his small part in the Bourne Identity.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 22, 2009, 04:00:06 PM
Brad Pitt *IS* Billy Beane! Yes, Steven Soderburgh is making a film of Moneyball:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002626.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 23, 2009, 09:10:39 AM
Looking ahead to the start of the summer movie season, the buzz on Wolverine ain't great, but word on the street is that the Star Trek reboot is terrific -- better than anyone could've hoped.   

(http://moviechopshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/star-trek-ew-header11.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on April 23, 2009, 11:20:51 AM
Looking ahead to the start of the summer movie season, the buzz on Wolverine ain't great, but word on the street is that the Star Trek reboot is terrific -- better than anyone could've hoped.   

(http://moviechopshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/star-trek-ew-header11.jpg)

The first trailer I saw was very attention-grabbing, but only of one scene.  The next couple were very lame.  The last one looked like the whole movie was good.

p.s. Based on that photo I can assume the Madame Tussaud's exhibit is already open?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 23, 2009, 11:55:27 AM
Looking ahead to the start of the summer movie season, the buzz on Wolverine ain't great, but word on the street is that the Star Trek reboot is terrific -- better than anyone could've hoped.   

(http://moviechopshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/star-trek-ew-header11.jpg)

The first trailer I saw was very attention-grabbing, but only of one scene.  The next couple were very lame.  The last one looked like the whole movie was good.

p.s. Based on that photo I can assume the Madame Tussaud's exhibit is already open?

Bwhahaha!  We've come a long way in fake-pointy-ears technology, however.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on April 26, 2009, 11:35:56 AM
Especially for the princess... another shot of La Streep as Julia Child.

(http://www.awardsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/julia2.jpg)

Thank you!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 26, 2009, 04:55:58 PM
Just saw Sugar, the indie film about a young Dominican pitcher who comes to the US to play minor league baseball.  Just beautiful, I can't recommend it highly enough. Made by the husband-and-wife team who did Half Nelson, the Ryan Gosling inner-city teacher drama.

I loved everything about Sugar, it's easily my favorite movie of the year so far. And if you think you've reached your limit on cover versions of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", you need to hear it en espanol.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 27, 2009, 03:07:54 PM
one to make you feel old: if you saw the movie My Girl back in 1991 with Macaulay Culkin and a little girl named Anna Chlumsky

(http://img.mediaspanonline.com/5899/2850822.jpg)

 well... Anna's all grown up:

(http://www.joblo.com/newsimages1/anna-chlumsky.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on April 27, 2009, 09:50:26 PM
one to make you feel old: if you saw the movie My Girl back in 1991 with Macaulay Culkin and a little girl named Anna Chlumsky

(http://img.mediaspanonline.com/5899/2850822.jpg)

 well... Anna's all grown up:

(http://www.joblo.com/newsimages1/anna-chlumsky.jpg)

Oh my. Nice, ummm, cheekbones.

But I guess if you add 18 years to the girl in the movie pic, she'd be mid-20s by now, give or take, so she would have every reason to have grown up and gotten hot.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 28, 2009, 07:41:28 AM
Last nite I saw ANVIL! The story of Anvil, the docu about the Canadian metal band (oft-described as "a real-life Spinal Tap") struggling to find their way after 25 years in the biz. Very entertaining.  It's in SF at the Bridge, and this weekend the band themselves will be on hand to play a few tunes!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 30, 2009, 08:10:19 AM
This seals the deal, re: Streep-as-Julia Child:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXklTRsLui4
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on April 30, 2009, 08:33:04 AM
This seals the deal, re: Streep-as-Julia Child:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXklTRsLui4

Meryl as Julia seems wonderful.  Amy Adams, ...notsomuch.  She reminds me of too many people I know in NYC.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 30, 2009, 08:37:22 AM
This seals the deal, re: Streep-as-Julia Child:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXklTRsLui4

Meryl as Julia seems wonderful.  Amy Adams, ...notsomuch.  She reminds me of too many people I know in NYC.

er, I think she's supposed to in this case. ;)  When is Showtime gonna buy *your* blog for a miniseries?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on April 30, 2009, 08:39:47 AM
This seals the deal, re: Streep-as-Julia Child:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXklTRsLui4

Meryl as Julia seems wonderful.  Amy Adams, ...notsomuch.  She reminds me of too many people I know in NYC.

er, I think she's supposed to in this case. ;)  When is Showtime gonna buy *your* blog for a miniseries?

If the over-the-moon entries inspire the object of my affection to fall in love with me, then I've got a pitch.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on April 30, 2009, 09:36:45 AM
This seals the deal, re: Streep-as-Julia Child:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXklTRsLui4

Hrm, I keep getting "An error occurred, try again later."

Harrrumph.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on May 07, 2009, 10:18:00 AM
Nice review of Star Trek on slate:  http://www.slate.com/id/2217854/

I'm going to spend Saturday with Mom, so Sunday is free for trekking.  Doubt it will be a big Mother's Day draw, so the theaters shouldn't be too crowded.  I will go boldly.  Can't wait.   ;D
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 07, 2009, 10:58:12 AM
Nice review of Star Trek on slate:  http://www.slate.com/id/2217854/

I'm going to spend Saturday with Mom, so Sunday is free for trekking.  Doubt it will be a big Mother's Day draw, so the theaters shouldn't be too crowded.  I will go boldly.  Can't wait.   ;D

the reviews have been amazingly good.  Dunno if you've ever heard this parody, it was a #1 hit in the UK (and went nowhere over here) but I'd never seen the cheezy video before. I give you... "Star Trekkin'":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCARADb9asE
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 07, 2009, 06:08:53 PM
Nice review of Star Trek on slate:  http://www.slate.com/id/2217854/

I'm going to spend Saturday with Mom, so Sunday is free for trekking.  Doubt it will be a big Mother's Day draw, so the theaters shouldn't be too crowded.  I will go boldly.  Can't wait.   ;D

this could be on the Copyedit 101 thread also...

"Star Trek's vision of the future, as guided by creator Gene Roddenberry, was also a relic of its time, the age of NASA and the Cold War and Kruschev pounding his shoe on a podium at the United States."

ummm, no one at Slate knows the difference between the US & the UN?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 08, 2009, 08:15:59 AM
The Morning Show concluded an interview with Leonard Nimoy at 7:15...and then they played Star Trekkin' (!)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 08, 2009, 08:17:22 AM
The Morning Show concluded an interview with Leonard Nimoy at 7:15...and then they played Star Trekkin' (!)

No. Fucking. WAY!!  That is most impressive.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 08, 2009, 08:49:57 AM
The Morning Show concluded an interview with Leonard Nimoy at 7:15...and then they played Star Trekkin' (!)

No. Fucking. WAY!!  That is most impressive.

I even called in and the replayed my comment:

me:  You are *NOT* playing Start Trekkin'!  I can't believe it!
Webster: Is that a *good* thing?
me: Absolutely.  I love it when you play off-the-beaten-path stuff like that.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on May 08, 2009, 09:01:44 AM
The Morning Show concluded an interview with Leonard Nimoy at 7:15...and then they played Star Trekkin' (!)

No. Fucking. WAY!!  That is most impressive.

I even called in and the replayed my comment:

me:  You are *NOT* playing Start Trekkin'!  I can't believe it!
Webster: Is that a *good* thing?
me: Absolutely.  I love it when you play off-the-beaten-path stuff like that.

BTW, Nimoy read the top 10 on Letterman last night -- Top 10 Lines Never Uttered on Star Trek. 

#1  I find your hairpiece most illogical.

ETA:  found a partial clip http://weblogs.redeyechicago.com/showpatrol/2009/05/leonard-nimoy-delivers-top-10-on-letterman.html

#8  Set phasers to fabulous!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 08, 2009, 09:09:04 AM
#8  Set phasers to fabulous!

heard in the Castro on a daily basis! (*snap*)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on May 08, 2009, 09:17:30 AM
#8  Set phasers to fabulous!

heard in the Castro on a daily basis! (*snap*)

*insert Sulu joke here*
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 08, 2009, 03:19:33 PM

*insert Sulu joke here*

Just saw the movie, and boy is it ever awesome.  Absolutely everything a summer blockbuster should be.

And considering your George Takei references, maybe it's no coincidence that Sulu gets to kick some serious ass in this version.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on May 08, 2009, 08:09:13 PM
This seals the deal, re: Streep-as-Julia Child:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXklTRsLui4

Meryl as Julia seems wonderful.  Amy Adams, ...notsomuch.  She reminds me of too many people I know in NYC.

er, I think she's supposed to in this case. ;)  When is Showtime gonna buy *your* blog for a miniseries?

If the over-the-moon entries inspire the object of my affection to fall in love with me, then I've got a pitch.

They didn't; I don't; and I'm winding the blog down in the next few weeks, so shout if you have any requests.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 09, 2009, 11:06:32 AM
This seals the deal, re: Streep-as-Julia Child:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXklTRsLui4

Meryl as Julia seems wonderful.  Amy Adams, ...notsomuch.  She reminds me of too many people I know in NYC.

er, I think she's supposed to in this case. ;)  When is Showtime gonna buy *your* blog for a miniseries?

If the over-the-moon entries inspire the object of my affection to fall in love with me, then I've got a pitch.

They didn't; I don't; and I'm winding the blog down in the next few weeks, so shout if you have any requests.

I'm very sad to hear this; I look forward to your daily musings -- seriously. Hope you'll at least use Facebook as a less-wordy substitute.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on May 09, 2009, 10:52:14 PM
This seals the deal, re: Streep-as-Julia Child:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXklTRsLui4

Meryl as Julia seems wonderful.  Amy Adams, ...notsomuch.  She reminds me of too many people I know in NYC.

er, I think she's supposed to in this case. ;)  When is Showtime gonna buy *your* blog for a miniseries?

If the over-the-moon entries inspire the object of my affection to fall in love with me, then I've got a pitch.

They didn't; I don't; and I'm winding the blog down in the next few weeks, so shout if you have any requests.

I'm very sad to hear this; I look forward to your daily musings -- seriously. Hope you'll at least use Facebook as a less-wordy substitute.

Realizing that Facebook could achieve everything my blog purported to was part of my decision.  The rest: well, I just don't have all that much else to say right now.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 11, 2009, 09:01:28 AM

*insert Sulu joke here*

Just saw the movie, and boy is it ever awesome.  Absolutely everything a summer blockbuster should be.

And considering your George Takei references, maybe it's no coincidence that Sulu gets to kick some serious ass in this version.

(http://www.awardsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/vibrate.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 14, 2009, 02:49:00 PM
For those of you who are sticklers for accuracy:

The Greatest Film Misquotes  (http://www.filmsite.org/moments0.html)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 15, 2009, 12:31:49 PM
So the Chronicle's review of Angels & Demons was written by ... Amy Biancolli. Who she? she's identified only as "Hearst Movie Writer". Turns out she's the critic for the Houston Chronicle (also owned by Hearst).  Nobody in SF was available to review a huge blockbuster?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/15/MVEM17JSLJ.DTL
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on May 15, 2009, 12:45:04 PM
So the Chronicle's review of Angels & Demons was written by ... Amy Biancolli. Who she? she's identified only as "Hearst Movie Writer". Turns out she's the critic for the Houston Chronicle (also owned by Hearst).  Nobody in SF was available to review a huge blockbuster?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/15/MVEM17JSLJ.DTL

We were wondering how Hearst was going to cut costs? Well, there's one way. Wonder if they'll start assigning sportswriters to cover games from both teams' POVs next? Giants vs. Houston? Heck, Henry Shulman can write it both ways, can't he?

Surprising that there are two media critics with such similar names--the other being David Bianculli, who's a TV critic for the NY Daily News and Fresh Air on NPR. Save for one letter, their surnames are nearly identical.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 25, 2009, 07:13:35 PM

*insert Sulu joke here*

Just saw the movie, and boy is it ever awesome.  Absolutely everything a summer blockbuster should be.


Agreed and agreed! Finally saw it today and loved it. Every actor captured their character perfectly; I especially loved the guy who played Spock (but that 2-Spocks-in-one-place time-warp mumbo-jumbo totally confused me); and the writing was at a pretty high level too.   
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on May 26, 2009, 10:21:52 AM
So the Chronicle's review of Angels & Demons was written by ... Amy Biancolli. Who she? she's identified only as "Hearst Movie Writer". Turns out she's the critic for the Houston Chronicle (also owned by Hearst).  Nobody in SF was available to review a huge blockbuster?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/15/MVEM17JSLJ.DTL

That sort of syndication marked for me the beginning of the end at the Village Voice.  We started running reviews from the alt papers in Denver and I forget where else; and it's not that they were horrid critics, but they write for less demanding audiences and so turn in reviews that are heavier on plot summary than interpretation and broader cultural implications.  I thought this did our readers a disservice and was branded an NYC elitist for saying so.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on May 26, 2009, 10:23:17 AM
Also: I watched Talladega Nights last night.  A lot of really funny moments, but a *lot* of gay jokes, and I often find myself lacking a sense of humor in that realm: it fatigues me that in comedies, a person's gayness is always a punchline, never merely an attribute.  Leaves me feeling, as so often, outside looking in.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 26, 2009, 10:26:38 AM
Also: I watched Talladega Nights last night.  A lot of really funny moments, but a *lot* of gay jokes, and I often find myself lacking a sense of humor in that realm: it fatigues me that in comedies, a person's gayness is always a punchline, never merely an attribute.  Leaves me feeling, as so often, outside looking in.

I would argue that in TN the punchline was the yokels' reaction to the Sacha Baron Cohen character's gayness. I've seen the sort of thing you're describing, but I didn't think TN was that.  Wait'll you se the Bruno movie!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on May 31, 2009, 12:27:21 AM

*insert Sulu joke here*

Just saw the movie, and boy is it ever awesome.  Absolutely everything a summer blockbuster should be.


Agreed and agreed! Finally saw it today and loved it. Every actor captured their character perfectly; I especially loved the guy who played Spock (but that 2-Spocks-in-one-place time-warp mumbo-jumbo totally confused me); and the writing was at a pretty high level too.   

Finally saw it this afternoon (I think I was the last one of us to do so, yes?), and was pretty well satisfied. They have done right by the franchise, so I'd be happy with a sequel or two, so long as they keep up the level of writing. Yes, the Spock/Spock Prime meetup was kind of a cop-out, they probably could have come up with something a little more interesting. Also didn't appreciate some of the factual inconsistencies with the original series. But mostly that was small potatoes.

Did anyone else realize that Winona Ryder was playing Spock's mother? I sure didn't.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on June 01, 2009, 09:07:16 AM

*insert Sulu joke here*

Just saw the movie, and boy is it ever awesome.  Absolutely everything a summer blockbuster should be.


Agreed and agreed! Finally saw it today and loved it. Every actor captured their character perfectly; I especially loved the guy who played Spock (but that 2-Spocks-in-one-place time-warp mumbo-jumbo totally confused me); and the writing was at a pretty high level too.   

Finally saw it this afternoon (I think I was the last one of us to do so, yes?), and was pretty well satisfied. They have done right by the franchise, so I'd be happy with a sequel or two, so long as they keep up the level of writing. Yes, the Spock/Spock Prime meetup was kind of a cop-out, they probably could have come up with something a little more interesting. Also didn't appreciate some of the factual inconsistencies with the original series. But mostly that was small potatoes.

Did anyone else realize that Winona Ryder was playing Spock's mother? I sure didn't.

I saw it Saturday, so I must be the last.  Enjoyed it very much.  It got a little sappy towards the end.  The scene where Captain Pike was in the wheelchair at the end was a nice touch.  When Kirk relieves him of command of the Enterprise, I soooo wanted Pike to respond "boop ... boop".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 01, 2009, 09:32:58 AM

*insert Sulu joke here*

Just saw the movie, and boy is it ever awesome.  Absolutely everything a summer blockbuster should be.


Agreed and agreed! Finally saw it today and loved it. Every actor captured their character perfectly; I especially loved the guy who played Spock (but that 2-Spocks-in-one-place time-warp mumbo-jumbo totally confused me); and the writing was at a pretty high level too.   

Finally saw it this afternoon (I think I was the last one of us to do so, yes?), and was pretty well satisfied. They have done right by the franchise, so I'd be happy with a sequel or two, so long as they keep up the level of writing. Yes, the Spock/Spock Prime meetup was kind of a cop-out, they probably could have come up with something a little more interesting. Also didn't appreciate some of the factual inconsistencies with the original series. But mostly that was small potatoes.

Did anyone else realize that Winona Ryder was playing Spock's mother? I sure didn't.

I saw it Saturday, so I must be the last.  Enjoyed it very much.  It got a little sappy towards the end.  The scene where Captain Pike was in the wheelchair at the end was a nice touch.  When Kirk relieves him of command of the Enterprise, I soooo wanted Pike to respond "boop ... boop".

I saw it Saturday, too. (Went to Daly city Century theaters, our friends got there a tad late so we sat in the SECOND row.  Yeeesh.  The whole movie felt like it was filmed w fisheye warp speed camera...)  The time travel, the dual Spocks, that's JJ Abrams' (producer and director) stock and trad stock-in-trade (See ABC's Lost).  we had great fun w the weird science : one drop of red stuff can annihilate a planet, while 100 gallons of if takes a good three minutes to chew up a Romulan ship while the Enterprise can escape it. 

The casting was very good, but I thought the actor who played Bones was esp great.  And Deep Roy played a good 4 foot tall alien.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 01, 2009, 09:38:53 AM
stock and trad

is that anything like "stock in trade"? ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 01, 2009, 11:48:17 AM
stock and trad

is that anything like "stock in trade"? ;)

trad(e)itionally, yes
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 01, 2009, 11:56:08 AM
did the PPV thing this weekend and saw The Girlfriend Experience, Steven Soderburgh's current low-budget/indie experiment starring actual porn star Sasha Grey as a Manhattan call girl.  I liked it; though some of the swooning reviews are a bit over-the-top IMHO.  It was filmed last October, so there's a lot of dialogue about the upcoming election and the financial meltdown; some critics seem to think this is very profound but I'm thinking it's more... coincidence (and luck on Soderburgh's part).  Certainly worth $6.99 on Comcast, if not 10 bucks + at the Embarcadero.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 01, 2009, 01:23:17 PM
did the PPV thing this weekend and saw The Girlfriend Experience, Steven Soderburgh's current low-budget/indie experiment starring actual porn star Sasha Grey as a Manhattan call girl.  I liked it; though some of the swooning reviews are a bit over-the-top IMHO.  It was filmed last October, so there's a lot of dialogue about the upcoming election and the financial meltdown; some critics seem to think this is very profound but I'm thinking it's more... coincidence (and luck on Soderburgh's part).  Certainly worth $6.99 on Comcast, if not 10 bucks + at the Embarcadero.

from the trailer her acting looked pretty bad.. wooden, maybe?  or was her jaded look and 'tude part of her characterization?

Soderbergh has some real hits or misses, doesn't he?   At least the dude takes risks.  I saw this strange one a while back called Schizopolis which had all sorts of playful weirdness.  Out of Sight and King of the Hill were fairly conventional, but then he did Bubble which was really low-budge and used non-pro actors.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 01, 2009, 08:29:03 PM

Did anyone else realize that Winona Ryder was playing Spock's mother? I sure didn't.

I posted about her being in the movie long ago, when the cast was first announced, and wondered what role she could *possibly* be playing.  So when I saw her as Spock's mom, I nearly laughed out loud in the theater.

Did anyone else recognize the actor who played Sarek?  Hint:  He was the lead in a Best Pic Oscar-winning film once upon a time.



I saw it Saturday, so I must be the last.  Enjoyed it very much.  It got a little sappy towards the end.  The scene where Captain Pike was in the wheelchair at the end was a nice touch.  When Kirk relieves him of command of the Enterprise, I soooo wanted Pike to respond "boop ... boop".

LOL!  I wanted his face to be all half-melted too!



The time travel, the dual Spocks, that's JJ Abrams' (producer and director) stock-in-trade (See ABC's Lost). 

The casting was very good, but I thought the actor who played Bones was esp great.  And Deep Roy played a good 4 foot tall alien.

...and see Fox's Fringe (also by Abrams).  The final episode of the first season was entitled "There's More Than One of Everything", and Nimoy shows up in the very last scene, where he greets the main character, Agent Olivia Dunham, in an office high up in one of the towers of the World Trade Center, proving to her that she must now be in a parallel universe.

The actor who played Bones is Karl Urban, who was Eomer in the LotR movies, and also the Russian asssassin in the 2nd Bourne flick.  I was pleasantly surprised that he could do comedy that well. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 02, 2009, 07:40:56 AM
Saw Sam Raimi's delightfully old-school horror flick Drag Me To Hell last nite; it's as much fun as the reviews have indicated. Very well-made (terrific sound design especially) and since it's PG-13, not R, it's just gross enough without being over-the-top.  A good time at the movies.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 03, 2009, 09:57:00 AM
Saw Sam Raimi's delightfully old-school horror flick Drag Me To Hell last nite; it's as much fun as the reviews have indicated. Very well-made (terrific sound design especially) and since it's PG-13, not R, it's just gross enough without being over-the-top.  A good time at the movies.

speaking of old-school: this movie scared the crap outta me when I was 8; the '80s remake sucked. But what's funny about this trailer for the orig is the super-saturated color -- I've never seen it in color, I saw it on B&W TV in the early '60s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz6NIlygpWo
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 09, 2009, 08:22:35 AM
Saw Pixar's Up last nite; gawd is it ever wonderful. If the opening sequence doesn't make you cry you must be dead. (I rarely cry at movies but I was bawling.)  I've heard arguments for and against seeing it in 3-D (Roger Ebert thinks the colors are brighter in 2-D) but I thought 3-D enhanced the experience. And if you can see it at the Castro while it's there... they play a 20-minute Disney music medley on the Mighty Wurlitzer before the show.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 09, 2009, 10:58:51 AM
Saw Pixar's Up last nite; gawd is it ever wonderful. If the opening sequence doesn't make you cry you must be dead. (I rarely cry at movies but I was bawling.)  I've heard arguments for and against seeing it in 3-D (Roger Ebert thinks the colors are brighter in 2-D) but I thought 3-D enhanced the experience. And if you can see it at the Castro while it's there... they play a 20-minute Disney music medley on the Mighty Wurlitzer before the show.

We saw it on Sunday as a family and I agree with all of the above.  This is not an animated movie with a few inside jokes for the adults (a la Shrek), this is a fully grown up animated film that happens to be very kid friendly.

A must see, and I was also glad to catch the 3D.  Mike did you see the short feature that preceeded it called Partly Coudy?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 09, 2009, 12:34:36 PM
Saw Pixar's Up last nite; gawd is it ever wonderful. If the opening sequence doesn't make you cry you must be dead. (I rarely cry at movies but I was bawling.)  I've heard arguments for and against seeing it in 3-D (Roger Ebert thinks the colors are brighter in 2-D) but I thought 3-D enhanced the experience. And if you can see it at the Castro while it's there... they play a 20-minute Disney music medley on the Mighty Wurlitzer before the show.

We saw it on Sunday as a family and I agree with all of the above.  This is not an animated movie with a few inside jokes for the adults (a la Shrek), this is a fully grown up animated film that happens to be very kid friendly.

A must see, and I was also glad to catch the 3D.  Mike did you see the short feature that preceeded it called Partly Coudy?

yeah... I was not crazy about the short; not one of their better ones, IMHO. (I loved, for example, the magician-and-his-rabbit one they showed before WALL-E last year)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 09, 2009, 01:03:05 PM
as if a Footloose remake isn't crazy enuf, Simon Cowell is producing a newSaturday Night Fever starring... Zac Efron (who turned down the Footloose reboot).  They're getting Timbaland to re-mix, or re-imagine, or re-gurgitate the Bee Gees classics. Sheesh.  It's a movie about a culture that doesn't exist any more and (if you believe the stories about how the magazine article it was based on was completely fabricated) probably never did.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on June 10, 2009, 09:44:46 PM
Saw Pixar's Up last nite; gawd is it ever wonderful. If the opening sequence doesn't make you cry you must be dead. (I rarely cry at movies but I was bawling.)  I've heard arguments for and against seeing it in 3-D (Roger Ebert thinks the colors are brighter in 2-D) but I thought 3-D enhanced the experience. And if you can see it at the Castro while it's there... they play a 20-minute Disney music medley on the Mighty Wurlitzer before the show.

We saw it on Sunday as a family and I agree with all of the above.  This is not an animated movie with a few inside jokes for the adults (a la Shrek), this is a fully grown up animated film that happens to be very kid friendly.

A must see, and I was also glad to catch the 3D.  Mike did you see the short feature that preceeded it called Partly Coudy?
we just got back from seeing it.  As far as the opening scene, in addition to all the universality of the opening scenes, I got pretty floored when I first saw the mailbox.  My parents names are Carl and Elli.  My dad passed away in 95, but still...

as far as the brightness of colors thing is concerned, it's of course true that the eyeglasses use filtering, so the unfiltered look is technically brighter, but the brain does a lot of adjusting to compensate.  It's similar to how we see light at sunset.  You may have noticed that photos you took at Sunset are really golden and shifted to the red.  But we don't remember it looking like that because our brains adjusted for it.

Sorry for the lecture, but bottom line is I think they do the 3D thing pretty well, and I was quite impressed!

(http://pixarplanet.com/blog/images/450.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 13, 2009, 12:59:19 PM
Saw The Hangover last nite and Gaz was right: very very funny. "Toodle-oo, muthafuckahs!"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 14, 2009, 05:07:54 PM
Saw The Hangover last nite and Gaz was right: very very funny. "Toodle-oo, muthafuckahs!"

Worth noting: Hangover was #1 again this week, and is on track to become the top-grossing R-rated comedy of all time. And Up is gunning to be Pixar's Top. Moneymaker. Evah. (Finding Nemo currently wears that crown.)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 14, 2009, 08:28:15 PM
Just watched Taken with Liam Neeson, the surprise hit (over $100M) from a few months back which is already on Pay-per-view.  I'd avoided it in theaters because it looked like junk. And... it's junk. But it's junk with Liam Neeson in it.  It could easily have been a Steven Seagal movie that would've gone straight-to-video.  It's a Steven Seagal movie for people who never go to Steven Seagal movies. A lean, mean 90 minutes: 30 minutes of set-up, then an hour of Neeson beating the crap out of dozens of bad guys. Glad I paid 5 bucks on PPV rather than $10.50 at Metreon.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 15, 2009, 08:53:04 AM
Saw Pixar's Up last nite; gawd is it ever wonderful. If the opening sequence doesn't make you cry you must be dead. (I rarely cry at movies but I was bawling.)  I've heard arguments for and against seeing it in 3-D (Roger Ebert thinks the colors are brighter in 2-D) but I thought 3-D enhanced the experience. And if you can see it at the Castro while it's there... they play a 20-minute Disney music medley on the Mighty Wurlitzer before the show.

We saw it on Sunday as a family and I agree with all of the above.  This is not an animated movie with a few inside jokes for the adults (a la Shrek), this is a fully grown up animated film that happens to be very kid friendly.

A must see, and I was also glad to catch the 3D.  Mike did you see the short feature that preceeded it called Partly Coudy?
we just got back from seeing it.  As far as the opening scene, in addition to all the universality of the opening scenes, I got pretty floored when I first saw the mailbox.  My parents names are Carl and Elli.  My dad passed away in 95, but still...

as far as the brightness of colors thing is concerned, it's of course true that the eyeglasses use filtering, so the unfiltered look is technically brighter, but the brain does a lot of adjusting to compensate.  It's similar to how we see light at sunset.  You may have noticed that photos you took at Sunset are really golden and shifted to the red.  But we don't remember it looking like that because our brains adjusted for it.

Sorry for the lecture, but bottom line is I think they do the 3D thing pretty well, and I was quite impressed!

finally saw it this weekend in 3D at the Castro.  the smile never left my face (except when I cried). I loved it.  (thought the short beforehand was a little depressing, though...) 

An usher we know at the Castro said Pixar really wanted the movie to show there (Disney knew the Castro had done the sing-along Little Mermaid a while back -- which they appreciated , and I imagine Pixar folks think fondly of the Castro theater, recent mgt and programmer changes notwithstanding) so the corporation helped the theater get the digital installed

We had gone back and forth about whether to see the 2D or 3D.  An usher at the Alameda theater (beautiful place, btw) said he preferred the 2D version.  BTW, he was dressed up like Carl for his job, he has a shock of (natural) white hair, and he wore big square black fake glasses. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on June 15, 2009, 08:58:40 AM
I watched Doubt yesterday on PPV.  Very depressing, with great performances all around.

Oh, and Wall-E finally made it to Starz, so I watched it too (part of the package, didn't have to pay).  It was awesome, especially the first half hour or so, before the fat people.  People are always the limiters of happiness.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 15, 2009, 09:16:25 AM
finally saw it this weekend in 3D at the Castro.  the smile never left my face (except when I cried). I loved it.  (thought the short beforehand was a little depressing, though...) 

An usher we know at th Castro said Pixar really wanted the movie to show there (Disney knew the Castro had done the sing-along Little Mermaid a while back -- which they appprec itated , and I imagine Pixar folks think fondly of the Castro theater, recent mgt and programmer changes notwithstanding) so the corporation helped the theater get the digital installed


Movie people love the Castro (theater). As to the recent changes there... it really turned out to have been something of a tempest in a teapot. They fired their old programmer and there was this big uproar; she claimed the owners let her go because they thought she booked too many "weird, gay, obscure" films. So of course if you cry "homophobia" in the Castro (neighborhood) folks get riled up.   But the fact is that since the new programmer took over, the Castro (theater) is as gay as I can ever remember it being in the 18 years I've lived here -- they do all these campy triple-bill theme nights on Fridays that they never used to do before (roller disco movies, '80s slasher flicks) which coincidentally make a lot more money in one evening than any obscure indie would in a weekend.  BTW, Tinka, if you have inside info on what went down there (you seem to know a lot of ushers!) please correct anything I may be wrong about in the preceding.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 16, 2009, 08:01:52 AM
finally saw it this weekend in 3D at the Castro.  the smile never left my face (except when I cried). I loved it.  (thought the short beforehand was a little depressing, though...) 

An usher we know at th Castro said Pixar really wanted the movie to show there (Disney knew the Castro had done the sing-along Little Mermaid a while back -- which they appprec itated , and I imagine Pixar folks think fondly of the Castro theater, recent mgt and programmer changes notwithstanding) so the corporation helped the theater get the digital installed


Movie people love the Castro (theater). As to the recent changes there... it really turned out to have been something of a tempest in a teapot. They fired their old programmer and there was this big uproar; she claimed the owners let her go because they thought she booked too many "weird, gay, obscure" films. So of course if you cry "homophobia" in the Castro (neighborhood) folks get riled up.   But the fact is that since the new programmer took over, the Castro (theater) is as gay as I can ever remember it being in the 18 years I've lived here -- they do all these campy triple-bill theme nights on Fridays that they never used to do before (roller disco movies, '80s slasher flicks) which coincidentally make a lot more money in one evening than any obscure indie would in a weekend.  BTW, Tinka, if you have inside info on what went down there (you seem to know a lot of ushers!) please correct anything I may be wrong about in the preceding.

The week long engagements they have now, esp the new releases, are a really different angle for them.  The programmer they let go used to program a diff movie every night, it seemed.  It was like a real art-house.  They would string together movies along a theme, but it seemed like it was always a different movie playing.  And I question the claim that she programmed too many "gay" films back then. She was eclectic and took chances here and there, but it wasn't as if she was channeling Peaches Christ and the Kuchar Brothers with regularity.  The new owners ticked off a lot of people when they took over, but they are learning as they go.  Perhaps hosting more "gay"events is part of reaching out to the community, but mostly I'd say it's b/c they make money for the owners. 

and I should correct my earlier post: the guy we were talking to is one of the managers, not an usher.  He's been there for years, and the gf used to work there w him, so they know each other well.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 16, 2009, 09:55:57 AM
Last nite I saw Away We Go, the Sam Mendes-directed indie written by Dave Eggers and his wife. Seriously disliked it. The most annoyingly "quirky" thirtysomething-angst movie I've seen in ages. Gawd, I hated almost every single character.  Can't go into more deets without spoilers; if anyone else sees it we can discuss.  But I'd advise against it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 17, 2009, 09:21:51 PM
Last nite I saw Away We Go, the Sam Mendes-directed indie written by Dave Eggers and his wife. Seriously disliked it. The most annoyingly "quirky" thirtysomething-angst movie I've seen in ages. Gawd, I hated almost every single character.  Can't go into more deets without spoilers; if anyone else sees it we can discuss.  But I'd advise against it.

 no danger of me getting close to that one.   two words: Maya Rudolph.  ...just not my s'tick.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 18, 2009, 07:49:45 AM
Last nite I saw Away We Go, the Sam Mendes-directed indie written by Dave Eggers and his wife. Seriously disliked it. The most annoyingly "quirky" thirtysomething-angst movie I've seen in ages. Gawd, I hated almost every single character.  Can't go into more deets without spoilers; if anyone else sees it we can discuss.  But I'd advise against it.

 no danger of me getting close to that one.   two words: Maya Rudolph.  ...just not my s'tick.

Ha!  I'm not at all familiar with her SNL stuff, but there have been guys on the movie board I frequent who have just been drooling over the prospect of seeing her semi-naked. To each his own, I s'pose.

another annoying thing: a bunch of terminally wimpy Alexi Murdoch songs on the sndtk.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 18, 2009, 07:55:50 AM
Last nite I saw Away We Go, the Sam Mendes-directed indie written by Dave Eggers and his wife. Seriously disliked it. The most annoyingly "quirky" thirtysomething-angst movie I've seen in ages. Gawd, I hated almost every single character.  Can't go into more deets without spoilers; if anyone else sees it we can discuss.  But I'd advise against it.

 no danger of me getting close to that one.   two words: Maya Rudolph.  ...just not my s'tick.

Ha!  I'm not at all familiar with her SNL stuff, but there have been guys on the movie board I frequent who have just been drooling over the prospect of seeing her semi-naked. To each his own, I s'pose.

another annoying thing: a bunch of terminally wimpy Alexi Murdoch songs on the sndtk.

naked?  yes.   walking and talking .. not so much.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on June 18, 2009, 08:13:52 AM
Anyone going to a midnight premier of the Jack Black/ Michael Cera comedy Year One tonight?  Ha.  JK.

It looks godawful in the tv ads, but then I found out it's written and directed by Egon himself, Harold Ramis.  So there's some hope that it won't be completely horrible.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 18, 2009, 08:21:22 AM
Anyone going to a midnight premier of the Jack Black/ Michael Cera comedy Year One tonight?  Ha.  JK.

It looks godawful in the tv ads, but then I found out it's written and directed by Egon himself, Harold Ramis.  So there's some hope that it won't be completely horrible.


I'm confused by the TV spots: one minute they seem to be cavemen; the next they're in what looks like ancient Rome. WTF?

OTOH, the Sandra Bullock flick The Proposal is actually getting some good notices, and Betty White is supposed to be hilarious as a potty-mouthed old lady (gee, what a stretch!)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 18, 2009, 09:53:22 AM
Anyone going to a midnight premier of the Jack Black/ Michael Cera comedy Year One tonight?  Ha.  JK.

It looks godawful in the tv ads, but then I found out it's written and directed by Egon himself, Harold Ramis.  So there's some hope that it won't be completely horrible.


I'm confused by the TV spots: one minute they seem to be cavemen; the next they're in what looks like ancient Rome. WTF?


update: the movie's got 28% on Rotten Tomatoes so far.  Sad, because Ramis directed  Groundhog Day, easily one of my 4 or 5 favorite films of the last 20 years.

Apparently the script's been knocking around since John Belushi was still alive (it was supposed to be him and Aykroyd, or him and Ramis, or something.)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 19, 2009, 08:28:06 AM
Betty White totally fucking RULES!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/19/MVOJ1897GI.DTL
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 19, 2009, 04:20:31 PM
Betty White totally fucking RULES!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/19/MVOJ1897GI.DTL

Especially if she really did sleep with all four of the Marx Bros.  (not counting Gummo I suppose)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on June 19, 2009, 09:46:05 PM
Betty White totally fucking RULES!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/19/MVOJ1897GI.DTL

Especially if she really did sleep with all four of the Marx Bros.  (not counting Gummo I suppose)

Sorry to be missing the joke/reference, but why not Gummo?

And I wonder if they ran a train on her.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 19, 2009, 11:43:12 PM
Betty White totally fucking RULES!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/19/MVOJ1897GI.DTL

Especially if she really did sleep with all four of the Marx Bros.  (not counting Gummo I suppose)

Sorry to be missing the joke/reference, but why not Gummo?

And I wonder if they ran a train on her.

Gummo was the 5th Marx Bro.  He was in their Vaudeville act but 'retired' before they hit the big screen.  Groucho, Harpo, Chico & Zeppo were the four in the fillms.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 23, 2009, 12:32:16 PM
especially for Tnka, Roger Ebert's hilarious pan of Transformers 2":

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090623/REVIEWS/906239997

Quote
Aware that this movie opened in England seven hours before Chicago time and the morning papers would be on the streets, after writing the above I looked up the first reviews as a reality check. I was reassured: "Like watching paint dry while getting hit over the head with a frying pan!" (Bradshaw, Guardian); "Sums up everything that is most tedious, crass and despicable about modern Hollywood!" (Tookey, Daily Mail); "A giant, lumbering idiot of a movie!" (Edwards, Daily Mirror). The first American review, however, reported that it "feels destined to be the biggest movie of all time" (Todd Gilchrist, Cinematical). It’s certainly the biggest something of all time.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 23, 2009, 01:08:51 PM
especially for Tnka, Roger Ebert's hilarious pan of Transformers 2":

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090623/REVIEWS/906239997

Quote
Aware that this movie opened in England seven hours before Chicago time and the morning papers would be on the streets, after writing the above I looked up the first reviews as a reality check. I was reassured: "Like watching paint dry while getting hit over the head with a frying pan!" (Bradshaw, Guardian); "Sums up everything that is most tedious, crass and despicable about modern Hollywood!" (Tookey, Daily Mail); "A giant, lumbering idiot of a movie!" (Edwards, Daily Mirror). The first American review, however, reported that it "feels destined to be the biggest movie of all time" (Todd Gilchrist, Cinematical). It’s certainly the biggest something of all time.


oh well.   I trust Roger (and Tookey).  ok, forget that one.  Thanks.

PS: I think Peter Hartlaub -- not Mick LaSalle -- will review this one.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 23, 2009, 01:38:47 PM
especially for Tnka, Roger Ebert's hilarious pan of Transformers 2":

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090623/REVIEWS/906239997

Quote
Aware that this movie opened in England seven hours before Chicago time and the morning papers would be on the streets, after writing the above I looked up the first reviews as a reality check. I was reassured: "Like watching paint dry while getting hit over the head with a frying pan!" (Bradshaw, Guardian); "Sums up everything that is most tedious, crass and despicable about modern Hollywood!" (Tookey, Daily Mail); "A giant, lumbering idiot of a movie!" (Edwards, Daily Mirror). The first American review, however, reported that it "feels destined to be the biggest movie of all time" (Todd Gilchrist, Cinematical). It’s certainly the biggest something of all time.


oh well.   I trust Roger (and Tookey).  ok, forget that one.  Thanks.

PS: I think Peter Hartlaub -- not Mick LaSalle -- will review this one.

oh and Ebert's Chi-town rival Michael Phillips, hated it too:

Quote
Director Michael Bay's film -- which has two settings, "puree" and "liquify" -- is like that scene in Raging Bull when Joe Pesci slams a car door against the guy's head, over and over. Bay's sequel is the car door; the audience is the guy.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on June 23, 2009, 10:51:12 PM
TIME's reviewer concurs (http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1906689,00.html) on Transformers 2.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 24, 2009, 07:55:28 AM
TIME's reviewer concurs (http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1906689,00.html) on Transformers 2.

whothefuck is Mary Pols? Did they get rid of Corliss?  In any case, it's got 42 on Metacritic at the moment, not that it matters (it'll still make $300M +).

Me, I'm looking forward to The Hurt Locker.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on June 24, 2009, 09:35:06 AM
TIME's reviewer concurs (http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1906689,00.html) on Transformers 2.

whothefuck is Mary Pols? Did they get rid of Corliss?

Oh, no, Richard Corliss is still around; sometimes he passes off reviews to either his wife or Pols.  Not hard to believe that TF2 was beneath him.  (RC, btw, is more fun to work with than most.  Very dramatically talkative guy who loves the sound of his own voice.  And he actually appreciates good copy editors.)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 24, 2009, 10:21:40 AM
TIME's reviewer concurs (http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1906689,00.html) on Transformers 2.

whothefuck is Mary Pols? Did they get rid of Corliss?

Oh, no, Richard Corliss is still around; sometimes he passes off reviews to either his wife or Pols.  Not hard to believe that TF2 was beneath him.  (RC, btw, is more fun to work with than most.  Very dramatically talkative guy who loves the sound of his own voice.  And he actually appreciates good copy editors.)

is his copy clean?  some writers love copy eds (or should) b/c they make the writer look actually competent.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 24, 2009, 10:59:14 AM
Hollywood has gone insane:

WTF #1: Variety reports that the Academy will henceforth nominate 10 films for Best Picture every year, instead of 5.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005322.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

WTF #2: Transformers 2 made $16M last nite, a record for midnight sneaks the day before an opening.

WTF #3 David Fincher (Seven, Zodiac, Benjamin Button) may direct The Social Network, a film about the founding of... Facebook. Oh yeah, real dramatic tension there. Again: WTF?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on June 24, 2009, 11:14:23 AM
Hollywood has gone insane:

WTF #1: Variety reports that the Academy will henceforth nominate 10 films for Best Picture every year, instead of 5.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005322.html?categoryid=13&cs=1


What justification do they have? There are just so many high-quality films coming out these days that some deserving films (like Transformers or Pineapple Express) are being left out? I'm sure the studios are for it--five more films that can be called Best Picture nominees (and also five more films that will LOSE.) Jeez, you might as well add another half an hour to the ceremonies, so they can give synopses of these the way they did last year.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 24, 2009, 11:28:31 AM
Hollywood has gone insane:

WTF #1: Variety reports that the Academy will henceforth nominate 10 films for Best Picture every year, instead of 5.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005322.html?categoryid=13&cs=1


What justification do they have? There are just so many high-quality films coming out these days that some deserving films (like Transformers or Pineapple Express) are being left out? I'm sure the studios are for it--five more films that can be called Best Picture nominees (and also five more films that will LOSE.) Jeez, you might as well add another half an hour to the ceremonies, so they can give synopses of these the way they did last year.

indeed; I'm baffled. There used to be 10 nominees back in the early days; it stopped around 1944 or so when the Academy decided 10 was too many and made "Best Picture Nominee" not-special-enough. 

ETA: the general consensus in the movie-blog-osphere is that the omission of Dark Knight from the 5 finalists this year was a major factor in this. They want to ensure a couple of box-office blockbusters in the mix to get more people to watch the ceremonies.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 24, 2009, 12:03:16 PM
another great quote on Trans2 from Devin Faraci of chud.com (a fanboy site, fer chrissakes!):

"...there's nothing that works in this film. The fact that the illusion of movement is created onscreen may be Michael Bay's greatest and only triumph in this movie. Terry Schiavo would have been bored by this bloated, ponderous piece of shit."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on June 24, 2009, 12:31:20 PM
Hollywood has gone insane:

WTF #1: Variety reports that the Academy will henceforth nominate 10 films for Best Picture every year, instead of 5.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005322.html?categoryid=13&cs=1


What justification do they have? There are just so many high-quality films coming out these days that some deserving films (like Transformers or Pineapple Express) are being left out? I'm sure the studios are for it--five more films that can be called Best Picture nominees (and also five more films that will LOSE.) Jeez, you might as well add another half an hour to the ceremonies, so they can give synopses of these the way they did last year.

indeed; I'm baffled. There used to be 10 nominees back in the early days; it stopped around 1944 or so when the Academy decided 10 was too many and made "Best Picture Nominee" not-special-enough. 

ETA: the general consensus in the movie-blog-osphere is that the omission of Dark Knight from the 5 finalists this year was a major factor in this. They want to ensure a couple of box-office blockbusters in the mix to get more people to watch the ceremonies.

I think one thing that will result is that 'consensus' Best Pics heading into the awards will be less likely to get knocked off by the up-and-comer (such as Crash over Brokeback Mountain).  With an additional 5 films on the ballot, AMPAS voters who haven't made up their minds yet will distribute their votes more widely & be less likely to coalesce on a single choice.  If there had been 10 nominees at the 2006 Oscars, they'd certainly have included Syriana plus some combination of Walk The Line, A History of Violence, Match Point, The Constant Gardener or The Squid & The Whale.  Maybe Hustle & Flow or Transamerica would slip in behind the buzz of 'daring indy with career making acting performance'.

I always wondered if Brokeback Mountain would have won if Capote had been replaced by Syriana on the ballot.  And in hindsight I'm pretty much convinced that Crash would have lost a lot more votes to any combination of five additional films from this list than Brokeback would have.  So now I wonder if this thinking is shared & also factored into the decison to go to 10 nominees.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on June 24, 2009, 08:46:55 PM
Anyone going to a midnight premier of the Jack Black/ Michael Cera comedy Year One tonight?  Ha.  JK.

It looks godawful in the tv ads, but then I found out it's written and directed by Egon himself, Harold Ramis.  So there's some hope that it won't be completely horrible.


I'm confused by the TV spots: one minute they seem to be cavemen; the next they're in what looks like ancient Rome. WTF?

I just saw the ad finally; they look like
(http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/atilla.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on June 24, 2009, 08:59:42 PM
TIME's reviewer concurs (http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1906689,00.html) on Transformers 2.

whothefuck is Mary Pols? Did they get rid of Corliss?

Oh, no, Richard Corliss is still around; sometimes he passes off reviews to either his wife or Pols.  Not hard to believe that TF2 was beneath him.  (RC, btw, is more fun to work with than most.  Very dramatically talkative guy who loves the sound of his own voice.  And he actually appreciates good copy editors.)

is his copy clean?  some writers love copy eds (or should) b/c they make the writer look actually competent.
Yes.  His grammar is spot-on and he knows the fussy aspects of TIME style; but his references can be, well, angular at times, and so more than once I've overlooked an error in his copy because I thought to myself, "Oh, that must just be a reference to something I don't get."

Meantime, he's got his reaction to Academy expansion:

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1906975,00.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 01, 2009, 11:24:23 AM
The Greatest Movie Trailers of All Time (http://www.ifc.com/news/2009/06/50-greatest-trailers.php), according to IFC.

Interesting list, can't argue with #1, which I remember made me go see the movie when it first came out without any review or word of mouth.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 01, 2009, 12:01:07 PM
The Greatest Movie Trailers of All Time (http://www.ifc.com/news/2009/06/50-greatest-trailers.php), according to IFC.

Interesting list, can't argue with #1, which I remember made me go see the movie when it first came out without any review or word of mouth.

wow, I had never seen the Comedian trailer -- that Seinfeld documentary barely got released, actually, but that trailer is genius.

I remember seeing the Dr. Strangelove one on TV in 1964 as a 9-year-old.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on July 01, 2009, 01:55:50 PM
The Greatest Movie Trailers of All Time (http://www.ifc.com/news/2009/06/50-greatest-trailers.php), according to IFC.

Interesting list, can't argue with #1, which I remember made me go see the movie when it first came out without any review or word of mouth.

wow, I had never seen the Comedian trailer -- that Seinfeld documentary barely got released, actually, but that trailer is genius.

I remember seeing the Dr. Strangelove one on TV in 1964 as a 9-year-old.

I was the same way w #10, The Shining - elevator full of blood.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 01, 2009, 02:07:12 PM
The Greatest Movie Trailers of All Time (http://www.ifc.com/news/2009/06/50-greatest-trailers.php), according to IFC.

Interesting list, can't argue with #1, which I remember made me go see the movie when it first came out without any review or word of mouth.

wow, I had never seen the Comedian trailer -- that Seinfeld documentary barely got released, actually, but that trailer is genius.

I remember seeing the Dr. Strangelove one on TV in 1964 as a 9-year-old.

I was the same way w #10, The Shining - elevator full of blood.

(http://www.gonemovies.com/WWW/WanadooFilms/Thriller/ShiningMurder.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 09, 2009, 08:46:30 AM
I am *SO* looking forward to this movie:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/movies/05pare.html?_r=1
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 09, 2009, 01:30:44 PM
I am *SO* looking forward to this movie:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/movies/05pare.html?_r=1

You and me both!  I knew nothing about this except for maybe a passing mention in the context of the boxing match.

(Note to self: the Times capitalizes names of dances.  "like Sister Sledge teaching African girls how to dance the Bump, direct from Philadelphia")
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 09, 2009, 01:36:12 PM
Note to self: the Times capitalizes names of dances.  "like Sister Sledge teaching African girls how to dance the Bump, direct from Philadelphia"

at least they realized Sister Sledge is a group and a not a person, who would've been "Ms. Sledge". I miss the days of references to "Mr. Loaf"...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on July 09, 2009, 03:16:20 PM
I am *SO* looking forward to this movie:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/movies/05pare.html?_r=1
My wife spent two years in Zaοre (72-74) in the Peace Corps, and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie for the African groups.  We've seen a couple of them on tour over here, and they're just awesome.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 10, 2009, 08:58:00 AM
An interesting story to begin with (Mel Gibson playing a crazy guy? what a stretch!) but some of the comments that follow it are priceless.

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2009/07/beaverheart.php
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on July 10, 2009, 10:43:54 AM
I am *SO* looking forward to this movie:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/movies/05pare.html?_r=1
My wife spent two years in Zaοre (72-74) in the Peace Corps, and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie for the African groups.  We've seen a couple of them on tour over here, and they're just awesome.

looking fwd to this, too~!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 10, 2009, 10:57:15 AM
Renee did one of her meet the public reviews for Bruno this morning.  All seemed to agree that it was vulgar beyond all imagining, should have been rated X, got laughs in the wrong places.

One clearly gay man said, "I can't believe heterosexual audiences would watch this."

so now I HAVE to see it, being heterosexual myself.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 11, 2009, 08:00:19 AM
Renee did one of her meet the public reviews for Bruno this morning.  All seemed to agree that it was vulgar beyond all imagining, should have been rated X, got laughs in the wrongs places.

One clearly gay man said, "I can't believe heterosexual audiences would watch this."

so now I HAVE to see it, being heterosexual myself.

CNN (!) on Bruno: "It's the closest thing to gay porn most heterosexuals will see this side of 300."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/10/review.bruno/index.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on July 11, 2009, 05:01:52 PM
Renee did one of her meet the public reviews for Bruno this morning.  All seemed to agree that it was vulgar beyond all imagining, should have been rated X, got laughs in the wrong places.

One clearly gay man said, "I can't believe heterosexual audiences would watch this."

so now I HAVE to see it, being heterosexual myself.
I want to see it too.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on July 13, 2009, 09:10:41 AM
Renee did one of her meet the public reviews for Bruno this morning.  All seemed to agree that it was vulgar beyond all imagining, should have been rated X, got laughs in the wrong places.

One clearly gay man said, "I can't believe heterosexual audiences would watch this."

so now I HAVE to see it, being heterosexual myself.
I want to see it too.

Will McCaffrey,
Guest Services Representative
"I have Sacha Baron Cohen to thank for revealing the severe shortcomings and outright petty prejudices I and others share. I will now use this new self-knowledge to improve myself as a person, and be better to those around me."

http://www.theonion.com/content/amvo/bruno_a_success
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on July 13, 2009, 01:23:05 PM
Seen promos for Julie and Julia. Must see.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 14, 2009, 11:14:34 AM
Saw Public Enemies and enjoyed it.  Depp is, as always, great, and I think Michael Mann is becoming an auteur with a recognizable style, something I began to feel with Collateral.  Lots of extreme closeups, even on minor characters.  It is a bit long, in the way of The Assassination of Jesse James, and, like Changeling, the story arc suffers a bit from hewing closely to the historical record.  A more typical Hollywood script would neatly have 3 acts.

3 1/2 stars
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 14, 2009, 11:43:35 AM
Saw Public Enemies and enjoyed it.  Depp is, as always, great, and I think Michael Mann is becoming an auteur with a recognizable style, something I began to feel with Collateral.  Lots of extreme closeups, even on minor characters.  It is a bit long, in the way of The Assassination of Jesse James, and, like Changeling, the story arc suffers a bit from hewing closely to the historical record.  A more typical Hollywood script would neatly have 3 acts.

3 1/2 stars

Liked it alot -- thought Ms Cotillard was quite good too.  One of Mann's early films was on cable the other nite -- Thief with James Caan and Tuesday Weld. Great, if you've never seen it (and that Tangerine Dream score!)

last nite I finally caught up with Whatever Works, which... really doesn't. Not one of Woody's best, tho' I'd've loved to have seen Zero Mostel's interpretation (the Woodman wrote it for him 30 years ago).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on July 14, 2009, 11:45:29 AM
Saw Public Enemies and enjoyed it.  Depp is, as always, great, and I think Michael Mann is becoming an auteur with a recognizable style, something I began to feel with Collateral.  Lots of extreme closeups, even on minor characters.  It is a bit long, in the way of The Assassination of Jesse James, and, like Changeling, the story arc suffers a bit from hewing closely to the historical record.  A more typical Hollywood script would neatly have 3 acts.

3 1/2 stars

Liked it alot -- thought Ms Cotillard was quite good too.  One of Mann's early films was on cable the other nite -- Thief with James Caan and Tuesday Weld. Great, if you've never seen it (and that Tangerine Dream score!)


Check out Manhunter (1986)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091474/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 14, 2009, 05:25:38 PM

Check out Manhunter (1986)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091474/


Love Manhunter! I was one of the six dozen people who actually saw it in the theater.  Own the DVD & rewatch it every couple of years.  I still say Brian Cox's Hannibal is superior to Tony Hopkins'. 

Joan Allen was awesome in what was her 2nd film role, And Stephen Lang, the guy who played scumbag tabloid reporter Freedy Lounds has gone on to a pretty good career too.  He appears in Public Enemies as the tough guy agent who tells Billie what Dillinger's final words were.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 16, 2009, 07:50:48 AM
Saw Bruno last nite (sorry, can't do umlauts). It's VERY funny. Not as non-stop gut-busting as Borat (few films could be), but still one of the funniest movies I've seen this year. The silly queens at GLAAD are idiots; the movie is as much about Bruno's stupidity as it is about the homophobia of the people he meets. "You tried to make my mouth pregnant" is my new favorite line.

Interestingly -- considering the mixed reviews, CinemaScore of "C" and weekend box-office performance -- I arrived at 7:15 for a 7:30 show and expected a half-empty theatre (esp on Harry Potter Day) but the place was packed.  Clearly Middle America is quite repulsed by it but urban gays find it hilarious. Talking penises never get old.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 23, 2009, 07:57:24 AM
Saw Soul Power last nite and second Geoff's endorsement. It left me wanting more; indeed it kinda comes off as a 90-minute commercial for the DVD which I can only assume will contain tons of extra footage.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on July 23, 2009, 08:19:36 AM
Saw Soul Power last nite and second Geoff's endorsement. It left me wanting more; indeed it kinda comes off as a 90-minute commercial for the DVD which I can only assume will contain tons of extra footage.
that is indeed my hope too!  We saw Tabu Ley years ago at Slims when they came out here.  The segment in the movie was way too short, but still fun.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 23, 2009, 09:12:57 AM
Somebody tell Beej! tonite at the 4-Star on Clement it's "Shatfest -- a Tribute to William Shatner" (well, "shat" *is* the past-tense of, er, you know)

http://events.sfgate.com/san-francisco-ca/events/show/87894105-thrillvilles-shatfest-tribute-to-william-shatner#
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 23, 2009, 10:38:25 AM
Saw Soul Power last nite and second Geoff's endorsement. It left me wanting more; indeed it kinda comes off as a 90-minute commercial for the DVD which I can only assume will contain tons of extra footage.

I didn't see it b/c I couldn't find anyone to go with, so I guess I'll wait for DVD.  I no longer enjoy going to the movies by myself.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on July 23, 2009, 11:22:58 AM
The Dude abides.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/23/NSO918OIPE.DTL&type=entertainment

A friend might score us free tickets to Sat. night at the Fox.  The movie is great and all, but not a big enough event for me to fork over $22.50 for it...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on July 23, 2009, 09:29:50 PM
Teaser trailer for Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" with Johnny Depp:
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810078365/video/14698134
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 24, 2009, 08:10:19 AM
Guess Ann Hornaday of the WashPost didn't like Orphan:

Quote
It's hard to know where -- and with whom -- to begin when assessing the depraved, worthless piece of filth that is Orphan, a high-gloss horror show about a well-meaning couple who bring home a 9-year-old girl to join their family, only to discover, way too late, that she's a homicidal psychopath.

Surely writers David Leslie Johnson and Alex Mace deserve their own circle of hell for thinking up the story, which moves with breathtaking cynicism from disturbing to grotesque to perverse to ludicrous. Director Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax) gets a shout-out for hyping up a worthless script with slick visuals and jumpy fake-outs. Both Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga are apparently in desperate need of a paycheck -- otherwise how to explain lending their considerable talents to such rank exploitation? Oh, and what have we here: None other than Leonardo DiCaprio is listed as a producer of Orphan, proving that his concern for the environment clearly doesn't extend to poisoning the culture.

In fact, the only people who should escape unscathed from Orphan are the three young actors who play Farmiga and Sarsgaard's children, adopted and biological. The sadistic violence, symbolic incest and flirtation with pedophilia in the film -- not to mention its shameless perpetuation of toxic stereotypes surrounding the adoption of older children -- leads one to think their work on this film wasn't employment so much as child abuse.

Finally, let's hear it for those fearless executives at Warner Bros., currently bloated like engorged ticks with billions made from Batman and Harry Potter, for using all the time, talent and treasure at their disposal to put out bilge like this. Their lust for money, apparently, is exceeded only by their contempt for the suckers who keep on forking it over. Shame on them all, every single one.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 24, 2009, 12:29:09 PM
Teaser trailer for Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" with Johnny Depp:
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810078365/video/14698134

ah, but who needs Depp and Burton when there's Sammy Davis Jr as the Cheshire Cat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyFSHggHZME
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 30, 2009, 10:00:45 AM
Trailer for the new Coen Bros movie, A Serious Man:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iggyFPls4w&feature=player_embedded

I cannot WAIT!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 30, 2009, 11:17:20 AM
Trailer for the new Coen Bros movie, A Serious Man:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iggyFPls4w&feature=player_embedded

I cannot WAIT!

and speaking of the Coens:

http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/07/29/zhang-yimou-plans-chinese-remake-of-coen-brothers-blood-simple/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on July 30, 2009, 11:29:11 AM
Have you heard about the documentary The Cove?  sounds incredible, read the interview with the director (http://www.indiewire.com/article/louie_psihoyos_the_cove_an_ecological_crisis_and_green_filmmaking/)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 30, 2009, 11:36:32 AM
Have you heard about the documentary The Cove?  sounds incredible, read the interview with the director (http://www.indiewire.com/article/louie_psihoyos_the_cove_an_ecological_crisis_and_green_filmmaking/)

Yes! very high on my must-see list -- saw the trailer a few weeks back (they showed it before Food, inc) and immediately started looking forward to it.

And I meant to mention that I saw The Hurt Locker the other nite -- wow.  I recommend highly.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on July 31, 2009, 10:38:05 AM
saw two movies yesterday on a flight home: I Love You, Man and Adventureland

I really liked ILY,M -- laughed out loud several times.   And that Rush concert scene is was pretty dead on: there's a lot of air drums, bass and guitar a a Rush concert.  And people DO pantomime the lyric meanings. I've seen it with my own eyes...!

both movies were well done, I thought.



Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 31, 2009, 10:46:16 AM
saw two movies yesterday on a flight home: I Love You, Man and Adventureland

I really liked ILY,M -- laughed out loud several times.   And that Rush concert scene is was pretty dead on: there's a lot of air drums, bass and guitar a a Rush concert.  And people DO pantomime the lyric meanings. I've seen it with my own eyes...!

both movies were well done, I thought.


You should catch "ILYM" again on cable, since you (I assume) saw a PG-13 version of an R-rated movie on the plane.  Paul Rudd rocks my world.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on July 31, 2009, 11:16:48 AM
saw two movies yesterday on a flight home: I Love You, Man and Adventureland

I really liked ILY,M -- laughed out loud several times.   And that Rush concert scene is was pretty dead on: there's a lot of air drums, bass and guitar a a Rush concert.  And people DO pantomime the lyric meanings. I've seen it with my own eyes...!

both movies were well done, I thought.


You should catch "ILYM" again on cable, since you (I assume) saw a PG-13 version of an R-rated movie on the plane.  Paul Rudd rocks my world.

nope, I saw the R version!   lots of swears.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on July 31, 2009, 05:40:21 PM
Wish I'd had access to this site when Pulp Fiction was first released:
http://www.runpee.com
(except their server appears to be down, or at least overloaded)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/31/entertainment/e035710D71.DTL&tsp=1

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on July 31, 2009, 05:50:40 PM
Wish I'd had access to this site when Pulp Fiction was first released:
http://www.runpee.com
(except their server appears to be down, or at least overloaded)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/31/entertainment/e035710D71.DTL&tsp=1


funny you would cite that movie specifically.  I have a love/hate relationship w Quentin Tarantino, and I didn't really like PF that much, the overwhelming hype attached to it prob skewed my opinion a bit at first, but not that much.I'd say a good time to hit the bathroom is during the Uma / TravoltaDance scene.  Her feet freak me out.
(http://www.celebrityfeetures.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/uma-thurman-wp.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on July 31, 2009, 08:57:45 PM
Wish I'd had access to this site when Pulp Fiction was first released:
http://www.runpee.com
(except their server appears to be down, or at least overloaded)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/31/entertainment/e035710D71.DTL&tsp=1


funny you would cite that movie specifically.  I have a love/hate relationship w Quentin Tarantino, and I didn't really like PF that much, the overwhelming hype attached to it prob skewed my opinion a bit at first, but not that much.I'd say a good time to hit the bathroom is during the Uma / TravoltaDance scene.  Her feet freak me out.


My reason for citing that particular movie is that I saw it in the theater *twice* and both times had to run out during the last 20 minutes to shake hands with the governor, so to speak. At least the second time I kinda knew what I'd be missing. I'd agree with you about the dance scene, but it's early in the film when you're much less likely to need it. I'd actually vote for the scene where Travolta and Sam Jackson are cleaning the guts out of the car under Harvey Keitel's supervision.

Nowadays it's even tougher as most movie beverages are either tiny (about 10 oz for a small, which won't last me 20 minutes) and then balloon up to quart size for a medium and go up from there. At least that's the drill at the local Regal theaters.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on July 31, 2009, 09:18:54 PM
Wish I'd had access to this site when Pulp Fiction was first released:
http://www.runpee.com
(except their server appears to be down, or at least overloaded)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/31/entertainment/e035710D71.DTL&tsp=1


funny you would cite that movie specifically.  I have a love/hate relationship w Quentin Tarantino, and I didn't really like PF that much, the overwhelming hype attached to it prob skewed my opinion a bit at first, but not that much.I'd say a good time to hit the bathroom is during the Uma / TravoltaDance scene.  Her feet freak me out.


My reason for citing that particular movie is that I saw it in the theater *twice* and both times had to run out during the last 20 minutes to shake hands with the governor, so to speak. At least the second time I kinda knew what I'd be missing. I'd agree with you about the dance scene, but it's early in the film when you're much less likely to need it. I'd actually vote for the scene where Travolta and Sam Jackson are cleaning the guts out of the car under Harvey Keitel's supervision.

Nowadays it's even tougher as most movie beverages are either tiny (about 10 oz for a small, which won't last me 20 minutes) and then balloon up to quart size for a medium and go up from there. At least that's the drill at the local Regal theaters.
this is a strange thread indeed, but relevant.  Lately, I have tended to drink a nonfat latte grande instead of coke and popcorn (due to diet) but a couple of times have had it backfire on me for the above reasons!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 31, 2009, 10:46:20 PM
Wish I'd had access to this site when Pulp Fiction was first released:
http://www.runpee.com
(except their server appears to be down, or at least overloaded)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/31/entertainment/e035710D71.DTL&tsp=1


funny you would cite that movie specifically.  I have a love/hate relationship w Quentin Tarantino, and I didn't really like PF that much, the overwhelming hype attached to it prob skewed my opinion a bit at first, but not that much.

Glad to hear you say that -- I think Reservoir Dogs is a better film than PF; it's a tight 105 mins (or so) and the combo of amazing dialogue and hair-raising violence was quite a slap in the face at the time. PF is good but too long (as is Jackie Brown) and I coulda done without all the Bruce Willis stuff.

I remember seeing RDs and being blown away by the writing, then coming home and watching Siskel & Ebert who -- amazingly -- gave it thumbs down! And S&E were, in those days, constantly talking about how writing is everything! So it seems to me that a lot of critics went overboard about PF because they saw that this was a train that they'd missed and wanted to jump onboard before it was too late.

But tonight I saw 500 Days of Summer and boy is it wonderful. Funny, charming, great sndtk (Best Hall & Oates musical interlude EVAH!) and again I say: if Zooey Deschanel doesn't play Linda Ronstadt in a movie, and soon, it will be the saddest missed opportunity in ages.  Knowing some of us as I do, I think the guys here will especially love it. Best flick in that genre since Garden State. See it ASAP.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 02, 2009, 08:51:36 PM
2 great flicks in one weekend! Just watched In the Loop on PPV (tho' it's also playing in theaters). It's a Brit satire about the run-up to an Iraq-like war. Very, VERY funny, tons of great lines. Mostly Brit actors I'd never seen before, but James Gandolfini plays a US general, and Steve Coogan has a small part. You really gotta see this one.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on August 03, 2009, 08:13:01 AM
2 great flicks in one weekend! Just watched In the Loop on PPV (tho' it's also playing in theaters). It's a Brit satire about the run-up to an Iraq-like war. Very, VERY funny, tons of great lines. Mostly Brit actors I'd never seen before, but James Gandolfini plays a US general, and Steve Coogan has a small part. You really gotta see this one.

sounds good, so what's the other movie you saw?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 03, 2009, 08:22:33 AM
2 great flicks in one weekend! Just watched In the Loop on PPV (tho' it's also playing in theaters). It's a Brit satire about the run-up to an Iraq-like war. Very, VERY funny, tons of great lines. Mostly Brit actors I'd never seen before, but James Gandolfini plays a US general, and Steve Coogan has a small part. You really gotta see this one.

sounds good, so what's the other movie you saw?

see my previous post  ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on August 03, 2009, 08:35:49 AM
2 great flicks in one weekend! Just watched In the Loop on PPV (tho' it's also playing in theaters). It's a Brit satire about the run-up to an Iraq-like war. Very, VERY funny, tons of great lines. Mostly Brit actors I'd never seen before, but James Gandolfini plays a US general, and Steve Coogan has a small part. You really gotta see this one.

sounds good, so what's the other movie you saw?

see my previous post  ;)

oh, uh yeah.  Friday is part of the weekend.   :)  I read (at least one) review that really disliked 500 Days.  or maybe that was the Katherine Heigl movie, which looks awful.  no chance of me seeing that for sure.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 03, 2009, 08:43:08 AM
(http://cinematographique.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/in-the-loop-poster.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 05, 2009, 07:57:43 AM
the REAL GI Joe...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_YuSBJ0qmQ&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 05, 2009, 09:56:34 AM
The Castro is doing a week of music movies (Tommy, Woodstock etc) and tonite they're showing the not-often-seen Absolute Beginners, and Friday nite the delightful Get Crazy.  And that's all followed by a couple days of '50s 3-D!

http://www.castrotheatre.com/p-list.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 05, 2009, 02:47:42 PM
Hooray! Disney has fired Ben "idiot boy" Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz as hosts of At The Movies! And they're being replaced by real, actual CRITICS! (A.O. Scott of the NYT and Michael Phillips of the ChiTrib.) There is a god!

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2009/08/chicago-tribunes-michael-phillips-ny-times-ao-scott-in-on-at-the-movies-ben-lyons-ben-mankiewicz-out.html?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 06, 2009, 09:05:27 AM

But tonight I saw 500 Days of Summer and boy is it wonderful. Funny, charming, great sndtk (Best Hall & Oates musical interlude EVAH!) and again I say: if Zooey Deschanel doesn't play Linda Ronstadt in a movie, and soon, it will be the saddest missed opportunity in ages.  Knowing some of us as I do, I think the guys here will especially love it. Best flick in that genre since Garden State. See it ASAP.

Saw this yesterday, and loved it.  the Hall & Oates bit was awesome.  Who knew the kid from 3rd Rock would become such a good actor?  Ans I've been in love with Ms. Deschanel from first sight.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 07, 2009, 03:46:23 PM
Critical quote of the Week: Peter Travers on GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra...

"I don't know what to say about the acting, writing and directing in 'G.I. Joe' because I couldn't find any."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 10, 2009, 09:10:18 AM
Did the makers of GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra see Team America: World Police? Fuck YEAH!!!

http://blogs.amctv.com/future-of-classic/2009/08/g-i-joe-or-team-america-world-police.php
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on August 10, 2009, 12:36:03 PM
(http://cinematographique.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/in-the-loop-poster.jpg)

Watched this Saturday, just hilarious.  Great lines abound, and wonderfully creative profanity too. 


Quote
I gotta say, I don't understand how my parents' limited reproductive ability reflects badly on me. I'm the sperm that made it!



Quote
Twelve thousand troops. But that's not enough. That's the amount that are going to die. And at the end of a war you need some soldiers left, really, or else it looks like you've lost
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 11, 2009, 07:51:30 AM
Saw Julie & Julia last nite -- Streep has her next Oscar in the bag. Like most critics, I found the "Julia" portions a lot more interesting than the "Julie" parts.  And oh, that food.  "You can never have too much butter!"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 11, 2009, 10:34:17 AM

Saw Julie & Julia last nite -- Streep has her next Oscar in the bag. Like most critics, I found the "Julia" portions a lot more interesting than the "Julie" parts.  And oh, that food.  "You can never have too much butter!"

Wife & I saw it last night too, as the kids are at the in-laws all week.  Great film, definitely an Oscar for Streep.  I wouldn't be surprised to see it get a Best Pic nom.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 11, 2009, 10:44:41 AM

Saw Julie & Julia last nite -- Streep has her next Oscar in the bag. Like most critics, I found the "Julia" portions a lot more interesting than the "Julie" parts.  And oh, that food.  "You can never have too much butter!"

Wife & I saw it last night too, as the kids are at the in-laws all week.  Great film, definitely an Oscar for Streep.  I wouldn't be surprised to see it get a Best Pic nom.

well, with the 10-nominees thing, I suppose it's possible, but I don't think that, as a movie, it's in that league.  If J&J gets a Best Pic nom and Hurt Locker doesn't, there'll be hell to pay, I tells ya!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 11, 2009, 01:00:16 PM

If J&J gets a Best Pic nom and Hurt Locker doesn't, there'll be hell to pay, I tells ya!

I saw Hurt Locker 2 weeks ago, it blew me away (pun somewhat intended).  Quite possibly the best/most realistic war movie ever.   I repeatedly found myself surprised to realize I was watching fiction, it looks and feels so real I had the visceral sense I was watching a documentary.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on August 11, 2009, 08:07:42 PM

Saw Julie & Julia last nite -- Streep has her next Oscar in the bag. Like most critics, I found the "Julia" portions a lot more interesting than the "Julie" parts.  And oh, that food.  "You can never have too much butter!"

Wife & I saw it last night too, as the kids are at the in-laws all week.  Great film, definitely an Oscar for Streep.  I wouldn't be surprised to see it get a Best Pic nom.
I saw the 2:15 show yesterday. LOVED it. Streep was the best. I liked the Julia parts too. I have an OLD (mothers copy I think) of Joy of Cooking. Listed in front with previous printings thru June 1972 and it averaged 2 printings a year with original copyright in 1931. There are two red ribbon bookmarks attached in it. One set to Eggs, Souffles and Timbales. WTH are Timbales? I have looked at some of the recipes but it seems dated and a bit more advanced than I can handle. There's a recipe for green peas and lettuce to be served with melted butter or cream. Yum.

I remember watching the real Julia on TV and sexy is a word I'd NEVER equate with her. Matronly, yes.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on August 11, 2009, 08:46:47 PM
There are two red ribbon bookmarks attached in it. One set to Eggs, Souffles and Timbales. WTH are Timbales?

I think a timbale is sort of an Italian souffle, but way more involved. Ever see Big Night with Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub? Tony S.'s character makes one (it may have been called a timpano but it's approximately the same thing--it looks like a big drum) for their big banquet, and it is just an amazing thing to see, both in preparation and serving. Whoever did the food for that film had a huge job, and carried it off incredibly well.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 12, 2009, 12:59:41 PM
There are two red ribbon bookmarks attached in it. One set to Eggs, Souffles and Timbales. WTH are Timbales?

I think a timbale is sort of an Italian souffle, but way more involved. Ever see Big Night with Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub? Tony S.'s character makes one (it may have been called a timpano but it's approximately the same thing--it looks like a big drum) for their big banquet, and it is just an amazing thing to see, both in preparation and serving. Whoever did the food for that film had a huge job, and carried it off incredibly well.

Big Night, now there was a wonderful film.  I think I need to see it again someday soon, especially as well as the careers of Shalhoub (Monk) and Tucci have gone since.  Btw, Urth, in case you didn't see J&J yet, Tucci plays Julia's husband & does a very fine job.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on August 12, 2009, 03:36:26 PM
There are two red ribbon bookmarks attached in it. One set to Eggs, Souffles and Timbales. WTH are Timbales?

I think a timbale is sort of an Italian souffle, but way more involved. Ever see Big Night with Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub? Tony S.'s character makes one (it may have been called a timpano but it's approximately the same thing--it looks like a big drum) for their big banquet, and it is just an amazing thing to see, both in preparation and serving. Whoever did the food for that film had a huge job, and carried it off incredibly well.

Big Night, now there was a wonderful film.  I think I need to see it again someday soon, especially as well as the careers of Shalhoub (Monk) and Tucci have gone since.  Btw, Urth, in case you didn't see J&J yet, Tucci plays Julia's husband & does a very fine job.

Have not seen Julie and Julia yet, but it's high on my list, along with (500) Nights..., and Up which Sarah and I want to see together and haven't been able to find a time that works for us both. Afraid we might have missed the boat on the latter. But she's home now, for a few weeks anyway, so hope we can find it still playing somewhere.

One reminder about Big Night: make sure you eat a good meal before the film, or you'll certainly need to right afterward.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 14, 2009, 10:32:57 PM
Just came from seeing District 9. Great stuff -- it's the smart, violent, B-movie-with-subtext that Quentin Tarantino *wishes* he could make. Check it out.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on August 16, 2009, 07:31:17 AM
Saw Pixar's Up last nite; gawd is it ever wonderful. If the opening sequence doesn't make you cry you must be dead. (I rarely cry at movies but I was bawling.)  I've heard arguments for and against seeing it in 3-D (Roger Ebert thinks the colors are brighter in 2-D) but I thought 3-D enhanced the experience. And if you can see it at the Castro while it's there... they play a 20-minute Disney music medley on the Mighty Wurlitzer before the show.

We saw it on Sunday as a family and I agree with all of the above.  This is not an animated movie with a few inside jokes for the adults (a la Shrek), this is a fully grown up animated film that happens to be very kid friendly.

A must see, and I was also glad to catch the 3D.  Mike did you see the short feature that preceeded it called Partly Coudy?

I finally saw Up last night.  (In 2-D.)  Loved it a lot, probably should have had my 3yo nephew with me for a fuller experience.  Arrived late and missed the preceding feature, though.
Title: Taking Woodstock
Post by: ggould on August 20, 2009, 09:01:48 PM
I just saw the Colbert/Ang Lee interview, and am intrigued more now about seeing Taking Woodstock.  How do others feel?

(http://images.fandango.com/r81.5.1/ImageRenderer/375/375/nox.jpg/76344/images/masterrepository/tms/76344/76344_aa.jpg)
Title: Re: Taking Woodstock
Post by: urth on August 20, 2009, 11:12:00 PM
I just saw the Colbert/Ang Lee interview, and am intrigued more now about seeing Taking Woodstock.  How do others feel?

(http://images.fandango.com/r81.5.1/ImageRenderer/375/375/nox.jpg/76344/images/masterrepository/tms/76344/76344_aa.jpg)

Only just started hearing about this when KFOG was giving away tix yesterday for the Pop Quiz. Could be good, could be drek. Need to know more.
Title: Re: Taking Woodstock
Post by: Tinka Cat on August 21, 2009, 05:56:25 AM
I just saw the Colbert/Ang Lee interview, and am intrigued more now about seeing Taking Woodstock.  How do others feel?

(http://images.fandango.com/r81.5.1/ImageRenderer/375/375/nox.jpg/76344/images/masterrepository/tms/76344/76344_aa.jpg)

I'll wait for the 40th anniversary of the DVD to come out in 2049...   :P ;D
Title: Re: Taking Woodstock
Post by: RGMike on August 21, 2009, 07:33:37 AM
I just saw the Colbert/Ang Lee interview, and am intrigued more now about seeing Taking Woodstock.  How do others feel?


Only just started hearing about this when KFOG was giving away tix yesterday for the Pop Quiz. Could be good, could be drek. Need to know more.

apparently, it's not great, if the buzz from Cannes is to be believed.  There's a scene in the trailer where people are using the phrase "Woodstick nation" prior-to,  when obviously it wasn't used until AFTER the event; that gave me pause.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on August 21, 2009, 10:54:42 AM
So, "Inglourious Basterds" is getting rave reviews.  I might even have to make a trip to the theater for this one.  Generally, I wait for video/cable, because, well, I pay for that anyway.  I only make the trip to a theater for something that I'm really anxious to see, or that I think will be better on the big screen.  This one is more the latter, but the reviews are enticing.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 21, 2009, 11:03:39 AM
So, "Inglourious Basterds" is getting rave reviews.  I might even have to make a trip to the theater for this one.  Generally, I wait for video/cable, because, well, I pay for that anyway.  I only make the trip to a theater for something that I'm really anxious to see, or that I think will be better on the big screen.  This one is more the latter, but the reviews are enticing.

well, *mostly* raves. Here's a dissenting view:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/bal-inglourious-basterds-review-0820,0,7766886.story

and of course Mick LaSalle said it's QT's "best" and "most mature" film, which automatically makes me wonder... ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on August 21, 2009, 11:13:40 AM
So, "Inglourious Basterds" is getting rave reviews.  I might even have to make a trip to the theater for this one.  Generally, I wait for video/cable, because, well, I pay for that anyway.  I only make the trip to a theater for something that I'm really anxious to see, or that I think will be better on the big screen.  This one is more the latter, but the reviews are enticing.

well, *mostly* raves. Here's a dissenting view:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/bal-inglourious-basterds-review-0820,0,7766886.story

and of course Mick LaSalle said it's QT's "best" and "most mature" film, which automatically makes me wonder... ;)

"By now it's a given that Tarantino's films are invitations to the Dark Continent of Quentin, a cinema-fed fantasy land in which various tour guides offer self-consciously colorful chatter interrupted by abrupt blasts of action."


BINGO! We have a winner!  That's how I feel about a lot (most? all?) of his movies. Self-conscious, trying to hard.  Yes, they can be fun at times (that one he produced or directed about the zombies in the western town was total fun), but often I find myself annoyed at the heavy-handed attempts at being cool.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 21, 2009, 11:32:46 AM
So, "Inglourious Basterds" is getting rave reviews.  I might even have to make a trip to the theater for this one.  Generally, I wait for video/cable, because, well, I pay for that anyway.  I only make the trip to a theater for something that I'm really anxious to see, or that I think will be better on the big screen.  This one is more the latter, but the reviews are enticing.

well, *mostly* raves. Here's a dissenting view:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/bal-inglourious-basterds-review-0820,0,7766886.story

and of course Mick LaSalle said it's QT's "best" and "most mature" film, which automatically makes me wonder... ;)

"By now it's a given that Tarantino's films are invitations to the Dark Continent of Quentin, a cinema-fed fantasy land in which various tour guides offer self-consciously colorful chatter interrupted by abrupt blasts of action."


BINGO! We have a winner!  That's how I feel about a lot (most? all?) of his movies. Self-conscious, trying to hard.  Yes, they can be fun at times (that one he produced or directed about the zombies in the western town was total fun), but often I find myself annoyed at the heavy-handed attempts at being cool.

Yeah, pretty much my feelings too (I think we both expressed this somewhere above in this thread). And every trailer and clip I've seen indicates that IB is more of the same, so I'm baffled how anyone can call something so over-the-top-looking "mature". I'll see it, but it's 2-1/2 hours so it may have to wait until Labor Day weekend when I have an afternoon free. TANC: as I'm typing this, the KYA stream is playing "Miserlou".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on August 21, 2009, 12:00:31 PM
that one he produced or directed about the zombies in the western town was total fun

From Dusk Til Dawn, written by Tarantino, directed by Robert Rodriguez (who he teamed up with for the Grindhouse films), and both credited as producers.  Man, that's a weird film.  The creepiest part is that I can't help but think Tarantino's character isn't too far off from who he really is.  I wouldn't be shocked if it turned out Tarantino also leads a secret life as a snuff film director.  Which is probably not true.  Probably.

All the criticisms of Tarantino are valid, but I like most of his stuff still.  He may be trying to hard often, but at least he's trying.  And they do leave an impression, even when it creeps me out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_Dusk_Till_Dawn
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on August 25, 2009, 05:38:20 PM
This is the first I've heard of this, but it's right up my alley:  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/21/PK9118TNQ9.DTL&type=movies
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on August 25, 2009, 08:39:12 PM
This is the first I've heard of this, but it's right up my alley:  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/21/PK9118TNQ9.DTL&type=movies

I'm certainly interested in seeing this.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 25, 2009, 08:43:40 PM
This is the first I've heard of this, but it's right up my alley:  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/21/PK9118TNQ9.DTL&type=movies

I'm certainly interested in seeing this.

I've seen the trailer a bunch of times, it really does look great.  Nice to see the Edge get the spotlight instead of Bono for a change! 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on August 26, 2009, 09:23:54 PM
Beatles film 'Yellow Submarine' may get a modern 3D update from director Robert Zemeckis:
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/08/20/disney-zemeckis-plots-remake-of-the-beatles-yellow-submarine/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 26, 2009, 09:56:27 PM
Beatles film 'Yellow Submarine' may get a modern 3D update from director Robert Zemeckis:
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/08/20/disney-zemeckis-plots-remake-of-the-beatles-yellow-submarine/

Shoot me now.

Zemeckis really needs to get back to making movies about actual, y'know, LIVING PEOPLE.  He's trapped in his 3-D, motion-capture bubble and it's gettin' way creepy. Polar Express, Beowulf, the forthcoming Christmas Carol... and now this. Sheesh.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on August 27, 2009, 09:11:55 AM
Meryl Streep: "Great actress, okay movies."

http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/name_one_masterpiece_of_cinema?utm_source=b-section
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 28, 2009, 07:55:34 AM
This is the first I've heard of this, but it's right up my alley:  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/21/PK9118TNQ9.DTL&type=movies

I'm certainly interested in seeing this.

I've seen the trailer a bunch of times, it really does look great.  Nice to see the Edge get the spotlight instead of Bono for a change! 

Opens today, and -- of course! -- Mick LaSalle says it like, TOTALLY SUCKS, dude!  Which means it must be great.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/28/MVAI19CM3K.DTL
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 29, 2009, 05:40:55 PM
Unexpected double-bill this weekend.  Last nite I saw Taking Woodstock, and found it rather sweet and low-key, which I guess people weren't expecting -- most critics assumed (I guess) it would be some sweeping Altmanesque epic with 17 main characters criss-crossing the landscape. It's smaller and more intimate than that, and for what it is, quite nice. Demetri Martin is not a great actor, but his awkwardness worked for the character.

And since today was too hot to go to my (non-air-conditioned) gym, I saw Inglourious Basterds. I'd been putting it off due to its length, but 3 hours (including "pre-show" and trailers) in a cool theater was a good deal. And so was IG -- very entertaining, from the cheezy opening titles and florid theme music, to the big-ass set pieces, to the wink-wink movie references (one character is named "Emmanuelle Mimieux" -- oh QT, you card!). In the latter category, it's not nearly as annoyingly look-at-all-the-obscure-movies-I've-seen as the Kill Bill flicks, thank gawd.  Like all his stuff, it's too long. And to call it "Tarantino's most mature work" as our friend Mr LaSalle did, is just silly. But if Mr Waltz (the main Nazi) doesn't get an Oscar nom I'll be gobsmacked, and on a hot summer day, it was a lotta fun.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on August 29, 2009, 06:02:19 PM

(one character is named "Emmanuelle Mimieux" -- oh QT, you card!)

Shocker: I don't get it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 31, 2009, 10:53:06 AM

(one character is named "Emmanuelle Mimieux" -- oh QT, you card!)

Shocker: I don't get it.

you know how I know you're Gay.....?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 31, 2009, 11:06:01 AM

(one character is named "Emmanuelle Mimieux" -- oh QT, you card!)

Shocker: I don't get it.

you know how I know you're Gay.....?

LOL! Actually, I got it, so it's not a gay thing as much as a totally-ignorant-of-film thing.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on August 31, 2009, 12:18:44 PM

(one character is named "Emmanuelle Mimieux" -- oh QT, you card!)

Shocker: I don't get it.

you know how I know you're Gay.....?

LOL! Actually, I got it, so it's not a gay thing as much as a totally-ignorant-of-film thing.

yes, but your tastes in porn are well evidenced, so it's somewhere in between, most like.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 31, 2009, 12:30:09 PM

(one character is named "Emmanuelle Mimieux" -- oh QT, you card!)

Shocker: I don't get it.

you know how I know you're Gay.....?

LOL! Actually, I got it, so it's not a gay thing as much as a totally-ignorant-of-film thing.

yes, but your tastes in porn are well evidenced, so it's somewhere in between, most like.

it's not just a porn reference, tho' -- it's also a ref to Yvette Mimieux, an acress best-known for The Time Machine

(http://www.bittenandbound.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/rod-taylor-and-yvette-mimieux-the-time-machine.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 03, 2009, 12:11:30 PM
I smell Oscar!  Hope Davis as Hillary, with Dennis Quaid as Bill and (of course) Michael Sheen once again playing Tony Blair:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/being-hillary-rodham-clinton/?ex=1266984000&en=44bd102833af81eb&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=TH-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M112-ROS-0909-HDR&WT.mc_ev=click
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on September 03, 2009, 12:33:46 PM
I smell Oscar! 

that's what Felix said!

(http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/archives/OscarMadison.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 03, 2009, 12:39:16 PM
I smell Oscar! 

that's what Felix said!


http://www.instantrimshot.com/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 04, 2009, 08:12:06 AM
Quote-of-the-Week, from the Boston Globe regarding the new (and apparently godawful) Sandra Bullock comedy All About Steve:

"Easily the worst movie of the week, month, year, and Bullock’s entire career. It is to comedy what leprosy once was to the island of Molokai: a plague best contemplated from many miles away."

I gotta admit, when i saw the title, I assumed it was a gay parody of All About Eve. Then I saw the commercials -- yikes! It currently has a score of 13 on Metacritic.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 06, 2009, 08:23:30 PM
Saw the new Mike Judge comedy, Extract and I'm pleased to report it's much better (and smarter) than the awful TV spots make it look. It's very funny, and like much of Judge's stuff (esp Idiocracy) it's a movie about stupidity.

And speaking of, KOFY TV-20 is showing the very first ep of All in the Family -- amazing how little has changed in 38 years, re: the ignorant right-wing.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on September 08, 2009, 09:30:44 AM
I saw Inglourious Basterds over the long weekend.  Fantastic.  I got squeamish at the violent scenes but thought the acting and pacing were marvelous.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 10, 2009, 08:49:02 AM
This is the first I've heard of this, but it's right up my alley:  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/21/PK9118TNQ9.DTL&type=movies

I'm certainly interested in seeing this.

I've seen the trailer a bunch of times, it really does look great.  Nice to see the Edge get the spotlight instead of Bono for a change! 

Opens today, and -- of course! -- Mick LaSalle says it like, TOTALLY SUCKS, dude!  Which means it must be great.


Finally saw It Might Get Loud last nite -- it's really terrific (LaSalle shows himself to be a musical idiot yet again). The vintage clips alone are worth the price of admission, but it's fascinating to hear these guys talk about music. Highly recommmended.

Minor quibble: Jack White, talented as he is, is a bit too self-consciously hipster-weird (everything he wears seems to be a carefully-chosen costume, the tie matches the hat etc, while Page and Edge are wearing T-shirts and jeans), and not once but twice he refers to Meg as his "sister" -- wasn't that charade buried years ago? Did the filmmakers not know?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 11, 2009, 10:22:58 AM
I saw District 9 & highly recommend it. It's one of those films that just keeps getting better as it goes.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on September 11, 2009, 11:32:38 AM
I saw District 9 & highly recommend it. It's one of those films that just keeps getting better as it goes.

Yes!  I liked it, too.  Creepy, scary at times, and very poignant, but not given the schlocky treatment you would expect in certain parts if "Hollywood" did it.  I told a South African friend I saw it and she said she was "proud of me...!"  It's got a certain and obvious resonance with the injustices of Apartheid.   
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 11, 2009, 03:49:47 PM
Coen Bros fans take heart --this missive from the Toronto Film Fest from hollywood-elsewhere.com about their new one, A Serious Man:

Quote
I was knocked flat in the best way imaginable and have put it right at the top of my Coen-best list. God, it's such a pleasure to take in something this acidic and well-scalpeled. The Coens are fearless at this kind of artful diamond-cutting.

The wickedly acidic and funereal tone and lack of stars means it isn't going to make a dime, but it's a high-calibre achievement by the most gifted filmmaking brothers of our time, and it absolutely must rank as one of the year's ten Best Picture nominees when all is said and done. The Academy fudgies will not be permitted to brush this one aside, and if they do there will be torches and pitchforks such as James Whale never imagined at the corner of Wilshire and La Peer.

and apparently lots of Jefferson Airplane on the sndtk!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on September 11, 2009, 03:57:45 PM
Coen Bros fans take heart --this missive from the Toronto Film Fest from hollywood-elsewhere.com about their new one, A Serious Man:

Quote
I was knocked flat in the best way imaginable and have put it right at the top of my Coen-best list. God, it's such a pleasure to take in something this acidic and well-scalpeled. The Coens are fearless at this kind of artful diamond-cutting.

The wickedly acidic and funereal tone and lack of stars means it isn't going to make a dime, but it's a high-calibre achievement by the most gifted filmmaking brothers of our time, and it absolutely must rank as one of the year's ten Best Picture nominees when all is said and done. The Academy fudgies will not be permitted to brush this one aside, and if they do there will be torches and pitchforks such as James Whale never imagined at the corner of Wilshire and La Peer.

and apparently lots of Jefferson Airplane on the sndtk!

TANC: speaking of Joel Coen, I heard he and his wife (Frnces McDormand) live in Bolinas -- which is where the Jefferson Airplanes used to hang out, too.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 14, 2009, 09:18:58 AM
I saw Inglourious Basterds over the long weekend.  Fantastic.  I got squeamish at the violent scenes but thought the acting and pacing were marvelous.

This was inevitable, but it's still funny:

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/next_tarantino_movie_an_homage_to
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on September 15, 2009, 10:45:53 AM
I saw "Fistful of Dynamite" ("Duck, You Sucker," "Giω la testa," "Agachate, maldito") last week. I'd never seen such a political western. Rod Steiger gives a damn fine performance. A bit long, but worth a watch.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 15, 2009, 10:57:00 AM
This was inevitable, but it's still funny:

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/next_tarantino_movie_an_homage_to

Brilliant.  Yay the Onion!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 15, 2009, 11:01:14 AM
I saw "Fistful of Dynamite" ("Duck, You Sucker," "Giω la testa," "Agachate, maldito") last week. I'd never seen such a political western. Rod Steiger gives a damn fine performance. A bit long, but worth a watch.

one of my cinematic blind spots is that I've never seen ANY of the spaghetti westerns. Bits and pieces here and there, but none of them all the way thru. I need to remedy that, I suppose.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on September 15, 2009, 11:10:45 AM
I saw "Fistful of Dynamite" ("Duck, You Sucker," "Giω la testa," "Agachate, maldito") last week. I'd never seen such a political western. Rod Steiger gives a damn fine performance. A bit long, but worth a watch.

one of my cinematic blind spots is that I've never seen ANY of the spaghetti westerns. Bits and pieces here and there, but none of them all the way thru. I need to remedy that, I suppose.

Whaaat?! You need to get to work! :)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 15, 2009, 11:12:47 AM

one of my cinematic blind spots is that I've never seen ANY of the spaghetti westerns. Bits and pieces here and there, but none of them all the way thru. I need to remedy that, I suppose.

I just recently picked up the Man With No Name trilogy on DVD, you can borrow it whenever we get together next month.

My favorite Clint line of all time is in For A Few Dollars More, the last line of the movie.  Clint the bounty hunter is piling up the bodies on his flat bed donkey cart, and counting outloud the running total of the bounties.  He pauses and scratches his head, indicating the total doesn't seem right, just as the remaining bad guy (who only received a flesh wound) draws a bead on him.  But of course he steps on a twig or something, and Clint shoots him down without even aiming.  Lee Van Cleef calls over from the other side of the road where the big shootout had taken place:

"Any trouble, boy?"
"No, old man. Thought I was having trouble with my adding. It's all right now."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on September 15, 2009, 11:21:51 AM
I saw the animated feature "9" -- didn't like it.  Art is wonderful, good action, but the story was not satisfying.   it's fairly short, too,  I think 80 minutes.  (cue Woody Allen joke... Mike?)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 15, 2009, 11:37:46 AM

I saw the animated feature "9" -- didn't like it.  Art is wonderful, good action, but the story was not satisfying.   it's fairly short, too,  I think 80 minutes.  (cue Woody Allen joke... Mike?)

we saw that as a fambly on Sunday.  Adrian & I liked it a lot, Christina & Gabriel not so much.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on September 16, 2009, 12:22:35 AM

I saw the animated feature "9" -- didn't like it.  Art is wonderful, good action, but the story was not satisfying.   it's fairly short, too,  I think 80 minutes.  (cue Woody Allen joke... Mike?)

we saw that as a fambly on Sunday.  Adrian & I liked it a lot, Christina & Gabriel not so much.

My friend Andy was just raving about it the other night.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on September 16, 2009, 10:25:03 AM

I saw the animated feature "9" -- didn't like it.  Art is wonderful, good action, but the story was not satisfying.   it's fairly short, too,  I think 80 minutes.  (cue Woody Allen joke... Mike?)

we saw that as a fambly on Sunday.  Adrian & I liked it a lot, Christina & Gabriel not so much.

My friend Andy was just raving about it the other night.

I'd say there may be some false expectations...to my mind this really ISN'T a kids movie, and it really IS a science fiction movie.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on September 18, 2009, 02:12:24 PM
Cory McAbee (of The Billy Nayer Show) was at the Red Vic last night showing his latest film project, a faux space western called Stingray Sam.   (his quirky feature American Astronaut is not for everyone, but if you're a Billy Nayer Show fan, you would like it.   Actually, if you're a BNS fan, you've probably seen it already..)

http://stingraysam.com/

some good tunes available to listen, like Lullaby Song and a stomping ode to male-only reproduction called Fredward (Frederick and Edward had a son named Fredward, John and Mason had a son named Jason, Bob+Kurt=Burt, etc)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 02, 2009, 06:54:16 PM
I hadn't orig planned to see Zombieland; the commercials really played up the stupid and I thought "great -- another funny zombie movie".  But then it got lots of good reviews, so I saw it this afternoon -- it's *very* funny, unapologetically gross and at just under 85 minutes it's just long enuf. It's basically Shaun of the Dead on 'roids. Don't read anything else about it, just go.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on October 03, 2009, 11:14:53 AM
Rod, (& anyone else who get's into hard SF), Pandorum is really good.  It's marketed as a horror flick, and does that rather well despite being set on an interstellar spaceship in the far future.  But really it plays like a good SF novella: You start off not knowing much & share significant suspense & dread with the main characters right on up to the end, when there are not one but two pretty big plot twists, one of which you could guess at if you are paying close attentention. 

I've been keeping an eye on Ben Foster ever since he was on Six Feet Under, and he was really good in a couple of under-rated (imho) flicks, Hostage & the remake of 3:10 to Yuma, but he was always a sketchy bad guy/bad boyfriend, and here he gets to be a pretty good thinking man's hero.  Dennis Quaid continues to do the fine-wine-better-with-age thing as well.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on October 09, 2009, 12:13:47 PM
(a friend fwd'd this to me)

Rock movie clips presentations by Richie Unterberger

Wednesday, October 14
7pm-9pm
Park Branch of the San Francisco Public Library at 1833 Page Street
Richie Unterberger will devote an entire evening to rare films of the Beatles from throughout their career at the Park Branch of the San Francisco Public Library at 1833 Page Street. This is in conjunction with his book The Unreleased Beatles: Music and Film. Admission is free.

Note that this is the last rare rock films event he'll be holding at the Park Branch for about a year, as the library will be closed for renovation for around a year starting at the end of October.

He's also doing these other events of rare rock films elsewhere in the Bay Area later in October:

Saturday, October 17
1pm-2:30pm
Willow Glen Branch Library at 1157 Minnesota Avenue in San Jose
He'll be showing rare clips from the era of performers at Woodstock in honor of the 40th anniversary of the festival. Included will be footage of Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Sly & the Family Stone, the Who, Country Joe & the Fish, Richie Havens, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendrix, Sha Na Na, Melanie, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joan Baez, John Sebastian, and others. Admission is free.


Wednesday, October 21
7pm-8:30pm
Saratoga Library at 13650 Saratoga Avenue in Saratoga.
Unterberg will be discussing White Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground Day-By-Day at the Saratoga Library at 13650 Saratoga Avenue in Saratoga. Rare audiovisual material from throughout the Velvet Underground's career will be featured, and signed copies of the book will be available for purchase. Admission is free.

On Thursday, October 22
7pm-8:30pm
El Cerrito Library at 6510 Stockton Avenue in El Cerrito.
He'll again be discussing White Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground Day-By-Day, this time at the El Cerrito Library at 6510 Stockton Avenue in El Cerrito. Rare audiovisual material from throughout the Velvet Underground's career will likewise be featured, and signed copies of the book will be available for purchase. Admission is free.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 09, 2009, 05:38:08 PM
Oh. My. GAWD. Or perhaps I should say "Oy Vey!" -- Saw the new Coen Bros flick today, A Serious Man and LOVED it. One of their great ones, don't read anything about it, just GO.  Almost nobody you've heard of is in it, and it's all the better for that. 

It's getting some great reviews, but a sizable minority really hate it -- one critic called it "loathsome", and I'm totally gobsmaked how anyone could say that.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on October 09, 2009, 08:41:52 PM
Rock movie clips presentations by Richie Unterberger

Saturday, October 17
1pm-2:30pm
Willow Glen Branch Library at 1157 Minnesota Avenue in San Jose
He'll be showing rare clips from the era of performers at Woodstock in honor of the 40th anniversary of the festival. Included will be footage of Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Sly & the Family Stone, the Who, Country Joe & the Fish, Richie Havens, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendrix, Sha Na Na, Melanie, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joan Baez, John Sebastian, and others. Admission is free.


Oh, wow: Would anyone be up for going to this?  I'm really interested.

PS: Unterberger's one of the main writers for the All Music Guide, and I criticized his Monkees reviews in my paper defending them for the R&RHOF.  (He was dismissive of them.)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 09, 2009, 09:27:55 PM
Rock movie clips presentations by Richie Unterberger


Oh, wow: Would anyone be up for going to this?  I'm really interested.

PS: Unterberger's one of the main writers for the All Music Guide, and I criticized his Monkees reviews in my paper defending them for the R&RHOF.  (He was dismissive of them.)

ooo!  Bitch Fight!!  I'd show up to see you two in a rock-crit smackdown.  (Imagine if he says something bad about Grace Slick during the presentation!)

Speaking of JA, the new Coen Bros movie (see my post above) has the best use in a movie of "Somebody To Love" EVAH.
Title: Capitalism, A Love Story
Post by: ggould on October 12, 2009, 11:20:50 PM
we saw this tonight, and while I think it's a bit long, it was definitely worth seeing.  For all the typical Mooreisms, it was definitely inspirational, if somewhat depressing, and I hope lots of people do see it.  Anyone else see it?
Title: Re: Capitalism, A Love Story
Post by: RGMike on October 13, 2009, 07:49:49 AM
we saw this tonight, and while I think it's a bit long, it was definitely worth seeing.  For all the typical Mooreisms, it was definitely inspirational, if somewhat depressing, and I hope lots of people do see it.  Anyone else see it?

Yes. Saw it and liked it -- I had read bad things, I suspect people went in expecting it to *only* be about the meltdown last year and reviewed it from that persepctive. But of course, Moore prsents the meltdown as just one of the many things he sees as wrong about the system.
Title: Re: Capitalism, A Love Story
Post by: ggould on October 13, 2009, 08:41:33 AM
we saw this tonight, and while I think it's a bit long, it was definitely worth seeing.  For all the typical Mooreisms, it was definitely inspirational, if somewhat depressing, and I hope lots of people do see it.  Anyone else see it?

Yes. Saw it and liked it -- I had read bad things, I suspect people went in expecting it to *only* be about the meltdown last year and reviewed it from that persepctive. But of course, Moore prsents the meltdown as just one of the many things he sees as wrong about the system.
I found myself educated about FDR at the end.  I didn't know about the '2nd bill of rights' and it just seems to fit the tragic history of our plutocracy quite well.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 14, 2009, 08:49:15 AM
I'm curious about who is (or isn't) looking forward to Where the Wild Things Are... who among our group grew up reading the book?  I didn't (I'm a bit too old to have) but many younger than I claim to revere it.  And what about those of you with kids of your own?  The movie is getting mixed reaction so far, but I found this interesting clip of an attempt by Disney to try animating it -- in 1983!  Directed by then-unknown John Lasseter, who is now guru of Pixar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvIDRoO8KnM&feature=related
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on October 14, 2009, 10:53:24 AM
I'm curious about who is (or isn't) looking forward to Where the Wild Things Are... who among our group grew up reading the book?  I didn't (I'm a bit too old to have) but many younger than I claim to revere it.  And what about those of you with kids of your own?  The movie is getting mixed reaction so far, but I found this interesting clip of an attempt by Disney to try animating it -- in 1983!  Directed by then-unknown John Lasseter, who is now guru of Pixar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvIDRoO8KnM&feature=related

I read it (or had it read to me) and I'm really looking fwd to it!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on October 23, 2009, 07:43:53 PM
I'm curious about who is (or isn't) looking forward to Where the Wild Things Are... who among our group grew up reading the book?  I didn't (I'm a bit too old to have) but many younger than I claim to revere it.  And what about those of you with kids of your own?  The movie is getting mixed reaction so far, but I found this interesting clip of an attempt by Disney to try animating it -- in 1983!  Directed by then-unknown John Lasseter, who is now guru of Pixar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvIDRoO8KnM&feature=related
did you see this?:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/us/23sfmetro.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 26, 2009, 02:23:05 PM
I'm curious about who is (or isn't) looking forward to Where the Wild Things Are... who among our group grew up reading the book?  I didn't (I'm a bit too old to have) but many younger than I claim to revere it.  And what about those of you with kids of your own?  The movie is getting mixed reaction so far, but I found this interesting clip of an attempt by Disney to try animating it -- in 1983!  Directed by then-unknown John Lasseter, who is now guru of Pixar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvIDRoO8KnM&feature=related
did you see this?:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/us/23sfmetro.html

Yes -- the MovieBears are pretty famous at this point.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 26, 2009, 02:26:41 PM
Oh. My. GAWD. Or perhaps I should say "Oy Vey!" -- Saw the new Coen Bros flick today, A Serious Man and LOVED it. One of their great ones, don't read anything about it, just GO.  Almost nobody you've heard of is in it, and it's all the better for that. 

It's getting some great reviews, but a sizable minority really hate it -- one critic called it "loathsome", and I'm totally gobsmaked how anyone could say that.

More fabulous Coen Bros news:  they're fast-tracking their remake of True Grit in hopes of a 2010 release. 

Jeff Bridges in the John Wayne role.
Matt Damon in the Glenn Campbell part.
Josh Brolin as the bad guy.

They haven't cast the girl yet.

This could end up as part of the answer to the trivia question  "have different actors ever won Oscars for playing the same role in separate films?"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on October 30, 2009, 11:25:35 AM
Who's going tonight, 8PM Friday 10/30, to the beautiful Paramount Theatre above 19th St BART in Oakland, to celebrate Halloween for just $5.00 with 1948's Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, also starring Bela Lugosi as Dracula and Lon Chaney Jr as the Wolfman!  Event includes live Wurlitzer organ, Dec-O-Win game, vintage newsreel/cartoon/coming attractions and main feature!  I'll be there. Details: http://www.paramounttheatre.com/schedule.html  Get there by 7:30pm to explore the restored art-deco lobby and theatre.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on October 30, 2009, 01:49:37 PM
Who's going tonight, 8PM Friday 10/30, to the beautiful Paramount Theatre above 19th St BART in Oakland, to celebrate Halloween for just $5.00 with 1948's Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, also starring Bela Lugosi as Dracula and Lon Chaney Jr as the Wolfman!  Event includes live Wurlitzer organ, Dec-O-Win game, vintage newsreel/cartoon/coming attractions and main feature!  I'll be there. Details: http://www.paramounttheatre.com/schedule.html  Get there by 7:30pm to explore the restored art-deco lobby and theatre.

If I wasn't helping out at the Palace Hotel Ghost Tour (http://www.sfcityguides.org/desc.html?tour=32) (6:30, 2 New Montgomery St in downtown SF -- FREE!!) I might go to this.  The Paramount is one of the really spectacular deco specimens in the Bay Area, if not the nation.

Get there early and look around!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on November 01, 2009, 09:15:20 PM
I'm curious about who is (or isn't) looking forward to Where the Wild Things Are... who among our group grew up reading the book?

Belatedly replying - I was aware of WTWTA as a kid but honestly associated Maurice Sendak with Really Rosie, which Carole King set to music (I seriously need to buy that video for about 16 friends' kids).  I'm planning to go to it with my friend Andy, a WT aficionado (he's been wearing those images for as long as I've known him) - I made him wait for me while I was in SF.  Will report back.

Meantime, I saw Paranormal Activity this weekend.  I don't know what I can say that wouldn't be a spoiler.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 02, 2009, 07:40:42 AM

Meantime, I saw Paranormal Activity this weekend.  I don't know what I can say that wouldn't be a spoiler. 


part of me wants to see PA because it's a pop-cultural phenom, but I *HATED* Blair Witch and don't want to be burned that way ever again.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 02, 2009, 07:47:35 AM
tried to see Nightmare Before Christmas on Sat night, but missed it and instead went to Zombieland.  Enjoyed it a lot, nice cameo surprise in there...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 02, 2009, 08:22:06 AM
tried to see Nightmare Before Christmas on Sat night, but missed it and instead went to Zombieland.  Enjoyed it a lot, nice cameo surprise in there...

Indeed -- I knew it was coming, and it was still funny -- I can only imagine how cool it was if you didn't know ahead of time.  Irony of ironies: the cameo was orig supposed to be Patrick Swayze!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 02, 2009, 08:36:19 AM
tried to see Nightmare Before Christmas on Sat night, but missed it and instead went to Zombieland.  Enjoyed it a lot, nice cameo surprise in there...

Indeed -- I knew it was coming, and it was still funny -- I can only imagine how cool it was if you didn't know ahead of time.  Irony of ironies: the cameo was orig supposed to be Patrick Swayze!

I can see that.  Swayze was sort of this generation's Robert Goulet:

The producer of a low budget film is trying to convince the newly hired director of the quality of the work by telling him the big names they've gotten for the cast.

"First of all," he tells him, "We've got Gibson in the lead."

The director is surprised, "You got Mel Gibson?"

"Well, no," the Producer responds, "we got Marvin Gibson, he's a distant cousin who lives in Queens, but he's very up and coming. And besides, we've also got Redford."

"You got Robert Redford?" the director asks.

"No, we got Jeremy Redford, but he's very talented and has lots of acting experience from years of dinner theater. But," he says enthusiastically, " we've got Streisand and in a singing role."

"Barbara Streisand?" he asks.

"No, Elizabeth Streisand." The Producer responds. "But she's got a great voice. AND we've got Goulet."

"You got Robert Goulet?" the director asks.

"Yes," the producer replies, "we got Robert Goulet."


(w apologies to Robert and Patrick)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on November 02, 2009, 09:35:08 AM
tried to see Nightmare Before Christmas on Sat night, but missed it and instead went to Zombieland.  Enjoyed it a lot, nice cameo surprise in there...

Indeed -- I knew it was coming, and it was still funny -- I can only imagine how cool it was if you didn't know ahead of time.  Irony of ironies: the cameo was orig supposed to be Patrick Swayze!

I can see that.  Swayze was sort of this generation's Robert Goulet:

The producer of a low budget film is trying to convince the newly hired director of the quality of the work by telling him the big names they've gotten for the cast.

"First of all," he tells him, "We've got Gibson in the lead."

The director is surprised, "You got Mel Gibson?"

"Well, no," the Producer responds, "we got Marvin Gibson, he's a distant cousin who lives in Queens, but he's very up and coming. And besides, we've also got Redford."

"You got Robert Redford?" the director asks.

"No, we got Jeremy Redford, but he's very talented and has lots of acting experience from years of dinner theater. But," he says enthusiastically, " we've got Streisand and in a singing role."

"Barbara Streisand?" he asks.

"No, Elizabeth Streisand." The Producer responds. "But she's got a great voice. AND we've got Goulet."

"You got Robert Goulet?" the director asks.

"Yes," the producer replies, "we got Robert Goulet."


(w apologies to Robert and Patrick)

Hah! I once saw David Johansen doing his Buster Poindexter schtick, and he told that same joke.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 02, 2009, 09:36:45 AM
Hah! I once saw David Johansen doing his Buster Poindexter schtick, and he told that same joke.

YES!  he told it on the Tonight Show, as I recall, and Johnny Carson *loved* it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 02, 2009, 10:29:24 AM
Hah! I once saw David Johansen doing his Buster Poindexter schtick, and he told that same joke.

YES!  he told it on the Tonight Show, as I recall, and Johnny Carson *loved* it.

I saw that too!  (or maybe I saw Buster do it in his act, which I caught in 88 or 89.)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 06, 2009, 06:42:51 PM
For those with Turner Classic Movies on their cable or satellite service, they're showing Putney Swope tonite at 11pm Pacific/2am Eastern. Truth & Soul Forever!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on November 06, 2009, 09:42:25 PM
For those with Turner Classic Movies on their cable or satellite service, they're showing Putney Swope tonite at 11pm Pacific/2am Eastern. Truth & Soul Forever!
THE BEST MOVIE!
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2823930474_3b481cff5f.jpg?v=0)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on November 06, 2009, 11:01:04 PM
For those with Turner Classic Movies on their cable or satellite service, they're showing Putney Swope tonite at 11pm Pacific/2am Eastern. Truth & Soul Forever!
THE BEST MOVIE!

About to watch it now - thanks for the heads-up!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on November 07, 2009, 01:20:28 AM
For those with Turner Classic Movies on their cable or satellite service, they're showing Putney Swope tonite at 11pm Pacific/2am Eastern. Truth & Soul Forever!
THE BEST MOVIE!

About to watch it now - thanks for the heads-up!

Damn, sorry I missed this post. I ended up watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Fuse. Was surprised how many of the audience retorts I remembered after all these years.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 07, 2009, 10:58:49 AM
For those with Turner Classic Movies on their cable or satellite service, they're showing Putney Swope tonite at 11pm Pacific/2am Eastern. Truth & Soul Forever!
THE BEST MOVIE!

About to watch it now - thanks for the heads-up!

I'm interested in what you thought. I made it thru the first hour (I was very tired). I hadn't seen PS since the early '70s; and it didn't quite hold up for me. The commercial parodies are still pretty great, esp that "Face-Off" one with a young Ronnie Dyson, but it's kind of a one-joke-endlessly-repeated scenario: Black guy takes over and instantly becomes as much of an asshole as the white guys were (stealing other peoples' ideas, firing employees on a whim, etc). OK, Downey, we get it. 

TCM followed PS with Downey's Greaser's Palace, which I've never seen but would like to. Downey Sr. was good friends with Alex Bennett back then, Alex used to have him on his NYC radio show often.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on November 07, 2009, 10:27:34 PM
Black guy takes over and instantly becomes as much of an asshole as the white guys were (stealing other peoples' ideas, firing employees on a whim, etc). OK, Downey, we get it. 

This was precisely what bugged me about it.  The point that "power corrupts" is made facilely enough in enough places.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 08, 2009, 02:42:47 AM
Any Films of the Decade list that doesn't include Dogville is worthless:

http://spectrumculture.com/2009/11/end-of-the-aughts-films-of-the-decade.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 08, 2009, 09:31:23 AM
Black guy takes over and instantly becomes as much of an asshole as the white guys were (stealing other peoples' ideas, firing employees on a whim, etc). OK, Downey, we get it. 

This was precisely what bugged me about it.  The point that "power corrupts" is made facilely enough in enough places.

I've heard of Putney Swope, but have never seen it.  I can't really recall it being shown in any local art house, for that matter, even though it's got some importance attached to it.  Looks like its flaws outweigh its importance and have dragged it down past "forgotten/overlooked gems," past "cult movie" and even beyond "let's kill two hours and possibly add to our cultural knowledge by watching this dated movie" status.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 08, 2009, 10:37:43 AM
Black guy takes over and instantly becomes as much of an asshole as the white guys were (stealing other peoples' ideas, firing employees on a whim, etc). OK, Downey, we get it. 

This was precisely what bugged me about it.  The point that "power corrupts" is made facilely enough in enough places.

I've heard of Putney Swope, but have never seen it.  I can't really recall it being shown in any local art house, for that matter, even though it's got some importance attached to it.  Looks like its flaws outweigh its importance and have dragged it down past "forgotten/overlooked gems," past "cult movie" and even beyond "let's kill two hours and possibly add to our cultural knowledge by watching this dated movie" status.


I think it's fondly remembered by those who were college-age at the time, just like anyone who was 19 in 1983 remembers Liquid Sky. There was no "indie" scene yet, and Downey had made some experimental films that got shown in museums, but this was one of the first independent films to get distributed, even if it was only in big-city art-houses. Cinema 5 was a new company in 1969; they would go on to distribute many art-house hits in the '70s including the great Oscar-winning documentary Marjoe. And then UA would step in to do Downey's next 2 flicks, Greaser's Palace and Pound.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 08, 2009, 10:39:02 AM
Any Films of the Decade list that doesn't include Dogville is worthless:

http://spectrumculture.com/2009/11/end-of-the-aughts-films-of-the-decade.html

so have you seen his Antichrist yet? talk about love-it-or-despise-it reviews!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on November 08, 2009, 04:54:27 PM
Black guy takes over and instantly becomes as much of an asshole as the white guys were (stealing other peoples' ideas, firing employees on a whim, etc). OK, Downey, we get it. 

This was precisely what bugged me about it.  The point that "power corrupts" is made facilely enough in enough places.
oh well
 :(
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on November 09, 2009, 04:42:32 PM
Any Films of the Decade list that doesn't include Dogville is worthless:

http://spectrumculture.com/2009/11/end-of-the-aughts-films-of-the-decade.html

so have you seen his Antichrist yet? talk about love-it-or-despise-it reviews!

I haven't seen it yet, but it's definitely on the list. I've been ignoring the reviews. But Von Trier + Dafoe can't be that bad!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on November 09, 2009, 07:03:53 PM
Flipping around my pay channels yesterday, and Shakespeare in Love was just starting (in Hi def).  So I bailed on the Niner game, and watched SiL for the first time since I saw it at the theater.  I know some of you think it did not deserves its* oscar(s), but after watching it again, I completely disagree.  Great script, great acting, great fun.  And I was a bit choked up at the end.

* rereading, fixed its / it's f*ckup...  :P
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on November 09, 2009, 10:35:57 PM
Black guy takes over and instantly becomes as much of an asshole as the white guys were (stealing other peoples' ideas, firing employees on a whim, etc). OK, Downey, we get it. 

This was precisely what bugged me about it.  The point that "power corrupts" is made facilely enough in enough places.
oh well
 :(

Heck, as Mike, Shray and probably others can attest, my film tastes are undoubtedly idiosyncratic, so take my opinions with a lime and salt.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 10, 2009, 07:45:14 AM
Any Films of the Decade list that doesn't include Dogville is worthless:

http://spectrumculture.com/2009/11/end-of-the-aughts-films-of-the-decade.html

so have you seen his Antichrist yet? talk about love-it-or-despise-it reviews!

I haven't seen it yet, but it's definitely on the list. I've been ignoring the reviews. But Von Trier + Dafoe can't be that bad!

I can't bear the idea of seeing Willem lose his, er, little willem.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 10, 2009, 08:50:28 AM
Any Films of the Decade list that doesn't include Dogville is worthless:

http://spectrumculture.com/2009/11/end-of-the-aughts-films-of-the-decade.html

so have you seen his Antichrist yet? talk about love-it-or-despise-it reviews!

I haven't seen it yet, but it's definitely on the list. I've been ignoring the reviews. But Von Trier + Dafoe can't be that bad!

I can't bear the idea of seeing Willem lose his, er, little willem.

from what I read, the "She" character loses her little man in the boat, by some rusty scissors.  I might pass on this one. 

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 13, 2009, 09:05:50 PM
Just came from seeing Pirate Radio. As a radio geek, I was a bit disappointed. A fitfully entertaining mess, but not exactly a good movie. Apparently the studio trimmed 20+ minutes from the film since it played in the UK 6 months ago under the title The Boat That Rocked. Which may explain why some scenes seem to be out of chronological order -- not in a Tarantino-esque way, but in a somebody-screwed-up way. Beyond that, although it takes place in 1966, most of the music the deejays play on their pirate radio ship ("Radio RocK", meant to evoke Radio Caroline) is from '67 or later, and I'm a stickler for that sort of thing. Highlight: one of the deejays marries a beautiful blonde American -- played by none other than Betty Draper herself, January Jones -- whose name is Elenore. Can ya guess what song breaks out on the sndtk?  But I can't say I think the flick is swell. Wait for DVD.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: SFGuy on November 14, 2009, 02:23:25 AM
"2012" must be awful. Mick LaSalle gives it his top rating.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on November 14, 2009, 03:16:58 PM
Just came from seeing Pirate Radio. As a radio geek, I was a bit disappointed. A fitfully entertaining mess, but not exactly a good movie. Apparently the studio trimmed 20+ minutes from the film since it played in the UK 6 months ago under the title The Boat That Rocked. Which may explain why some scenes seem to be out of chronological order -- not in a Tarantino-esque way, but in a somebody-screwed-up way. Beyond that, although it takes place in 1966, most of the music the deejays play on their pirate radio ship ("Radio RocK", meant to evoke Radio Caroline) is from '67 or later, and I'm a stickler for that sort of thing. Highlight: one of the deejays marries a beautiful blonde American -- played by none other than Betty Draper herself, January Jones -- whose name is Elenore. Can ya guess what song breaks out on the sndtk?  But I can't say I think the flick is swell. Wait for DVD.

Pretty much in agreement with your assessment--it seemed to me like they filmed scenes at random, then assembled them similarly. Loosely based on Radio Caroline, but only barely, it seemed more to me like Almost Famous gone to sea--and Philip Seymour Hoffman's part reminded me more than slightly of his turn as Lester Bangs in that film (although his part was bigger here). Probably the most obvious glitch was the songs that were not released 'til the 70s, i.e. Won't Get Fooled Again and Cat Stevens' Father and Son. That said, if you don't think about it too much it was kind of a fun movie, but not great art. Probably not going to be seeing it listed among the Oscar nominees in a couple of months.

Btw, I thought that the name they chose for the operation--"Radio Rock"--was perhaps least imaginative one they could have come up with. Jeez, call it Radio Jacqueline or Radio Howard or Radio Flower Pot--any of those would have been more interesting than Radio Rock.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 14, 2009, 04:49:29 PM
"2012" must be awful. Mick LaSalle gives it his top rating.

BWAHAHAHAHA!  I was thisclose to posting the same thing yesterday! Oh that Mick. And it actually has gotten some "good" reviews, in the "the CGI is great if you're into 'disaster porn'" vein, but a lot of very bad notices too.

And urth I totally agree that PS Hoffman is doing a Lester Bangs retread in Pirate Radio. Speaking of Almost Famous, next week's ep of American Dad (which I'm actually quite fond of; it seems to be the Seth McFarlane show he has the least to do with) is a ...Famous spoof -- Stan becomes a Deadhead-type follower of the band My Morning Jacket (!)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 16, 2009, 07:54:06 AM
Just came from seeing Pirate Radio. As a radio geek, I was a bit disappointed. A fitfully entertaining mess, but not exactly a good movie. ... Which may explain why some scenes seem to be out of chronological order -- not in a Tarantino-esque way, but in a somebody-screwed-up way.

Pretty much in agreement with your assessment--it seemed to me like they filmed scenes at random, then assembled them similarly. ...

KFOG was talking about it this morning, asking readers if they saw it,etc.  They also asked "Did they show it in order?"  Seems like the movie's "fabula and sujet" is a major flaw. 

(Fabula and sujet, you ask?  I found those terms on wikipedia  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabula_and_sujet)while poking around for information on Memento, Christopher Nolan's film that is told in reverse chronological order:  "The fabula of a text is the raw order in which events occurred, while sujet is defined as the way in which these events are depicted and reshaped in their emplotment."   I must have heard that term in college, but forgot it. )
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 16, 2009, 07:59:48 AM
"2012" must be awful. Mick LaSalle gives it his top rating.

yeah, it's an amazing looking, over-the-top visual feast. But it gets so sentimental and schmaltzy at times that you laugh and groan at the cliches and incessant cliff hangers.  We talked about it for an hour afterward, mostly about things that were too silly and inadvertently funny that they got in the way of the really cool look.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 20, 2009, 07:44:03 AM
Gotta say I'm psyched to see the new Nic Cage/Werner Herzog collab, Bad Lieutenant: Port of call New Orleans. Apparently it's Nic's most unhinged perf since Vampire's Kiss 20 years ago. from Roger Ebert's 4-star review:

Quote
No one is better at this kind of performance than Nicolas Cage. He's a fearless actor. He doesn't care if you think he goes over the top. If a film calls for it, he will crawl to the top hand over hand with bleeding fingernails.

I am *SO* there!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 22, 2009, 04:32:58 PM
Gotta say I'm psyched to see the new Nic Cage/Werner Herzog collab, Bad Lieutenant: Port of call New Orleans. Apparently it's Nic's most unhinged perf since Vampire's Kiss 20 years ago. from Roger Ebert's 4-star review:

Quote
No one is better at this kind of performance than Nicolas Cage. He's a fearless actor. He doesn't care if you think he goes over the top. If a film calls for it, he will crawl to the top hand over hand with bleeding fingernails.

I am *SO* there!

Just came from seeing this -- wow. VERY entertaining. Cage redeems himself for all the crappy special-effects movies he's done in the last dozen years. I suppose he doesn't have a prayer of an Oscar nom (small distributor, sordid material) but boy he's fun to watch in this one.    (And BTW it really has *nothing* to do with the orig Bad Lieutenant with Harvey Keitel; if I hear one more critic call it a "remake" my head will explode.)
Title: Pirate Radio
Post by: ggould on November 22, 2009, 10:06:02 PM
Just came from seeing Pirate Radio. As a radio geek, I was a bit disappointed. A fitfully entertaining mess, but not exactly a good movie. Apparently the studio trimmed 20+ minutes from the film since it played in the UK 6 months ago under the title The Boat That Rocked. Which may explain why some scenes seem to be out of chronological order -- not in a Tarantino-esque way, but in a somebody-screwed-up way. Beyond that, although it takes place in 1966, most of the music the deejays play on their pirate radio ship ("Radio RocK", meant to evoke Radio Caroline) is from '67 or later, and I'm a stickler for that sort of thing. Highlight: one of the deejays marries a beautiful blonde American -- played by none other than Betty Draper herself, January Jones -- whose name is Elenore. Can ya guess what song breaks out on the sndtk?  But I can't say I think the flick is swell. Wait for DVD.

Pretty much in agreement with your assessment--it seemed to me like they filmed scenes at random, then assembled them similarly. Loosely based on Radio Caroline, but only barely, it seemed more to me like Almost Famous gone to sea--and Philip Seymour Hoffman's part reminded me more than slightly of his turn as Lester Bangs in that film (although his part was bigger here). Probably the most obvious glitch was the songs that were not released 'til the 70s, i.e. Won't Get Fooled Again and Cat Stevens' Father and Son. That said, if you don't think about it too much it was kind of a fun movie, but not great art. Probably not going to be seeing it listed among the Oscar nominees in a couple of months.

Btw, I thought that the name they chose for the operation--"Radio Rock"--was perhaps least imaginative one they could have come up with. Jeez, call it Radio Jacqueline or Radio Howard or Radio Flower Pot--any of those would have been more interesting than Radio Rock.

Just got back, and I definitely must disagree about waiting for the DVD.  No, there are no Oscar-worthy performances, and yes, it's just a modern movie, in the entertaining sense, and I guessed the ending way ahead of time, but jeez, the subject matter is uplifting if you have ever believed in the power of rock and roll.  If it bothers you hearing bits of "Won't Get Fooled Again" in what is supposed to be '67-ish, then don't go.  But I would posit that you see it quickly in a location where there are still people watching it.  I was quite surprised by the audience reaction at normally quite staid Daly City.  There is no home theatre system that matches a cranked up movie house blasting the Kinks, Who, etc.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 25, 2009, 08:20:54 AM
Couple of flicks I was looking forward to catching up with this weekend: The Maid, a Spanish comedy that has gotten nothing but raves, and The Messenger, the Ben Foster/Woody Harrelson Iraq War movie. 

Well... lotsa luck: Maid played for all of 10 days at the Embarcadero and now it is nowhere to be found. Not playing ANYWHERE in the Bay Area. Messenger (similar raves) has been cut back to 2 shows a day at Metreon after only a week. Yet "New Moon", "Old Dogs" and "2012" are on a billion screens. How sad -- this isn't the boondocks, it's San Francisco. Can't we support quality? WTF?





Title: Re: Pirate Radio
Post by: Gazoo on November 25, 2009, 04:15:04 PM
Just came from seeing Pirate Radio. As a radio geek, I was a bit disappointed. A fitfully entertaining mess, but not exactly a good movie. Apparently the studio trimmed 20+ minutes from the film since it played in the UK 6 months ago under the title The Boat That Rocked. Which may explain why some scenes seem to be out of chronological order -- not in a Tarantino-esque way, but in a somebody-screwed-up way. Beyond that, although it takes place in 1966, most of the music the deejays play on their pirate radio ship ("Radio RocK", meant to evoke Radio Caroline) is from '67 or later, and I'm a stickler for that sort of thing. Highlight: one of the deejays marries a beautiful blonde American -- played by none other than Betty Draper herself, January Jones -- whose name is Elenore. Can ya guess what song breaks out on the sndtk?  But I can't say I think the flick is swell. Wait for DVD.

Pretty much in agreement with your assessment--it seemed to me like they filmed scenes at random, then assembled them similarly. Loosely based on Radio Caroline, but only barely, it seemed more to me like Almost Famous gone to sea--and Philip Seymour Hoffman's part reminded me more than slightly of his turn as Lester Bangs in that film (although his part was bigger here). Probably the most obvious glitch was the songs that were not released 'til the 70s, i.e. Won't Get Fooled Again and Cat Stevens' Father and Son. That said, if you don't think about it too much it was kind of a fun movie, but not great art. Probably not going to be seeing it listed among the Oscar nominees in a couple of months.

Btw, I thought that the name they chose for the operation--"Radio Rock"--was perhaps least imaginative one they could have come up with. Jeez, call it Radio Jacqueline or Radio Howard or Radio Flower Pot--any of those would have been more interesting than Radio Rock.

Just got back, and I definitely must disagree about waiting for the DVD.  No, there are no Oscar-worthy performances, and yes, it's just a modern movie, in the entertaining sense, and I guessed the ending way ahead of time, but jeez, the subject matter is uplifting if you have ever believed in the power of rock and roll.  If it bothers you hearing bits of "Won't Get Fooled Again" in what is supposed to be '67-ish, then don't go.  But I would posit that you see it quickly in a location where there are still people watching it.  I was quite surprised by the audience reaction at normally quite staid Daly City.  There is no home theatre system that matches a cranked up movie house blasting the Kinks, Who, etc.

I went to see this yesterday, inspired in part by this exchange.  I had no trouble suspending my disbelief on the song chronology - helps that I wasn't born until '72 and thus don't have the same personal contextual relations to the songs.  And "Father and Son" was touching in the scene in which it was used.

Message I took from the film: Music is an effective substitute for love if you're ugly, and if you're not *too* ugly, your passion for it just might impress someone.  It's an apt bookend for my year in this way.

Currently watching Buck and the Preacher on on-demand.  Til now, only knew it from the New Birth theme song that POC sent me years ago.  Sidney Poitier lays down the law!  A good Thanksgiving message of Native Americans helping newly freed slaves escape white nightriders and bounty hunters.
Title: Re: Pirate Radio
Post by: ggould on November 25, 2009, 06:50:53 PM
Just came from seeing Pirate Radio. As a radio geek, I was a bit disappointed. A fitfully entertaining mess, but not exactly a good movie. Apparently the studio trimmed 20+ minutes from the film since it played in the UK 6 months ago under the title The Boat That Rocked. Which may explain why some scenes seem to be out of chronological order -- not in a Tarantino-esque way, but in a somebody-screwed-up way. Beyond that, although it takes place in 1966, most of the music the deejays play on their pirate radio ship ("Radio RocK", meant to evoke Radio Caroline) is from '67 or later, and I'm a stickler for that sort of thing. Highlight: one of the deejays marries a beautiful blonde American -- played by none other than Betty Draper herself, January Jones -- whose name is Elenore. Can ya guess what song breaks out on the sndtk?  But I can't say I think the flick is swell. Wait for DVD.

Pretty much in agreement with your assessment--it seemed to me like they filmed scenes at random, then assembled them similarly. Loosely based on Radio Caroline, but only barely, it seemed more to me like Almost Famous gone to sea--and Philip Seymour Hoffman's part reminded me more than slightly of his turn as Lester Bangs in that film (although his part was bigger here). Probably the most obvious glitch was the songs that were not released 'til the 70s, i.e. Won't Get Fooled Again and Cat Stevens' Father and Son. That said, if you don't think about it too much it was kind of a fun movie, but not great art. Probably not going to be seeing it listed among the Oscar nominees in a couple of months.

Btw, I thought that the name they chose for the operation--"Radio Rock"--was perhaps least imaginative one they could have come up with. Jeez, call it Radio Jacqueline or Radio Howard or Radio Flower Pot--any of those would have been more interesting than Radio Rock.

Just got back, and I definitely must disagree about waiting for the DVD.  No, there are no Oscar-worthy performances, and yes, it's just a modern movie, in the entertaining sense, and I guessed the ending way ahead of time, but jeez, the subject matter is uplifting if you have ever believed in the power of rock and roll.  If it bothers you hearing bits of "Won't Get Fooled Again" in what is supposed to be '67-ish, then don't go.  But I would posit that you see it quickly in a location where there are still people watching it.  I was quite surprised by the audience reaction at normally quite staid Daly City.  There is no home theatre system that matches a cranked up movie house blasting the Kinks, Who, etc.

I went to see this yesterday, inspired in part by this exchange.  I had no trouble suspending my disbelief on the song chronology - helps that I wasn't born until '72 and thus don't have the same personal contextual relations to the songs.  And "Father and Son" was touching in the scene in which it was used.

Message I took from the film: Music is an effective substitute for love if you're ugly, and if you're not *too* ugly, your passion for it just might impress someone.  It's an apt bookend for my year in this way.
The one thing I didn't like was during the credits they played Duffy's version of "Stay With Me" instead of Lorraine Ellison's.  So, today the Damn Fine Day song is "Lorraine Ellison's Stay With Me."

http://www.damnfineday.com/?p=8491
Title: Re: Pirate Radio
Post by: Gazoo on November 26, 2009, 12:13:33 AM
The one thing I didn't like was during the credits they played Duffy's version of "Stay With Me" instead of Lorraine Ellison's.  So, today the Damn Fine Day song is "Lorraine Ellison's Stay With Me."

http://www.damnfineday.com/?p=8491

I was the only person who stayed in the theater throughout the credits and saw this.  Made me feel really old.

I unsubscribed to Dame Fine Day once they turned their ops over to the LaLa service.  Sorry, I had to reallocate my resources.  So for those who feel likewise, here's the song for free:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBJ1rv39Pws
Title: Re: Pirate Radio
Post by: ggould on November 26, 2009, 10:28:06 AM
The one thing I didn't like was during the credits they played Duffy's version of "Stay With Me" instead of Lorraine Ellison's.  So, today the Damn Fine Day song is "Lorraine Ellison's Stay With Me."

http://www.damnfineday.com/?p=8491

I was the only person who stayed in the theater throughout the credits and saw this.  Made me feel really old.

I unsubscribed to Dame Fine Day once they turned their ops over to the LaLa service.  Sorry, I had to reallocate my resources.  So for those who feel likewise, here's the song for free:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBJ1rv39Pws
Note re: Lala:
If you use DowloadHelper with Lala on Firefox, you can download tons of stuff, full-length.  You didn't hear this from me.

http://www.downloadhelper.net/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 26, 2009, 03:31:34 PM
Happy Thanksgiving indeed: earlier this afternoon I saw The Road, aka "2012 for depressive English Lit majors". On a technical level -- cinematography, the "realistic" depiction of a post-apocalyptic landscape -- it's quite impressive, and Viggo Mortensen is very good, as is the previously-unknown child actor who plays his son.  But Jeezus, it's bleak.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 27, 2009, 04:48:42 PM
Clooney double-header report: Words cannot describe how much I loved Fantastic Mr Fox. Wonderful wonderful wonderful. I realize Up is going to win the Oscar, and deservedly so, but this is right up there with the other stellar animation of 2009, like Coraline

And Men Who Stare At Goats was quite good too. I'd love to know what bug was up Owen Gleiberman's ass when he gave it an F (!) in EW.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 29, 2009, 05:04:11 PM
Couple of flicks I was looking forward to catching up with this weekend: The Maid, a Spanish comedy that has gotten nothing but raves, and The Messenger, the Ben Foster/Woody Harrelson Iraq War movie. 

Well... lotsa luck: Maid played for all of 10 days at the Embarcadero and now it is nowhere to be found. Not playing ANYWHERE in the Bay Area. Messenger (similar raves) has been cut back to 2 shows a day at Metreon after only a week. Yet "New Moon", "Old Dogs" and "2012" are on a billion screens. How sad -- this isn't the boondocks, it's San Francisco. Can't we support quality? WTF?

Got to see Messenger yesterday; a few script problems (couple of overwritten scenes) but much of it is quite powerful and it's one of the best-acted movies I've seen this year. Ben Foster is good in a rare non-psycho role; Woody Harrelson and Samantha Morton deserve Oscar noms but I dunno how much of a campaign the distributor (tiny Oscilloscope Laboratories) will be able to afford.  It will surely be on DVD soon, I highly recommend.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 02, 2009, 03:07:58 PM
moving this over from the Mike's Christmas Countdown thread, talking about The Blind Side...


What do you say, re: the criticism that the black kid barely has 10 lines of dialog in the whole film and is portrayed as "a bystander in his own story", to quote one review I've read?

That's easy.  Nothing could be a deader giveaway that the reviewers not only didn't read the book, but haven't even bothered to familiarize themselves with it.  That is precisely how Michael Oher comes across in the book, which contains numerous quotes from his adoptive family, his teachers, coaches and tutors about how challenging it was to draw more than monosyllabic responses out of him.

And if you didn't know, Michael (Moneyball, Liar's Poker) Lewis was close friends with Sean Tuohy, the adoptive father, in high school.  So he had actually known the family, including Michael Oher, before it occurred to him to write a book about it.  In fact in the foreward Lewis talks about how he asked Tuohy for some advice on his next book topic, and Tuohy had to talk him into writing the book.  Lewis was afraid it would be asking to much of his friend to expose him to the publicity undoubtedly in store.

It gets only a couple minutes at the beginning of the movie, but the book is subtitled: Evolution of a Game, and if anything, Lewis’ analyses of the changes to NFL offensive & defensive strategy that eventually led to the emergence of the Left Tackle as such a highly-prized & highly paid commodity are just fascinating.  Especially if you were a fan of Bill Walsh.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 02, 2009, 03:54:23 PM
Thanks, Mark. I'd been on the fence about seeing it, but I will def be checking it out now -- people keep saying that one should see it back-to-back with Precious, which is probably what I'll do.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 02, 2009, 04:45:36 PM

Thanks, Mark. I'd been on the fence about seeing it, but I will def be checking it out now -- people keep saying that one should see it back-to-back with Precious, which is probably what I'll do.

For one who hasn't read the book or followed the story, you may be a bit challenged to accept that the movie hasn't been overly Hollywood-ized, but it really hasn't.  The only part that I can say for sure was, is when towards the end when Michael returns to his old neighborhood.  And without revealing any spoilers, let me just say that the real-life events in the book, while perhaps not quite as exciting as they are depicted in the movie, are, imho, far more incredible (in the classic sense of the word).

P.S. I know you'll enjoy Kathy Bates' character, and the one punchline she has with Bullock's character is verbatim from the book.  As is Tim McGraw's reaction. And fwiw, I think he does a very nice acting job in a role where (with the exception of one scene) he is almost always in Bullock's shadow.  One interesting thing I found out since, the real life Sean Tuohy was not just an All-American basketball player (as is mentioned briefly in the film) but he has been on the Memphis Grizzlies NBA announcing team since 2000.  This is well within the timeline of the story, but I don't recall it from the book & it definitely isn't mentioned in the movie.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on December 02, 2009, 11:08:32 PM
moving this over from the Mike's Christmas Countdown thread, talking about The Blind Side...
  Especially if you were a fan of Bill Walsh.

hmm, sounds good. I'm not a Sandra Bullock fan, but I'm a Bill Walsh fan.  I met him once at some symphony gala thing, went up and introduced myself at the intermission.   I think I said, "Hello, Coach Walsh, it's an honor to meet you." And he said, referring to the upcoming second part for the symphony program, "Whaddya think, fellas.  Think we can win this one?"

I guess he hated the first part of the symphony.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 03, 2009, 11:10:43 AM
moving this over from the Mike's Christmas Countdown thread, talking about The Blind Side...
  Especially if you were a fan of Bill Walsh.

hmm, sounds good. I'm not a Sandra Bullock fan, but I'm a Bill Walsh fan.  I met him once at some symphony gala thing, went up and introduced myself at the intermission.   I think I said, "Hello, Coach Walsh, it's an honor to meet you." And he said, referring to the upcoming second part for the symphony program, "Whaddya think, fellas.  Think we can win this one?"

I guess he hated the first part of the symphony.

well, he isn't mentioned in the movie, but I'm sure you can find the book at the library eventually.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 04, 2009, 12:38:19 PM
Now you don't have to see Twilight: New Moon...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bXeQ7baYEE&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 04, 2009, 02:49:37 PM
I went to my local theater today to see Up In the Air, because I love George Clooney (when was the last time he made a bad movie? - by which you can assume that I believe Ocean's 12 to be vastly under-rated) and because I have long been infatuated with Vera Farmiga.  Unfortunately Up In the Air has an exclusive engagement in SF, so I was left with the choice between Armored and 2012.  Much as I loves me some John Cusack, when I saw Armored featured Fred Ward & Larry Fishbouorne I had to go there.

All I can say is 'Holy Sh*t'.  Armored is directed by some guy named Nimrod (truly!), but it is the most surprisingly good movie I have seen in a freakin' long time.  I swear they must have hired my doppelganger to oversee the re-scripting, because they neatly swerved away from every single cliche, gave extra attention to character development, and made sure that all the top 4-5 characters had completely plausible reasons for their actions.  Even the top 7-8 characters.

Now that being said, it remains merely a most excellent Heist Movie (although just maybe it is the Reservoir Dogs of Heist movies - I'm just sayin'), with all of the limitations of the genre.  But I will add two things: once the clock starts ticking (spoiler prevents me saying more) it really seems to progress in real time.  None of that "It's-taken-seven-minutes-of-exposition-to-cover-a-2-minute-countdown" nonsense.  And Nimrod thankfully decides to wrap it up quickly, none of the 1st, 2nd & 3rd false endings (I hope I know this crowd well enough that this isn't a spoiler) of 21st century action movie de-jure.  

you may well decide to wait until this shows up as your in-flight entertainment or what not, but whenever it rolls around, strap in & enjoy it. Two thumbs up.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 04, 2009, 03:47:48 PM

All I can say is 'Holy Sh*t'.  Armored is directed by some guy named Nimrod (truly)

hahahaha!  yes, Nimrod Antal is Eastern European, he directed a movie called "Kontroll" in 2003 that got some accclaim (tho' I found it overrated).  Then he did a horror flick 2 years ago called "Vacancy".  "Armored" is his 2nd film in English; he's now working on a re-boot of "Predator".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 06, 2009, 05:05:37 PM
Forgive me for being a box-office stats geek, but: (a) The Blind Side rose to #1 this week, a fairly unusual occurrance, and (b) I just love this info about the awful-looking Transylmania:

"[it] suffered one of the worst wide releases of all-time, opening in 1,007 locations to a microscopic estimate of $274,000 for a pathetic $272 average. That means on average, each showtime over the weekend attracted only three people".

 :o
Title: Re: Pirate Radio
Post by: ggould on December 06, 2009, 06:20:11 PM
The one thing I didn't like was during the credits they played Duffy's version of "Stay With Me" instead of Lorraine Ellison's.  So, today the Damn Fine Day song is "Lorraine Ellison's Stay With Me."

http://www.damnfineday.com/?p=8491

I was the only person who stayed in the theater throughout the credits and saw this.  Made me feel really old.

I unsubscribed to Dame Fine Day once they turned their ops over to the LaLa service.  Sorry, I had to reallocate my resources.  So for those who feel likewise, here's the song for free:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBJ1rv39Pws
Note re: Lala:
If you use DowloadHelper with Lala on Firefox, you can download tons of stuff, full-length.  You didn't hear this from me.

http://www.downloadhelper.net/
well, Apple just bought Lala:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/12/04/financial/f175310S81.DTL

It probably won't take them long to figure out how they are leaking MP3's
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 07, 2009, 08:46:58 PM
I went to my local theater today to see Up In the Air, because I love George Clooney (when was the last time he made a bad movie? - by which you can assume that I believe Ocean's 12 to be vastly under-rated) and because I have long been infatuated with Vera Farmiga.  Unfortunately Up In the Air has an exclusive engagement in SF...

Just came from seeing Up In The Air and it's pretty terrific. Clooney's great of course, and Vera Farmiga (I'm also a big fan of hers) has never been this sexy/funny. Mark, if you have never seen a little indie called Down to the Bone from a few years ago -- rent it. It's the movie that got her noticed by Scorsese and others. She's amazing in it. 

Back to UITA, it's really well-written, very in tune with the zeitgeist, and I can't recommend it more highly.  Saw it at Century SF Centre, where it's playing on 3 screens -- 2 "regular" projection, and one "Extreme Digital", something new that Century is charging an extra 3 bucks for ($14 a ticket, as if it were 3-D or something).  The screen is larger (about 1/3 bigger than their regular screens) and I guess the image is supposd to be sharper. I saw this version because I had no choice, it was the next show at 5pm and I didn't want to hang around waiting for an hour, but... sorry, not worth the extra money IMHO. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on December 08, 2009, 11:12:12 AM
Julien Temple will helm Kinks biopic. 

http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/2009/12/03/kinks-biopic/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on December 08, 2009, 11:17:44 AM
Julien Temple will helm Kinks biopic. 

http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/2009/12/03/kinks-biopic/


Love to see it, but am not holding my breath until I actually see a release date. How long have we been hearing about a Janis biopic that has yet to materialize? That said, I'll have to give some thought as to who I'd cast in the roles of Ray and Dave were it up to me.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 08, 2009, 11:26:35 AM
Julien Temple will helm Kinks biopic.  

http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/2009/12/03/kinks-biopic/


Love to see it, but am not holding my breath until I actually see a release date. How long have we been hearing about a Janis biopic that has yet to materialize? That said, I'll have to give some thought as to who I'd cast in the roles of Ray and Dave were it up to me.

Nice that ray is collaborating; he's known Temple since Absolute Beginners 20 years ago.

Meanwhile, the Runaways biopic with Kristen (Twilight) Stewart as Joan Jett, will be playing at Sundance next month.

(http://www.twilightgear.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/kristen-stewart-jett.jpg)(http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2009/06/11/kristen-stewart-joan-jett.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 14, 2009, 03:13:22 PM
I know Mike will be pleased:

NY Film Ciritics give Best Pic to Hurt Locker  (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091214/ap_on_en_mo/us_film_ny_film_critics_awards_4)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 14, 2009, 03:43:00 PM
I know Mike will be pleased:

NY Film Ciritics give Best Pic to Hurt Locker  (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091214/ap_on_en_mo/us_film_ny_film_critics_awards_4)

indeed -- and the LA crits did the same; it's rare when both groups agree on Best Film. Meanwhile Mo'Nique (Precious) and Cristophe Waltz (Ingorious Basterds) are winning just about every crit-group award for Supp Actress/Actor.

I think my prediction that Bigelow will be  the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar is looking good. And as one wag pointed out, if she and James Cameron are nominated, it will be the first time that exes have competed against each other in that category. LOL!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 14, 2009, 07:11:07 PM
you'll note that elsewhere in that article they give some surprisingly good press to Avatar.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 15, 2009, 11:48:52 AM
And the SF Film Critics go for Hurt Locker and Bigelow too...

http://www.examiner.com/x-27041-SF-Indie-Movie-Examiner~y2009m12d15-Film-awards-season-The-San-Francisco-Film-Critics-Circle-Loves-The-Hurt
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on December 15, 2009, 01:41:54 PM
And the SF Film Critics go for Hurt Locker and Bigelow too...

http://www.examiner.com/x-27041-SF-Indie-Movie-Examiner~y2009m12d15-Film-awards-season-The-San-Francisco-Film-Critics-Circle-Loves-The-Hurt

I liked Hurt Locker, but I wonder how real it would be for a bomb squad guy to act so autonomously without superiors coming down hard...?  IIRC, there wasn't too much from the CO.   It felt very real, like a documentary, and that had me in awe...  very powerful, but I'm not over there on the ground, so I don't know what it's truly like or how the chain of command really operates in war zone like Iraq.  The drama was engaging, the representation of how the armed forces operate... who knows?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 15, 2009, 01:52:45 PM
And the SF Film Critics go for Hurt Locker and Bigelow too...

http://www.examiner.com/x-27041-SF-Indie-Movie-Examiner~y2009m12d15-Film-awards-season-The-San-Francisco-Film-Critics-Circle-Loves-The-Hurt

I liked Hurt Locker, but I wonder how real it would be for a bomb squad guy to act so autonomously without superiors coming down hard...?  IIRC, there wasn't too much from the CO.   It felt very real, like a documentary, and that had me in awe...  very powerful, but I'm not over there on the ground, so I don't know what it's truly like or how the chain of command really operates in war zone like Iraq.  The drama was engaging, the representation of how the armed forces operate... who knows?

you're not the first to say that; the answer is, I think, that they needed something a bit more... movie-ish to propel the plot.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on December 20, 2009, 11:07:30 PM
I went to my local theater today to see Up In the Air, because I love George Clooney (when was the last time he made a bad movie? - by which you can assume that I believe Ocean's 12 to be vastly under-rated) and because I have long been infatuated with Vera Farmiga.  Unfortunately Up In the Air has an exclusive engagement in SF...

Just came from seeing Up In The Air and it's pretty terrific. Clooney's great of course, and Vera Farmiga (I'm also a big fan of hers) has never been this sexy/funny. Mark, if you have never seen a little indie called Down to the Bone from a few years ago -- rent it. It's the movie that got her noticed by Scorsese and others. She's amazing in it.  

Back to UITA, it's really well-written, very in tune with the zeitgeist, and I can't recommend it more highly.  Saw it at Century SF Centre, where it's playing on 3 screens -- 2 "regular" projection, and one "Extreme Digital", something new that Century is charging an extra 3 bucks for ($14 a ticket, as if it were 3-D or something).  The screen is larger (about 1/3 bigger than their regular screens) and I guess the image is supposd to be sharper. I saw this version because I had no choice, it was the next show at 5pm and I didn't want to hang around waiting for an hour, but... sorry, not worth the extra money IMHO.  
Just braved the crowds waiting to see Avatar, and the Grand Opening of the new Japanese Buffet/Grill at the Century 20 in Daly City, to see Up In The Air.  We really enjoyed it, but I'm not quite sure what to say about it.  Kind of like Lost in Translation I guess. I was wondering if Vera Farmiga was using a body double for the nude scene.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on December 21, 2009, 12:38:02 AM

Just braved the crowds waiting to see Avatar, and the Grand Opening of the new Japanese Buffet/Grill at the Century 20 in Daly City, to see Up In The Air.  We really enjoyed it, but I'm not quite sure what to say about it.  Kind of like Lost in Translation I guess. I was wondering if Vera Farmiga was using a body double for the nude scene.

That's the one film that's currently out that I really want to see, but it's got an exclusive booking at a mall theater in SE Portland, so I'm holding out 'til it goes into wider release.

Saw a trailer last night for a film starring Jeff Bridges as a country-western singer, "Crazy (something)." Piqued my interest, and i believe T-Bone Burnett was involved with the soundtrack, which makes it all the more intriguing. Please don't let it be a turkey.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 21, 2009, 07:47:47 AM

Just braved the crowds waiting to see Avatar, and the Grand Opening of the new Japanese Buffet/Grill at the Century 20 in Daly City, to see Up In The Air.  We really enjoyed it, but I'm not quite sure what to say about it.  Kind of like Lost in Translation I guess. I was wondering if Vera Farmiga was using a body double for the nude scene.

That's the one film that's currently out that I really want to see, but it's got an exclusive booking at a mall theater in SE Portland, so I'm holding out 'til it goes into wider release.

Saw a trailer last night for a film starring Jeff Bridges as a country-western singer, "Crazy (something)." Piqued my interest, and i believe T-Bone Burnett was involved with the soundtrack, which makes it all the more intriguing. Please don't let it be a turkey.

Crazy Heart is the Bridges flick -- it's getting excellent reviews, comparing it to Tender Mercies from 25 years ago.  Amazingly, it was made for Country Music Television and somebody at Fox Searchlight (or whoever the distributor is) saw it and said "this deserves a wider/better audience"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on December 21, 2009, 09:46:59 AM

Just braved the crowds waiting to see Avatar, and the Grand Opening of the new Japanese Buffet/Grill at the Century 20 in Daly City, to see Up In The Air.  We really enjoyed it, but I'm not quite sure what to say about it.  Kind of like Lost in Translation I guess. I was wondering if Vera Farmiga was using a body double for the nude scene.

That's the one film that's currently out that I really want to see, but it's got an exclusive booking at a mall theater in SE Portland, so I'm holding out 'til it goes into wider release.

Saw a trailer last night for a film starring Jeff Bridges as a country-western singer, "Crazy (something)." Piqued my interest, and i believe T-Bone Burnett was involved with the soundtrack, which makes it all the more intriguing. Please don't let it be a turkey.

Crazy Heart is the Bridges flick -- it's getting excellent reviews, comparing it to Tender Mercies from 25 years ago.  Amazingly, it was made for Country Music Television and somebody at Fox Searchlight (or whoever the distributor is) saw it and said "this deserves a wider/better audience"

Glad to hear it. Just in the scant few scenes in the ad I saw, Bridges' character struck me as channeling Kris Kristofferson. And I think that's a positive. I suspect this is a film I'll have to go into central Portland to see--I don't expect it will play the outlying 'burb multiplexes.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 25, 2009, 03:49:25 PM
Looks like AMC and Spike TV have stolen a page from TBS's book:  AMC is showing Nat'l Lampoon's Xmas Vacay in a day-long marathon; Spike is doing the same with Bad Santa. Ho Ho Ho!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 26, 2009, 11:20:46 AM
Mike's Holiday Movie Round-Up (Pt. 1)

Got to do some catching up the last couple days.

Invictus: Liked this one; kinda puzzled by some of the lukewarm reviews. Also surprised more hasn't been made of the Obama parallels.

A Single Man: Not to be confused with A Serious Man; Colin Firth as a closeted professor in 1962, dealing with grief issues. He's terrific, it's beautifully filmed.

Precious and The Blind Side: yeah, they go together.  Liked Precious more than I expected; I'd been reading a lot of negative things recently. I'd've never expected a performance like that out of Mo'Nique in a million years. A good small film that has suffered from the usual Sundance overhype syndrome.  Blind Side is, yes, Precious for Middle American white folks. Precious is the better film, but Bullock and McGraw are quite good. BS is more Hollywood and could use less of that; it makes a true story seem less "true" if that makes sense. And that little white kid is easily THE most annoying child actor I have ever seen.

It's Complicated:  It's... pleasant. I enjoyed it mainly for Alec Baldwin, who I worship, but I felt like the script coulda been a lot sharper.

More to come next week; when I saw Blind Side at Metreon last nite the lines for Avatar were endless.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on December 26, 2009, 02:39:41 PM
Mike's Holiday Movie Round-Up (Pt. 1)

BS is more Hollywood and could use less of that; it makes a true story seem less "true" if that makes sense. And that little white kid is easily THE most annoying child actor I have ever seen.


It does make sense, that's why I tried to elaborate on it.  And I have to think that the one critic mistakenly assumed it was less faithful to the book than it was.  

I kinda agree about the child actor, but that's how he came across in the book also.  But THE most annoying ever?  Not even close in my book:

(http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTAwMDQ1NDE5NDVeQTJeQWpwZ15BbWU2MDk5NzYzNg@@._V1._CR0,0,281,281_SS80_.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 01, 2010, 05:30:24 PM
Mike's Holiday Movie Round-Up, Part 2

Another big week of moviegoing...

Me & Orson Welles. This one is getting lost in the Xmas movie onslaught, but it's really quite enjoyable. Christian McKay is getting all the notices for his Orson Welles imitation, but this movie deserves some kind of casting award -- they've found actors who look like all of Welles' Mercury Theater compatriots. The guy who plays Joseph Cotten is amazing, and the great Eddie Marsan (the only thing I liked in Happy Go Lucky, which I otherwise hated) plays John Houseman and you can totally imagine him becoming Prof. Kingsfield in The Paper Chase 35 years later.  Oh, and Zac Efron is... adequate.

Avatar. Yes, on a technical level it's the most amazing thing you've ever seen. And yes, plot-wise it's Dances With Wolves with blue people. Best. 3-D movie. EVAH.  You just gotta see it.

Sherlock Holmes. Big, noisy and preposterous, but Robert Downey Jr makes it enjoyable, and Jude Law is also quite good. And Eddie Marsan shows up again as the inspector. Glad to see him getting a big paycheck.

Nine. Yikes. Borderline awful. How can a musical directed by a gay guy have so much strip-club choreography? Has Rob Marshall been hanging out with Jay-Z and Li'l Wayne? Every number looks like an audition for the Hustler Club.  When they said Rob Marshall likes some pole, I didn't know they meant this!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 05, 2010, 12:00:25 PM
Avatar. Yes, on a technical level it's the most amazing thing you've ever seen. And yes, plot-wise it's Dances With Wolves with blue people. Best. 3-D movie. EVAH.  You just gotta see it.


and speaking of Avatar...

http://web.me.com/pascalboogaert/Site/foto3.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 13, 2010, 07:48:11 AM
I think this is pretty hilarious:

(http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/images/column/12010/cera2.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on January 13, 2010, 11:12:45 AM
that was great!  I wonder how many more years Michael Cera can keep this up?  Is there any other kind of role he can play?

Saw Avatar yesterday.  Very enjoyable and visually stunning.  I love your comment, Mike, about it being Dances With Wolves with blue people.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 13, 2010, 11:24:13 AM
Saw Avatar yesterday.  Very enjoyable and visually stunning.  I love your comment, Mike, about it being Dances With Wolves with blue people.

which I of course stole from South Park, who skewered it -- before it even opened -- as "Dances with Smurfs".  A large dash of "Pocahontas" in there too. 

Which always reminds me of Larry "Bubbles" Brown (comedian and Alex Bennett Show regular back in the day) and his line "Disney is making their first X-rated cartoon, about a guy who has sex with a female ghost. It's called Poke A Hauntess"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on January 13, 2010, 08:44:42 PM
I wonder how many more years Michael Cera can keep this up?  Is there any other kind of role he can play?

No.

This has been another entertaining episode of "Simple Answers to Simple Questions."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 14, 2010, 09:32:54 AM
Roger Ebert's still got it. Read his pan of that new Jackie Chan kiddie film, The Spy Next Door, which is more entertaining than the movie could possibly be:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100113/REVIEWS/100119993/1023
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 14, 2010, 12:26:37 PM
Roger Ebert's still got it. Read his pan of that new Jackie Chan kiddie film, The Spy Next Door, which is more entertaining than the movie could possibly be:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100113/REVIEWS/100119993/1023

sorry to be on an Ebert kick today, but here's his review of The Lovely Bones, which he also hated, tho' much more pointedly. Appropriate, what with us discussing religion the last day or so:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100113/REVIEWS/100119992/1023
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 29, 2010, 11:18:56 AM
A very funny piece on people who talk incessantly at the movies:

http://theoatmeal.com/story/water_buffalo
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 03, 2010, 02:40:17 PM
It's official: Avatar has outgrossed Titanic, domestically (it's already done so globally).

http://movies.ign.com/articles/106/1066296p1.html

I love the fact that Avatar fanatics are being referred to derisively as "Avatards" (Will Palin be upset about that too?)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on February 03, 2010, 03:37:51 PM
It's official: Avatar has outgrossed Titanic, domestically (it's already done so globally).

http://movies.ign.com/articles/106/1066296p1.html

I love the fact that Avatar fanatics are being referred to derisively as "Avatards" (Will Palin be upset about that too?)

I never cease to be amazed that gross receipts are still the barometer of a movie's popularity, even though the cost of movie tickets is continually being increased, making any talk of gross receipts  irrelevant. The only number that should matter is the number of tickets sold. I read last week that the average ticket price when Titanic was released was something like $4 and change, while now it's somewhere in the $7 range (both figures seem low to me, too). Add to that the fact that a lot of people are seeing the 3-D version of Avatar which tacks a couple more dollars onto the admission cost and it's likely that about half as many people have seen Avatar as saw Titanic. And yet the movie industry is rarely called out on this.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on February 07, 2010, 10:24:09 PM
Ventured out to see the Tooth Fairy today. Good pre-SB laughs. I love my hockey. Oh yeah, took the little cats. Def a flick for the youngsters. Liked a few of the previews, Karate Kid and Light chaser something or other.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 09, 2010, 09:29:36 AM
Now that the Oscar Noms are out (http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2010/oscars), I notice that while expanding Best Pic to 10 noms, they have done away with the separate category of Best Animated Pic.  So that makes a little more sense, and only Up makes the cut (quite deservedly)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on February 09, 2010, 09:33:45 AM
Now that the Oscar Noms are out (http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2010/oscars), I notice that while expanding Best Pic to 10 noms, they have done away with the separate category of Best Animated Pic.  So that makes a little more sense, and only Up makes the cut (quite deservedly)

Not so:

http://oscar.go.com/nominations/nominees#category_animated-feature-film
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 09, 2010, 09:36:37 AM
Now that the Oscar Noms are out (http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2010/oscars), I notice that while expanding Best Pic to 10 noms, they have done away with the separate category of Best Animated Pic.  So that makes a little more sense, and only Up makes the cut (quite deservedly)

no they haven't... the Best Animated Film Nominees are:

Coraline
Up
Fantastic Mr Fox
Princess & the Frog
The Secret of Kells


(That last one is a foreign film no one has seen or heard of)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 09, 2010, 09:53:17 AM

The Secret of Kells

(That last one is a foreign film no one has seen or heard of)


I saw it last year. In the Trinity College bookstore (that's where they sent us after the tour of the book).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 09, 2010, 10:00:43 AM
It's official: Avatar has outgrossed Titanic, domestically (it's already done so globally).

http://movies.ign.com/articles/106/1066296p1.html

I love the fact that Avatar fanatics are being referred to derisively as "Avatards" (Will Palin be upset about that too?)

I never cease to be amazed that gross receipts are still the barometer of a movie's popularity, even though the cost of movie tickets is continually being increased, making any talk of gross receipts  irrelevant. The only number that should matter is the number of tickets sold. I read last week that the average ticket price when Titanic was released was something like $4 and change, while now it's somewhere in the $7 range (both figures seem low to me, too). Add to that the fact that a lot of people are seeing the 3-D version of Avatar which tacks a couple more dollars onto the admission cost and it's likely that about half as many people have seen Avatar as saw Titanic. And yet the movie industry is rarely called out on this.

Just goes to show it really *is* all about the Benjamins (yeah!).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on February 09, 2010, 10:10:43 AM
The Secret of Kells

(That last one is a foreign film no one has seen or heard of)


Shoot - I hoped it was a retelling of the R. Kelly story.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 09, 2010, 10:51:47 AM
The Secret of Kells

(That last one is a foreign film no one has seen or heard of)


Shoot - I hoped it was a retelling of the R. Kelly story.

Well, that would hardly be a secret!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 09, 2010, 11:17:37 AM
The Secret of Kells

(That last one is a foreign film no one has seen or heard of)


Shoot - I hoped it was a retelling of the R. Kelly story.

Well, that would hardly be a secret!

besides, it's been done

(http://www.tripsmarter.com/travelcommunity/attachments/lounge/2183d1156264577-google-image-fun-08john_travolta_in_the_closet07.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 12, 2010, 08:42:41 AM
Especially for the princess: it's the Magnificent Montage of Marvelous Meryl!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRM8gHkpp20&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 12, 2010, 10:53:41 AM
So, just how bad is Valentine's Day?

The NY Times: "This might not be the Titanic of romantic comedies (it’s tugboat size), but it’s a disaster: cynically made, barely directed, terribly written."

NY Post: "Less funny or romantic than your average colonoscopy, this cringe-inducing bore provides dubious employment for four Oscar winners, two nominees and a raft of TV performers"

EW: "How you feel about Valentine's Day may depend on how you feel when someone really, really cute -- and someone you're really, really fond of -- gives you a nasty box of cheap chocolate on Valentine's Day, picked up at the corner Rite Aid and delivered with the price tag still attached."

So of course Mick LaSalle liked it!

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 15, 2010, 07:19:58 PM
Especially for the princess: it's the Magnificent Montage of Marvelous Meryl!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRM8gHkpp20&feature=player_embedded

Boy, you sure know the way to a girl's heart!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 15, 2010, 08:05:55 PM
Spend the weekend catching up with the last Oscar nominees I hadn't seen yet:

Crazy Heart:  Liked it a lot. Bridges is of course wonderful, and I thought the songs were terrific. Quite amazing considering it was made for CMT, whose previous film resume consists of a couple of crappy Toby Keith movies.

The White Ribbon: Wow -- very very... German. At least 2 critics described it as Village of the Damned if it had been directed by Ingmar Bergman. Stark and disturbing.

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus: Typical Terry Gilliam weirdness. And kind of a mess, but an entertaining one.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 16, 2010, 10:04:09 AM
The White Ribbon: Wow -- very very... German. At least 2 critics described it as Village of the Damned if it had been directed by Ingmar Bergman. Stark and disturbing.


That's a great description. :)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 16, 2010, 10:48:51 AM
The White Ribbon: Wow -- very very... German. At least 2 critics described it as Village of the Damned if it had been directed by Ingmar Bergman. Stark and disturbing.


That's a great description. :)

"You're thinking of... a brick wall!"

(http://exclamationmark.files.wordpress.com/2006/09/village-of-the-damned.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 17, 2010, 01:18:56 PM
without googling, identify this exchange (movie and actors, please):

WOMAN: "Well, since this may be your last night on Earth, let's go back to my room and make love."

MAN: "Oh, nice idea! I'll bring the soy sauce!"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on February 17, 2010, 02:53:04 PM
without googling, identify this exchange (movie and actors, please):

WOMAN: "Well, since this may be your last night on Earth, let's go back to my room and make love."

MAN: "Oh, nice idea! I'll bring the soy sauce!"


I don't know, but it reeks of Brendan Fraser.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on February 17, 2010, 03:55:01 PM
without googling, identify this exchange (movie and actors, please):

WOMAN: "Well, since this may be your last night on Earth, let's go back to my room and make love."

MAN: "Oh, nice idea! I'll bring the soy sauce!"


Gary Shandling in that movie he did?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on February 17, 2010, 05:30:04 PM
without googling, identify this exchange (movie and actors, please):

WOMAN: "Well, since this may be your last night on Earth, let's go back to my room and make love."

MAN: "Oh, nice idea! I'll bring the soy sauce!"

I knew I didn't know it, so I googled.  I haven't seen this movie; should I rent it?  It looks funny, and has lots of Russian lit jokes, which are right up my alley, being a former Russian Studies major.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 17, 2010, 08:51:35 PM
without googling, identify this exchange (movie and actors, please):

WOMAN: "Well, since this may be your last night on Earth, let's go back to my room and make love."

MAN: "Oh, nice idea! I'll bring the soy sauce!"

I knew I didn't know it, so I googled.  I haven't seen this movie; should I rent it?  It looks funny, and has lots of Russian lit jokes, which are right up my alley, being a former Russian Studies major.

If you're into Russian lit you'll love it; dunno how big a fan you are of the filmmaker but it's one of his good ones.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 18, 2010, 08:21:53 PM
OMFG! the "Flix" cable channel is showing A Boy and his Dog as I type.  Don Johnson's finest hour -- funny, it takes place in 2024, which semed a loooong way away when I first saw the movie in 1976.  A true cult classic.

(http://www.slyrecords.com/movieweek283.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 24, 2010, 08:51:43 AM
I loved that movie.  Based on an award-winning short story by Harlan Ellison.

Saw two flicks recently.  Wolfman was interesting at first, but ultimately dissappointing, despite Tony Hopkins' impressive virility.  I don't recommend you spend money to see it.  One small spoiler - in case I'm not the only one who's been hoping to see even more of Emily Blunt's body than in Charlie Wilson's War...not gonna happen.

Shutter Island was very impressive, and I plan to see it again.  I won't say anything about the plot, but unlike most movies these days, there's a *helluva* lot more to it than what you see in the trailer (in fact if you look at the cast list on IMDb or something, you'll notice a major character that isn't even glimpsed in the trailer - I hadn't so it was part of the surprise for me).  It felt a bit long 2/3 through, and if you're like me you might get a bit frustrated trying to anticipate the resolution.  But not only is the payoff very good, there's a very thought provoking denouement.  DiCaprio is awesome, and once the movie is over I bet you'll think back and appreciate just how amazing he was throuhgout.  Strangely though, it never felt like a Scorcese movie to me, unlike their previous two collaborations.  But that's takes nothing away from the movie.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 24, 2010, 09:34:45 AM
I loved that movie.  Based on an award-winning short story by Harlan Ellison.


"Farm! Immediately!"  I read that story in high school and was a HUGE Ellison fan. Was overjoyed when the movie came out and rushed to see it (it was in-and-out of theaters pretty quickly in '76). I think it woulda made a great "adult" cartoon in the Ralph Bakshi mold. Definitely ripe for a remake/re-imagining. Paging Shia LaBeouf!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 25, 2010, 08:34:45 AM
(http://www.awardsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/2009_the_last_station_0052.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 05, 2010, 09:49:45 PM
OMGWTF: Smurfs: The Movie -- starring NPH!

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=486273&gt1=28101
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 05, 2010, 10:12:36 PM
OMGWTF: Smurfs: The Movie -- starring NPH!

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=486273&gt1=28101

How magnificently asexual of him.   ::)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 05, 2010, 10:20:46 PM
OMGWTF: Smurfs: The Movie -- starring NPH!

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=486273&gt1=28101

How magnificently asexual of him.   ::)

certainly gives new meaning to "screwed, blue'd and tattooed".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 05, 2010, 10:35:02 PM
OMGWTF: Smurfs: The Movie -- starring NPH!

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=486273&gt1=28101

How magnificently asexual of him.   ::)

certainly gives new meaning to "screwed, blue'd and tattooed".

But is my point taken?  He might as well be starring in "The Contrabulous Frabtraption of Dr. Horatio Hufnagel."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 06, 2010, 10:33:51 AM
OMGWTF: Smurfs: The Movie -- starring NPH!

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=486273&gt1=28101

How magnificently asexual of him.   ::)

certainly gives new meaning to "screwed, blue'd and tattooed".

But is my point taken?  He might as well be starring in "The Contrabulous Frabtraption of Dr. Horatio Hufnagel."

Oh, I hear ya. I'd love him to play a GAY version of his Barney character from "HIMYM"; his point that an openly gay actor can credibly play a randy straight guy has been made. Considering that South Park parodied Avatar as "Dances With Smurfs" before Cameron's blockbuster had even opened, I gotta wonder if the pitch meeting revolved around the fact that "Americans love blue people more than ever!" LOL!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 06, 2010, 02:59:44 PM
OMGWTF: Smurfs: The Movie -- starring NPH!

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=486273&gt1=28101

How magnificently asexual of him.   ::)

certainly gives new meaning to "screwed, blue'd and tattooed".

But is my point taken?  He might as well be starring in "The Contrabulous Frabtraption of Dr. Horatio Hufnagel."

Oh, I hear ya. I'd love him to play a GAY version of his Barney character from "HIMYM"; his point that an openly gay actor can credibly play a randy straight guy has been made. Considering that South Park parodied Avatar as "Dances With Smurfs" before Cameron's blockbuster had even opened, I gotta wonder if the pitch meeting revolved around the fact that "Americans love blue people more than ever!" LOL!

What's a HIMYM?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 06, 2010, 04:45:07 PM
OMGWTF: Smurfs: The Movie -- starring NPH!

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=486273&gt1=28101

How magnificently asexual of him.   ::)

certainly gives new meaning to "screwed, blue'd and tattooed".

But is my point taken?  He might as well be starring in "The Contrabulous Frabtraption of Dr. Horatio Hufnagel."

Oh, I hear ya. I'd love him to play a GAY version of his Barney character from "HIMYM"; his point that an openly gay actor can credibly play a randy straight guy has been made. Considering that South Park parodied Avatar as "Dances With Smurfs" before Cameron's blockbuster had even opened, I gotta wonder if the pitch meeting revolved around the fact that "Americans love blue people more than ever!" LOL!

What's a HIMYM?

How I Met Your Mother. I know, I know: you're busy with cheese.  ;) 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 06, 2010, 05:07:01 PM
Saw the Oscar-nommed animated shorts last nite, which included A Matter of Loaf & Death, the latest delightful Wallace & Gromit adventure.  At one point we get a glimpse of Gromit's record collection

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2434/3751671188_b78d6c281d.jpg)

BTW, I intend to do my real-time snarky-comments thing during the Oscars tomorrow nite on Facebook; since we're all on FB I see no reason to double-post.  So join me there and we'll rip the Academy a new one!
Title: Re: Taking Woodstock
Post by: ggould on March 06, 2010, 10:37:19 PM
I just saw the Colbert/Ang Lee interview, and am intrigued more now about seeing Taking Woodstock.  How do others feel?

(http://images.fandango.com/r81.5.1/ImageRenderer/375/375/nox.jpg/76344/images/masterrepository/tms/76344/76344_aa.jpg)
Well, it sat in its Netflix sleeve here for a month or so, but we finally watched it last night.   I really enjoyed it.  The acid trip scene was pretty incredible, especially the point where they put an 8-track in and it's Love's "The Red Telephone," a truly trippy moment.  It was very sweet, and well done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ioxj73deq0
Title: Re: Taking Woodstock
Post by: RGMike on March 06, 2010, 10:44:57 PM

I just saw the Colbert/Ang Lee interview, and am intrigued more now about seeing Taking Woodstock.  How do others feel?

Well, it sat in its Netflix sleeve here for a month or so, but we finally watched it last night.   I really enjoyed it.  The acid trip scene was pretty incredible, especially the point where they put an 8-track in and it's Love's "The Red Telephone," a truly trippy moment.  It was very sweet, and well done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ioxj73deq0

Indeed, kinda underrated -- I think critics were expecting epic, sweeping and "important" when it was just sweet and intimate. Would make a good "Jews in the Sixties" double bill with A Serious Man (which is just out on DVD as well), actually.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 07, 2010, 07:43:16 PM
It's ghoulish, but I watched the Oscars' In Memorium sequence mostly to see who would be the biggest applause-getter.  I consider it a minor upset that Karl Malden was the crowd favorite.  I'd have bet on Michael Jackson.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 07, 2010, 08:29:36 PM
It's ghoulish, but I watched the Oscars' In Memorium sequence mostly to see who would be the biggest applause-getter.  I consider it a minor upset that Karl Malden was the crowd favorite.  I'd have bet on Michael Jackson.

I've said this on FB tonite, but the MJ reaction was oddly subdued. But then, he didn't make a whole lot of movies...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on March 07, 2010, 10:29:24 PM
It's ghoulish, but I watched the Oscars' In Memorium sequence mostly to see who would be the biggest applause-getter.  I consider it a minor upset that Karl Malden was the crowd favorite.  I'd have bet on Michael Jackson.

I've said this on FB tonite, but the MJ reaction was oddly subdued. But then, he didn't make a whole lot of movies...

right, I think he made one movie (The Wiz) and one movie-like video (Thriller).  No Farrah Fawcett either, but I don't think she made any released (aka Hollywood) movies.

For the record, I thought the dancing was really fun, but had nothing to do w the movies in question, or movies in general, for that matter.  How can break dancers and a dude doing the Robot mean anything to the movie "Up"?  it's like way to Pop and (Sher)Lock, Holmes!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 07, 2010, 10:57:49 PM

No Farrah Fawcett either, but I don't think she made any released (aka Hollywood) movies.

What about Logan's Run?

(http://www.racycostumes.com/racycostumesblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/logans_run.jpg)

I thought the Oscar's were better this year than in recent memory, kinda glad they dumped all the 'official' lifetime acheivement awards (not counting the one Jeff Bridges got) off to a different event.  Glad to see Hurt Locker win all its awards, but most especially (for me anyway) the editing award.

The biggest WTF I had was why John Hughes got like 5 minutes of special treatment.  I can think of all kinds of comparisons to people who deserved more - don't get me started on the 47 seconds Brando got - but how about just last year when Sidney Pollack died?  (yeah I know Brando & AMPAS hated each other, but still...)  Close second WTF was what Molly Ringwald looked like, and close third was what Macauley Culkin looked like.  So it was a complete clusterWTF in my view.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 08, 2010, 07:37:09 AM
The biggest WTF I had was why John Hughes got like 5 minutes of special treatment.  

it's called Zero-ing In On the Target Demo. If you were 13 when Breakfast Club came out, you're pushing 40 now.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on March 08, 2010, 09:32:21 AM
The biggest WTF I had was why John Hughes got like 5 minutes of special treatment.  

it's called Zero-ing In On the Target Demo. If you were 13 when Breakfast Club came out, you're pushing 40 now.

Urgh, don't remind me.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 08, 2010, 12:33:20 PM
The biggest WTF I had was why John Hughes got like 5 minutes of special treatment.  

it's called Zero-ing In On the Target Demo. If you were 13 when Breakfast Club came out, you're pushing 40 now.

Urgh, don't remind me.

Hee.  I'd also add that pre-Hughes, movies aimed *specifically* at teens were not really done by big studios, they were done by 2nd-stringers like American-International for the drive-in market (think Wild in the Streets and various "beach party"/surf flicks). But Hughes showed that teens were a demo to be reckoned with at the box-office.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 08, 2010, 05:08:34 PM
OK, so I just watched Precious last night, and am so glad Mo'nique won. I haven't seen the Bullock film yet, but her acceptance speech was golden (and, no, it wasn't just because she said The Streep was a good kisser - I already knew that). :)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 08, 2010, 08:31:15 PM
Just caught up with Shutter Island, and sorry to say I'm kinda with the naysayers.  I thought it was rather a long slog to get to a "twist" that wasn't exactly hard to see coming.  (Can you say "M Night Scorsese"?) A very well-acted and skillfully directed slog, but a slog nonetheless.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on March 08, 2010, 09:19:45 PM
Both sides' explanation of the Oscars' "Kanye Moment":

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/2010/03/07/music_by_prudence_burkett
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 08, 2010, 11:55:05 PM
Just finished watching last night's Oscars (we had plans to be out, so I tivo'd for later viewing). My one gripe is that it seemed like a lot of the winners of "lesser" awards got barely 30 seconds to say their piece, and then get hustled off while the orchestra drowns them out. Yet they dedicate what seemed to be a good 20+ minutes of the show to solicited testimonials about the best acting nominees from their peers. These were all touching, but I didn't feel they added to the program in the slightest, and some of that time could have been better distributed among a few of the other winners who got short shrift. For that matter, the whole show up until the last half hour seemed rushed--I always enjoyed the pace of the show, except in those years when it went well beyond the 4 hour mark.

All that aside, I was glad to see Jeff Bridges get recognized (note that no one cut off *his* acceptance speech--nor should they), and I guess now I gotta go see The Blahnd Sahd (as my wife's aunt, from No. Carolina) calls it. At least I know it's playing somewhere within 15 miles or so. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 12, 2010, 08:19:42 AM
Holy crap! I had NO IDEA this movie even existed -- thanx Larry Grogan for the tip -- but damn, I wanna see this. Ladies & gentlemen, Telstar: The Joe Meek Story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4UAgR_ds2w
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on March 12, 2010, 08:26:52 AM
folks, here's the Oscar-winning animated short Logorama.  It's fantastic!  I was lucky enough to see all the nom'd ani shorts  on a big screen the week before the Oscars, and this one stood out .. it deserved to win (NSFW language, wear headphones)

http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=11899
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 12, 2010, 09:16:57 AM
folks, here's the Oscar-winning animated short Logorama.  It's fantastic!  I was lucky enough to see all the nom'd ani shorts  on a big screen the week before the Oscars, and this one stood out .. it deserved to win (NSFW language, wear headphones)

http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=11899

Yeah, it's pretty funny. And as much as I love Wallace & Gromit, it was nice to see somebody else win for a change.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 12, 2010, 11:06:48 AM
Holy crap! I had NO IDEA this movie even existed -- thanx Larry Grogan for the tip -- but damn, I wanna see this. Ladies & gentlemen, Telstar: The Joe Meek Story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4UAgR_ds2w

and while we're on Brit musical biopics, he're the Ian Dury flick:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAentMF22m0&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 12, 2010, 06:30:24 PM
woo hoo! it's '50s sci-fi nite on TCM: Beast From 20,000 Fathoms just ended; It Came From Beneath the Sea (giant octopus attacks SF!) is about to start. And later, at 9:30, one of my all-time faves, the giant ants thriller Them!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 13, 2010, 09:54:42 PM
Saw the latest Tim Burton flick tonight, for lack of anything better in the nearby movie houses, and am, not surprisingly, nonplussed. Typical Burton fare--Visually interesting at times, but the story was weakweakWEAK, and at times I had to keep reminding myself that Alice's last name wasn't Baggins and this wasn't the distaff version of Lord of the Rings. If you must see it, you can wait for the DVD.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 13, 2010, 10:24:07 PM
Saw the latest Tim Burton flick tonight, for lack of anything better in the nearby movie houses, and am, not surprisingly, nonplussed. Typical Burton fare--Visually interesting at times, but the story was weakweakWEAK, and at times I had to keep reminding myself that Alice's last name wasn't Baggins and this wasn't the distaff version of Lord of the Rings. If you must see it, you can wait for the DVD.

Thanks. I've been on the fence about this one. It's at the Castro in 3-D, but when I saw Nine there in January, their digital projection system was all screwed up -- the color was awful, making everyone look like they had jaundice. But Alice is making a mint; looks like all those millions who saw 3-D for the first time with Avatar are now rushing out to see anything that's 3-D.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 13, 2010, 10:47:47 PM
Saw the latest Tim Burton flick tonight, for lack of anything better in the nearby movie houses, and am, not surprisingly, nonplussed. Typical Burton fare--Visually interesting at times, but the story was weakweakWEAK, and at times I had to keep reminding myself that Alice's last name wasn't Baggins and this wasn't the distaff version of Lord of the Rings. If you must see it, you can wait for the DVD.

Thanks. I've been on the fence about this one. It's at the Castro in 3-D, but when I saw Nine there in January, their digital projection system was all screwed up -- the color was awful, making everyone look like they had jaundice. But Alice is making a mint; looks like all those millions who saw 3-D for the first time with Avatar are now rushing out to see anything that's 3-D.

My personal take on 3D is that it's a lot of smoke and mirrors, and not worth the extra $ they're charging for 3D versions. I saw Avatar first in 2D and was pretty damn impressed by the visuals. A few weeks later we had some time to kill and nothing else of interest was playing within a 20 minute drive, so we went to a theater that had the 3D Avatar and saw it again. There were a few times when something would pop out of the screen, but generally they were small details, not huge fireballs coming right at me. And I really didn't feel I got that much more from the 3D than I did the first time around. Not to mention the glasses a distraction--they were uncomfortable and hurt my ears.

I think a lot of people are hesitant to say anything bad about it--who wants to say the emperor has no clothes? But seems like the movie industry is determined to push everything they can into the format, so we may be seeing it for awhile, until there's a significant number of 3D busts.  (Actually I can think of a few busts I'd like to see in 3D--paging ScarlettJo...;) )
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 14, 2010, 09:05:27 AM
I think a lot of people are hesitant to say anything bad about it--who wants to say the emperor has no clothes? But seems like the movie industry is determined to push everything they can into the format, so we may be seeing it for awhile, until there's a significant number of 3D busts.  (Actually I can think of a few busts I'd like to see in 3D--paging ScarlettJo...;) )

Porn is a natural for 3-D if anyone is willing to go there. Remember the last 3-D boomlet in the mid-'80s, with stuff like Jaws 3-D?  When that movie opened, it was full of those jump-out-at-you moments, and one critic said "this director has a future in porn!"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on March 14, 2010, 12:54:14 PM
Saw the latest Tim Burton flick tonight, for lack of anything better in the nearby movie houses, and am, not surprisingly, nonplussed. Typical Burton fare--Visually interesting at times, but the story was weakweakWEAK, and at times I had to keep reminding myself that Alice's last name wasn't Baggins and this wasn't the distaff version of Lord of the Rings. If you must see it, you can wait for the DVD.

Thanks. I've been on the fence about this one. It's at the Castro in 3-D, but when I saw Nine there in January, their digital projection system was all screwed up -- the color was awful, making everyone look like they had jaundice. But Alice is making a mint; looks like all those millions who saw 3-D for the first time with Avatar are now rushing out to see anything that's 3-D.

My personal take on 3D is that it's a lot of smoke and mirrors, and not worth the extra $ they're charging for 3D versions. I saw Avatar first in 2D and was pretty damn impressed by the visuals. A few weeks later we had some time to kill and nothing else of interest was playing within a 20 minute drive, so we went to a theater that had the 3D Avatar and saw it again. There were a few times when something would pop out of the screen, but generally they were small details, not huge fireballs coming right at me. And I really didn't feel I got that much more from the 3D than I did the first time around. Not to mention the glasses a distraction--they were uncomfortable and hurt my ears.

I think a lot of people are hesitant to say anything bad about it--who wants to say the emperor has no clothes? But seems like the movie industry is determined to push everything they can into the format, so we may be seeing it for awhile, until there's a significant number of 3D busts.  (Actually I can think of a few busts I'd like to see in 3D--paging ScarlettJo...;) )


yes, after the novelty of the 3D wears off, the movie still has to hold your interest on a storytelling level for the experience to be worthwhile.  (Maybe the lameness of Avatar's story line got in the way of you enjoying your second viewing...?)

I enjoy the 3D movies I've seen, but they cost a fair amount more: The Century Theater here (above Bloomingdale's) has two version of Alice in Wonderland 3d movie, on in "Real XD" 3D for $16 and one regular style for $14.. yikes...! 

I've also heard that 2D versions can be brighter -- in general.  so there's a trade off there.  Al in all, if the movie has a good story to tell, the 3D effect can help your experience.  But seeing that same good story in 2D will leave you with just as many good memories.  Hell, real life is in 3d for most binocular beings, so the movie ain't showing us we don't see every day.  I guess what I'm trying to say is, when I think of the moments that stick with me from a movie like Up, it's the touching sadness of the man losing his dear wife, the joy he and the kid found on their adventure, the comedic moments of the the talking dog.   But not so much the awesome 3D texturing of the mass of balloons, or an object poking my virtual eye out, for instance.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 15, 2010, 12:02:51 AM
Saw the last hour or so of Marley and Me this afternoon.  Damned thing made me cry.  But who doesn't cry when the dog dies?  They were terrible owners, the movie was bad that way, but I love dogs.  And of course it made me think of my passed dogs.  And cats.  Next one I have I hope it out lives me!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: radical347 on March 15, 2010, 10:36:40 AM
The Asian American Movie Festival is showing a bunch of movies this week.  This weekend I saw Like You Know It All, a Korean Film about a film director who nonchalantly burns bridges.  Tried to see the Indonesian thriller The Forbidden Door but wasn't able to make it; but it's showing in San Jose next weekend, may head down there for that.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 16, 2010, 06:50:01 AM
The new Death at a Funeral looks just awful:
http://www.myspace.com/trailerpark
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 16, 2010, 07:33:34 AM
The new Death at a Funeral looks just awful:
http://www.myspace.com/trailerpark

Indeed -- and I wasn't all that fond of the original. I went expecting highbrow British wit and there were a few too many poo-poo ca-ca jokes for my taste (but I thought the naked stoned guy was hilarious).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on March 16, 2010, 11:05:35 AM
The new Death at a Funeral looks just awful:
http://www.myspace.com/trailerpark

Indeed -- and I wasn't all that fond of the original. I went expecting highbrow British wit and there were a few too many poo-poo ca-ca jokes for my taste (but I thought the naked stoned guy was hilarious).

i loved the original. But Alan Tudyk (the naked guy) was the main reason, it's true.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 16, 2010, 12:22:37 PM
last nite I saw the new Roman Polanski film, Ghost Writer, with Ewan MacGregor and Pierce Brosnan. A really good, grown-up political thriller, with fine supporting work by Tom Wilkinson and a de-glammed Kim Cattrall.  Whatever you may think of Polanski's legal issues (and i'm not exactly his biggest defender in that dept.) it's clear he can still make quality flicks.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 16, 2010, 01:22:37 PM
Anyone here with school-age kids familiar with the award-winning book The Invention of Hugo Cabret? apparently it's going to be Scorsese's next film.

(http://www.mindfields.in/MF04/Invention_of_Hugo_Cabret.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on March 16, 2010, 01:58:30 PM
Stop the Teal and Orange Madness (http://theabyssgazes.blogspot.com/2010/03/teal-and-orange-hollywood-please-stop.html).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 16, 2010, 02:11:29 PM
Stop the Teal and Orange Madness (http://theabyssgazes.blogspot.com/2010/03/teal-and-orange-hollywood-please-stop.html).

hahaha! And he doesn't even mention
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2btO2nKpQl4/S0Vsi6w35BI/AAAAAAAADAU/U-T5TgJl6lU/s400/avatar_movie_poster.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 17, 2010, 09:21:10 AM
Andy "Gollum" Serkis, fresh from playing Ian Dury, now tackles... Albert Einstein?

http://www.awardsdaily.com/?p=20600

and I can't wait to see Al Pacino as Jack Kevorkian!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on March 18, 2010, 08:30:30 PM
Andy "Gollum" Serkis, fresh from playing Ian Dury, now tackles... Albert Einstein?

http://www.awardsdaily.com/?p=20600

and I can't wait to see Al Pacino as Jack Kevorkian!
This really got my interest, but it seems like something in the past, and not available to rent.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on March 18, 2010, 10:14:55 PM
Mick LaSalle's review of new film "The Runaways" with Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as her bandmate Cherie Currie.  I'm interested to see it:
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/18/MOOE1CG3N1.DTL
Their song "Cherry Bomb" live in Japan 1977:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBDMthZ0c80&feature=player_embedded
(http://blogs.sun.com/docteger/resource/Runaways1976.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on March 18, 2010, 10:47:35 PM
Neil Young Trunk Show, a concert film directed by Jonathan Demme, featuring footage from Neil's 2007 theater tour, will be screening for one week only starting Friday 3/19 at theaters listed in here (and watch the one-minute trailer): http://www.trunkshowmovie.com/?trailer
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 19, 2010, 07:27:19 AM
Mick LaSalle's review of new film "The Runaways" with Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as her bandmate Cherie Currie.  I'm interested to see it:
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/18/MOOE1CG3N1.DTL


No surprise Mick liked it; he's been drooling over this movie on his blog for weeks.  I imagine a dorky young Mick in 1976 licking their LP covers.

ETA: They just reviewed it on KFOG -- Webster saw it instead of Renee, who normally does movie stuff. He liked it. And then they played "Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry Bomb".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on March 21, 2010, 03:38:54 PM
Here's the trailer for "Hot Tub Time Machine," a new comedy with John Cusack & Chevy Chase.  Four friends go back in time, find themselves at a ski resort in 1986.  Goofy fun, could be a hit a la "The Hangover": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhau19jNT2w&feature=related
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 23, 2010, 07:47:08 AM
Saw the latest Tim Burton flick tonight, for lack of anything better in the nearby movie houses, and am, not surprisingly, nonplussed. Typical Burton fare--Visually interesting at times, but the story was weakweakWEAK, and at times I had to keep reminding myself that Alice's last name wasn't Baggins and this wasn't the distaff version of Lord of the Rings. If you must see it, you can wait for the DVD.

Thanks. I've been on the fence about this one. It's at the Castro in 3-D, but when I saw Nine there in January, their digital projection system was all screwed up -- the color was awful, making everyone look like they had jaundice. But Alice is making a mint; looks like all those millions who saw 3-D for the first time with Avatar are now rushing out to see anything that's 3-D.

Well, I gave in and saw AinW last nite. And visually is it quite spectacular IMHO, but totally agree on the story. A hodgepodge of the 2 Alice books, plus Jabberwocky plus enuf "female empowerment" for a season's worth of Dora the Explorer cartoons -- "Girls can do anything! Woo Hoo!" It's as if Disney said "we liked the dragon at the end of Enchanted -- give us more dragons!"  Glad I saw it at the Castro (they fixed their digital problems) for 10 bucks instead of at Century for 16.

Baffled why it's making *SO* much money; I'd've thought word-of-mouth would've brought it down by now. Be interesting to see how the next two 3-D flicks do. How to Train Your Dragon looks decent, but the buzz on Clash of the Titans is that it sucked when it was 2-D and the added-at-the-last-minute 3-D is the cheap kind ("The Diet Coke of 3-D" as James Cameron dismissively calls it).

BTW, the Castro is doing a week of movies with music by Lalo Schifrin -- including Bullitt, Dirty Harry, and one of my all-time faves: The President's Analyst.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 26, 2010, 08:12:47 AM
Here's the trailer for "Hot Tub Time Machine," a new comedy with John Cusack & Chevy Chase.  Four friends go back in time, find themselves at a ski resort in 1986.  Goofy fun, could be a hit a la "The Hangover": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhau19jNT2w&feature=related

getting surprisingly good reviews, as in this rave from the NYT:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/movies/26hottub.html?ref=movies
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 26, 2010, 10:28:05 AM
Here's the trailer for "Hot Tub Time Machine," a new comedy with John Cusack & Chevy Chase.  Four friends go back in time, find themselves at a ski resort in 1986.  Goofy fun, could be a hit a la "The Hangover": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhau19jNT2w&feature=related

getting surprisingly good reviews, as in this rave from the NYT:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/movies/26hottub.html?ref=movies

I think Wayback nailed it with his comparison with The Hangover--it could well be this year's "check your taste at the door, we have no shame" laugh-your-ass-off hit, in the model of the Farrelly Bros. and Judd Apatow.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 26, 2010, 02:35:18 PM
Ticket prices going up this weekend -- in some cases by a lot, mostly for 3-D (gee, anybody surprised?)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703312504575142143922186532.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 28, 2010, 11:08:17 AM
Here's the trailer for "Hot Tub Time Machine," a new comedy with John Cusack & Chevy Chase.  Four friends go back in time, find themselves at a ski resort in 1986.  Goofy fun, could be a hit a la "The Hangover": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhau19jNT2w&feature=related

getting surprisingly good reviews, as in this rave from the NYT:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/movies/26hottub.html?ref=movies

I think Wayback nailed it with his comparison with The Hangover--it could well be this year's "check your taste at the door, we have no shame" laugh-your-ass-off hit, in the model of the Farrelly Bros. and Judd Apatow.

Looks like it had a disappointing box-office take this weekend -- of course, How to Train Your Dragon was HUGE.  And speaking of, anyone see the front page of USA Today on Friday? the inaccurately credited Dragon to Pixar. Dreamworks must be pissed.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 29, 2010, 08:08:17 PM
Mick LaSalle's review of new film "The Runaways" with Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as her bandmate Cherie Currie.  I'm interested to see it:
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/18/MOOE1CG3N1.DTL


No surprise Mick liked it; he's been drooling over this movie on his blog for weeks.  I imagine a dorky young Mick in 1976 licking their LP covers.

ETA: They just reviewed it on KFOG -- Webster saw it instead of Renee, who normally does movie stuff. He liked it. And then they played "Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry Bomb".

Just came from seeing it -- solidly entertaining, if not exactly great art. K-Stew (as the fanboys call her) is quite good as JJ. Hiller sndtk, obviously. And Michael Shannon is a creepily good Kim Fowley -- damn, I'd've loved to be a fly on the wall when he was producing that Helen Reddy LP. The mind reels.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: SFGuy on March 30, 2010, 01:45:03 AM
Here's the trailer for "Hot Tub Time Machine," a new comedy with John Cusack & Chevy Chase.  Four friends go back in time, find themselves at a ski resort in 1986.  Goofy fun, could be a hit a la "The Hangover": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhau19jNT2w&feature=related

getting surprisingly good reviews, as in this rave from the NYT:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/movies/26hottub.html?ref=movies

I think Wayback nailed it with his comparison with The Hangover--it could well be this year's "check your taste at the door, we have no shame" laugh-your-ass-off hit, in the model of the Farrelly Bros. and Judd Apatow.

Both reviewers on the show At the Movies recommended people to "See It".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 31, 2010, 08:26:09 AM
Lord knows I don't give Mick LaSalle credit for much, but his take-down of Miley Cyrus is pretty hilarious. He says she's "ghastly" and "repellent", and "either has no cinematic charm or does one of the best jobs of suppressing it in living memory." There was also a line in the review when it appeared last night in which (I swear) he said she looked like Mickey Rooney in a wig, but that appears to have been deleted!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/31/DDSE1CMT89.DTL


ETA: my bad -- the "Mickey Rooney in a wig" quote (pretty nasty, you gotta admit) was from the Village Voice (I read both reviews back-to-back last nite)

http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-03-30/film/hannah-montana-upstaged-by-sea-turtles-in-the-last-song/

(edited to fix the VV link.-urth)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 01, 2010, 08:02:46 AM
Here's the trailer for "Hot Tub Time Machine," a new comedy with John Cusack & Chevy Chase.  Four friends go back in time, find themselves at a ski resort in 1986.  Goofy fun, could be a hit a la "The Hangover": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhau19jNT2w&feature=related

getting surprisingly good reviews, as in this rave from the NYT:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/movies/26hottub.html?ref=movies

I think Wayback nailed it with his comparison with The Hangover--it could well be this year's "check your taste at the door, we have no shame" laugh-your-ass-off hit, in the model of the Farrelly Bros. and Judd Apatow.

Both reviewers on the show At the Movies recommended people to "See It".

Saw HTTM last nite. It's... cheezily entertaining. I laughed a lot, some of the gags are VERY funny. But even for a movie that winkingly revels in its own cheeziness, it's rather sloppy. From the (deliberately?) ugly cinematography (it looks like something Cannon or New World Pictures might've released in '86 as a cheap Back to the Future rip-off) to my long-standing pet peeve: songs on the sndtk that didn't yet exist in the film's time-frame. And Chevy Chase is flat-out awful. So the critics who've raved are overselling it, IMHO. It'll run endlessly on Comedy Central a year from now.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 06, 2010, 08:33:37 PM
Not quite sure how I feel about this: they're doing a remake of Arthur, the Dudley Moore/John Gielgud/Liza Minnelli classic.  Russell Brand is playing Arthur, and they're talking about giving Gielgud's butler a sex change and having Meryl Streep play the part!  Screenplay by one of Sacha Baron Cohen's collaborators and it's being directed by the guy behind the very funny sitcom Modern Family. Hrm.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 08, 2010, 09:49:37 AM
Saw How to Train Your Dragon last nite and thought it was pretty wonderful. Nicely drawn, the 3-D was worth the surcharge (Metreon is getting 16 bucks now for regular, i.e., non-IMAX, 3-D) and it's def the most imaginitive 'toon from DreamWorks since the first Shrek.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 09, 2010, 10:45:08 AM
Hot H'wood gossip has Robert Pattinson of Twilight fame being Courtney Love's top choice to play Kurt C in the biopic she's producing.  And to play her part, Courtney wants... Scarlett Jo.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 13, 2010, 08:42:15 AM
Who, exactly, did Paul DePodesta piss off? In the Moneyball movie, Billy Beane is being played by Brad Pitt, but the handsome, slim DePodesta

(http://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/img/depodesta3.jpg)

Beane's former right-hand-man and now Dodgers GM is played by... Jonah Hill??

(http://www.clevver.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/jonah_hill.jpg)

What. The. FUCK??

ETA: the part was originally supposed to be played (in the Steven Soderbergh version that went belly-up) by Demitri Martin.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on April 13, 2010, 10:18:23 AM
Who, exactly, did Paul DePodesta piss off? In the Moneyball movie, Billy Beane is being played by Brad Pitt, but the handsome, slim DePodesta



Beane's former right-hand-man and now Dodgers GM is played by... Jonah Hill??



DePodesta was canned by the Dodgers a number of years ago. Ned Coletti (former Giants assistant GM) is now their GM.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 13, 2010, 10:21:29 AM
Who, exactly, did Paul DePodesta piss off? In the Moneyball movie, Billy Beane is being played by Brad Pitt, but the handsome, slim DePodesta



Beane's former right-hand-man and now Dodgers GM is played by... Jonah Hill??



DePodesta was canned by the Dodgers a number of years ago. Ned Coletti (former Giants assistant GM) is now their GM.

oops. He's still slim, tho'...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 16, 2010, 06:24:06 PM
Wackyness Alert! It's Zucker/Abrams/Zucker nite on TCM: Naked Gun is just ending, Top Secret starts at 6:30 and it will be followed by Airplane! Good times.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 17, 2010, 08:40:47 PM
Oh. My. GAWD this is too hilarious: a docu about Rush is playing at the Tribeca Film Fest; Hollywood-Elsewhere's curmudgeon-in-residence Jeff Wells posted a take-down on that blog and you've gotta read it (whether you hate Rush or love them) -- read the comments too.

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2010/04/agonies_of_rush.php

Quote
Their music is shrill, excruciating, repellent, un-catchy, and about as un-melodically melodic as anything I've ever heard. They make you want to leave the room and run as fast and far as you can.

Lead singer and bassist Geddy Lee's high-pitched voice, especially, is the demon wail of an epileptic cat with cancer -- a banshee on helium. And Rush's lyrics strike me (and would strike anyone) as poetic sci-fi fantasy-visionary babbledygook glop-slop. Plus they've been into Ayn Rand and call/have called themselves Libertarians? Which means what...they have a soft spot for this or that aspect of conservatism on top of everything else?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 19, 2010, 08:21:07 PM
Just came from seeing Kick-Ass -- really enjoyed it. Not for the squeamish... or Roger Ebert. Hit Girl RAWKS!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on April 19, 2010, 10:33:03 PM
Oh. My. GAWD this is too hilarious: a docu about Rush is playing at the Tribeca Film Fest; Hollywood-Elsewhere's curmudgeon-in-residence Jeff Wells posted a take-down on that blog and you've gotta read it (whether you hate Rush or love them) -- read the comments too.

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2010/04/agonies_of_rush.php

Quote
Their music is shrill, excruciating, repellent, un-catchy, and about as un-melodically melodic as anything I've ever heard. They make you want to leave the room and run as fast and far as you can.

Lead singer and bassist Geddy Lee's high-pitched voice, especially, is the demon wail of an epileptic cat with cancer -- a banshee on helium. And Rush's lyrics strike me (and would strike anyone) as poetic sci-fi fantasy-visionary babbledygook glop-slop. Plus they've been into Ayn Rand and call/have called themselves Libertarians? Which means what...they have a soft spot for this or that aspect of conservatism on top of everything else?

That is SO racist against Canadians!  Obama should legislate issue an executive order against this injustice!

If you're now a Rush fan, chances are you have been for a long time -- like 1981 or before --  and it you're not a Rush fan by now, you never will be.     I can live with that.  :)

" Geddy Lee's high-pitched voice ... is the demon wail of an epileptic cat with cancer."   -- now THAT'S writing Mark Morford would be proud to call his own!

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 23, 2010, 09:23:53 AM
For those with Comcast digital (and other cable systems with On-Demand options): some of the films currently showing at the Tribeca Film Fest are available for $6.99 in your living room. And one of the films avaialble is that Ian Dury biopic discussed here recently, Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll. I am so there!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 14, 2010, 08:32:50 AM
Last nite on cable I caught part of Romance & Cigarettes, the John Turturro-directed "musical" from a few years ago --  a blue-collar domestic dramedy in which the actors suddenly break into song: James Gandolfini covering Engelbert's "Lonely Is a Man Without Love"; Christopher Walken doing TJ's "Delilah", and so on.  Something of a disjointed mess, but enjoyable in fits and starts.

And this weekend (since the Sharks game is Sunday at noon and not Sat nite as I was expecting) I'll finally see the Ian Dury biopic.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 15, 2010, 07:25:48 PM
Woody alert: TCM is showing the great What's Up, Tiger Lily? tonite at 11pm. Always worth watching -- and I've seen it many times.

"Meet me in the bedroom in five minutes... and bring a cattle prod."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on May 18, 2010, 07:59:54 AM
Woody alert: TCM is showing the great What's Up, Tiger Lily? tonite at 11pm. Always worth watching -- and I've seen it many times.

"Meet me in the bedroom in five minutes... and bring a cattle prod."

TANC: I just downloaded this film after a friend was talking about it on Sunday. Planning to watch it tonight.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 18, 2010, 08:08:00 AM
Woody alert: TCM is showing the great What's Up, Tiger Lily? tonite at 11pm. Always worth watching -- and I've seen it many times.

"Meet me in the bedroom in five minutes... and bring a cattle prod."

TANC: I just downloaded this film after a friend was talking about it on Sunday. Planning to watch it tonight.

Hope you like!  "name 3 presidents..."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on May 18, 2010, 03:06:10 PM
Woody alert: TCM is showing the great What's Up, Tiger Lily? tonite at 11pm. Always worth watching -- and I've seen it many times.

"Meet me in the bedroom in five minutes... and bring a cattle prod."

TANC: I just downloaded this film after a friend was talking about it on Sunday. Planning to watch it tonight.

Hope you like!  "name 3 presidents..."

"Roosevelt, McKinley...Lincoln?"

Awesome film!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on May 21, 2010, 12:34:26 PM
Woody alert: TCM is showing the great What's Up, Tiger Lily? tonite at 11pm. Always worth watching -- and I've seen it many times.

"Meet me in the bedroom in five minutes... and bring a cattle prod."

TANC: I just downloaded this film after a friend was talking about it on Sunday. Planning to watch it tonight.

Hope you like!  "name 3 presidents..."

"Roosevelt, McKinley...Lincoln?"

Awesome film!


I heard it's funny ...  and I heard Woody disowned it, saying it was a mistake to use someone else's art in that way.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 25, 2010, 07:40:27 AM
NY Magazine's David Edelstein on SATC2:

Quote
The most depressing thing about Sex and the City 2 is that it seems to justify every nasty thing said and written about the series and first feature film. The SATC dynamic has always been fragile, but at its most affecting you could see beyond the costumes and artifice and feel the characters fighting for validation -- and connecting with one another in their struggle. Now there's nothing but surface. And what a surface -- the film is an epic eyesore. It's as if they set out to make a movie that said, 'You're right! We are hideous!'

The thinking behind the movie (written and directed by Michael Patrick King) is undisguised. Let's start with an over-the-top gay wedding! Then we'll send the girls to Abu Dhabi so they can rile up the fundamentalists with their sexuality! Then they'll make fun of women in niqab ('Certainly cuts down on the Botox bill!') but later show (campy) feminist solidarity! Won't they look great swishing around the desert being waited on by smooth young Arab men?

Amy Odell, of nymag.com's The Cut, accompanied me to the screening and was kind enough to whisper that a particular dress of Carrie's cost 50 grand. But what's the point of spending that much when the cinematographer, John Thomas, lights Sarah Jessica Parker to bring out the leatheriness of her skin? How did he manage to mummify the lovely Cynthia Nixon? Kim Cattrall, fresh off her witty, subtle work in The Ghost Writer, is costumed to look like a cross between (late) Mae West and (dead) Bea Arthur. Kristin Davis gets by (just) pulling little-girl faces, probably for the last time. For all the sniggery double entendres, virtually all of Sex and the City 2 is a pale shade of vanilla.

Yeesh.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 26, 2010, 07:46:05 AM
An even nastier SATC2 pan from Roger Ebert:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100525/REVIEWS/100529986
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 26, 2010, 10:51:15 AM
An even nastier SATC2 pan from Roger Ebert:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100525/REVIEWS/100529986

and yet another great quote from the NY Post:

"Despite its Lawrence of Arabia length, this film — the Sexless and the Self-Pitying — is as unfunny and shapeless as another famed desert epic. Just think of it as Bitchtar.”  When your movie makes the uber-hetero Kyle Smith channel Rex Reed, you are in serious trouble...

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 29, 2010, 10:20:19 PM
Interesting evening: Watched the HBO movie The Special Relationship, with Dennis Quaid as Bill Clinton, Hope Davis as Hillary and Michael Sheen playing Tony Blair for the 17th time (I keed, I keed!). Quite well-done.

But then I caught Paul Schrader's Blue Collar from 1978 -- which shows up on many "underrated gems of the '70s" lists. Wow. I'd managed to miss it until tonite. Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel and Yaphet Kotto as Detroit auto workers dealing with corrupt union officals. Pryor was especially great -- maybe the best "serious" perf I've ever seen him give. Worth a rental if you've never seen it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 30, 2010, 08:51:48 PM
Finally caught up with Iron Man 2 today. Very entertaining. As sequels go, not quite in the Spiderman 2 league, but Downey is wonderful yet again. I found Mickey Rourke more silly than scary, but Sam Rockwell was an amusing sleazeball and I loved that the big finale takes place in Flushing Meadow Park, of all places. All this, and ScarJo's cleavage too.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 01, 2010, 09:27:26 AM
Movie Title of the Week: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead -- about a bunch of vampires putting on an off-B'way production of Hamlet. Seriously.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on June 01, 2010, 11:11:20 AM
Movie Title of the Week: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead -- about a bunch of vampires putting on an off-B'way production of Hamlet. Seriously.

wow.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 01, 2010, 11:51:00 AM
Movie Title of the Week: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead -- about a bunch of vampires putting on an off-B'way production of Hamlet. Seriously.

a case were one stupid pun sets a whole series of events in motion.  (you KNOW they came up w that title, and it drove the whole project...)  It's like finding a valve for a 74 Chevy 400 V8 and then deciding to build a car around it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 01, 2010, 08:52:42 PM
Movie Title of the Week: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead -- about a bunch of vampires putting on an off-B'way production of Hamlet. Seriously.

a case were one stupid pun sets a whole series of events in motion.  (you KNOW they came up w that title, and it drove the whole project...)  It's like finding a valve for a 74 Chevy 400 V8 and then deciding to build a car around it.

I assumed the guy who wrote Pride and Prejudice and Zombies did the same thing.  (I suugested on FB this weekend that the next SATC sequel should be Sex & the City & Zombies.)

I just watched that HBO docu about John Cazale -- just wonderful. Only 40 minutes and I wanted it to be twice as long. I could listen to Pacino, Buscemi, The Streep et al talk all night about acting.  And I want to watch all five of those movies again, esp Dog Day Afternoon, which (unlike, say, the Godfathers), I haven't seen in years.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 02, 2010, 08:55:32 PM
OMGWTF: totally unexpected, but Antichrist, the VERY controversial  Lars von Trier film from last year (in which Charlotte Gainsbourg cuts off Willem Dafoe's, er, little Willem) is showing on IFC in 5 minutes.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on June 03, 2010, 09:16:22 PM
Friday, June 4 at 8PM, the 1966 Lynn Redgrave film Georgy Girl is at the Paramount Theatre Oakland: http://www.paramounttheatre.com/schedule.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 03, 2010, 09:22:42 PM
Friday, June 4 at 8PM, the 1966 Lynn Redgrave film Georgy Girl is at the Paramount Theatre Oakland: http://www.paramounttheatre.com/schedule.html

very cool.  and check out the lineup for their "70’s SOUL JAM": The Stylistics, Chi Lites, Bloodstone, Ray Goodman & Brown, Harold Melvin’s Bluenotes, and New Birth. Hosted by Jimmie “JJ” Walker (!)  Dy-no-MIIIIIIITE!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on June 04, 2010, 12:04:51 AM
Friday, June 4 at 8PM, the 1966 Lynn Redgrave film Georgy Girl is at the Paramount Theatre Oakland: http://www.paramounttheatre.com/schedule.html

very cool.  and check out the lineup for their "70’s SOUL JAM": The Stylistics, Chi Lites, Bloodstone, Ray Goodman & Brown, Harold Melvin’s Bluenotes, and New Birth. Hosted by Jimmie “JJ” Walker (!)  Dy-no-MIIIIIIITE!
KISS fm has been giving away 70's Soul Jam for what seems like forever and a day. I went to the Paramount last month and thought it was a lovely theatre.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 05, 2010, 10:19:13 PM
Just watched Butch Cassidy, which I hadn't seen in many years. 2 points of interest: Casey Kasem had told a story some weeks ago about how BJ Thomas didn't really like "Raindrops Keep Falling..." and was sick the day he recorded the track for the film -- cold, sore throat -- and his vocal indeed sounds very rough, which I didn't remember at all.  And in the scene where they're at the brothel, the hooker with long blonde hair that Butch hooks up with was none other than a young Cloris Leachman!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 06, 2010, 10:37:04 AM
OMGWTF: totally unexpected, but Antichrist, the VERY controversial  Lars von Trier film from last year (in which Charlotte Gainsbourg cuts off Willem Dafoe's, er, little Willem) is showing on IFC in 5 minutes.

meant to mention that when I watched this the other nite, I kept noticing that Charlotte Gainsbourg looks a lot like Tim Lincecum

(http://www.944.com/articles/images/944-writer-david-breitman-sits-down-with-nl-cy-young-winner-tim-lincecum-6.jpg)(http://www.papermag.com/modules/archive/uploaded_images/1856_head_header.jpg)

She'd also make a great Patti Smith, if someone wants to do a biopic.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on June 06, 2010, 01:11:28 PM
She'd also make a great Patti Smith, if someone wants to do a biopic.

And she sings, too.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 08, 2010, 12:21:55 PM
OMGWTF: totally unexpected, but Antichrist, the VERY controversial  Lars von Trier film from last year (in which Charlotte Gainsbourg cuts off Willem Dafoe's, er, little Willem) is showing on IFC in 5 minutes.

meant to mention that when I watched this the other nite, I kept noticing that Charlotte Gainsbourg looks a lot like Tim Lincecum

(http://www.944.com/articles/images/944-writer-david-breitman-sits-down-with-nl-cy-young-winner-tim-lincecum-6.jpg)(http://www.papermag.com/modules/archive/uploaded_images/1856_head_header.jpg)

She'd also make a great Patti Smith, if someone wants to do a biopic.

Holy Flaming Mutha -- TANC-of-the-Month, unless Tinka Cat mentioned the above post to the Chron's Leah Garchik:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/08/DDUF1DONOE.DTL
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 08, 2010, 01:52:28 PM
OMGWTF: totally unexpected, but Antichrist, the VERY controversial  Lars von Trier film from last year (in which Charlotte Gainsbourg cuts off Willem Dafoe's, er, little Willem) is showing on IFC in 5 minutes.

meant to mention that when I watched this the other nite, I kept noticing that Charlotte Gainsbourg looks a lot like Tim Lincecum

She'd also make a great Patti Smith, if someone wants to do a biopic.

Holy Flaming Mutha -- TANC-of-the-Month, unless Tinka Cat mentioned the above post to the Chron's Leah Garchik:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/08/DDUF1DONOE.DTL

No, I didn't mention it to her, she must have come up  that herself-- for reals.   She would have sourced it properly if she heard it from somewhere else.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 08, 2010, 02:11:13 PM
OMGWTF: totally unexpected, but Antichrist, the VERY controversial  Lars von Trier film from last year (in which Charlotte Gainsbourg cuts off Willem Dafoe's, er, little Willem) is showing on IFC in 5 minutes.

meant to mention that when I watched this the other nite, I kept noticing that Charlotte Gainsbourg looks a lot like Tim Lincecum

She'd also make a great Patti Smith, if someone wants to do a biopic.

Holy Flaming Mutha -- TANC-of-the-Month, unless Tinka Cat mentioned the above post to the Chron's Leah Garchik:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/08/DDUF1DONOE.DTL

No, I didn't mention it to her, she must have come up  that herself-- for reals.   She would have sourced it properly if she heard it from somewhere else.

Wow. I'm thinking maybe she watched the same movie (Antichrist) that I did last week. Gainsbourg really looks like Timmy L in that flick; but I had to hunt for a pic in which the resemblance is strong because when she's glammed up (make-up, hair and all) it's less apparent.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 10, 2010, 02:28:01 PM
I've no desire to the the A-Team movie (and the reviews aren't helping either) but I just now noticed that they've got the guy from District 9 (Sharlto Copley) playing Murdock -- Good for him gettin' a big paycheck.

Oh and of course Liam Neeson plays George Peppard, er, Hannibal, and Bradley Cooper is Face (tho' from the trailer it looks like they shoulda re-named his character Chest :) ).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on June 10, 2010, 10:27:39 PM
Just saw "Get Him to the Greek."  We laughed a great deal.  It was too crude for many old fogeys our age, or so we think.  I'm sure most of you young'uns will dig it!

(http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/get_him_to_the_greek_01-535x355.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: SFGuy on June 11, 2010, 01:26:57 AM
I've no desire to the the A-Team movie (and the reviews aren't helping either) but I just now noticed that they've got the guy from District 9 (Sharlto Copley) playing Murdock -- Good for him gettin' a big paycheck.

Oh and of course Liam Neeson plays George Peppard, er, Hannibal, and Bradley Cooper is Face (tho' from the trailer it looks like they shoulda re-named his character Chest :) ).

Mick LaSalle liked it. He loved "Get Him to the Greek".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on June 11, 2010, 02:05:52 AM
It was originally written in 1961 as a Tony Curtis vehicle: "Get Him a Greek."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 11, 2010, 07:21:58 AM
I've no desire to the the A-Team movie (and the reviews aren't helping either) but I just now noticed that they've got the guy from District 9 (Sharlto Copley) playing Murdock -- Good for him gettin' a big paycheck.

Oh and of course Liam Neeson plays George Peppard, er, Hannibal, and Bradley Cooper is Face (tho' from the trailer it looks like they shoulda re-named his character Chest :) ).

Mick LaSalle liked it. He loved "Get Him to the Greek".

I saw GHTTG and thought it was pretty funny, if at the lesser end of the Judd Apatow oeuvre.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 12, 2010, 11:05:13 AM
It's SF nite on Turner Classic Movies:

5:00 PM San Francisco (1936) 
7:00 PM Flower Drum Song (1961) 
9:30 PM Bullitt (1968) 
11:30 PM Foul Play (1978) 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 15, 2010, 07:48:27 AM
Saw a good little flick last nite, Solitary Man. Michael Douglas in Wonder Boys-ish mode, as a washed-up car dealer trying to get his life together.  Early in the film, Douglas' character accompanies his girlfriend's daughter on a weekend trip to Boston to visit his alma mater -- she's trying to get accepted there and he knows the dean. As they strolled around the campus of the fictional "Charles College" I suddenly realized it was *my* alma mater, Fordham U!  In da Bronx, far from Beantown.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 16, 2010, 09:28:53 AM
OMGWTF-of-the-Day: Dunno if you remember the actor Stephen Geoffreys, of '80s flicks like Heaven Help Us, 976-EVIL and the immortal Fright Night (which is being remade by Disney!).

(http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/object3/633/30/n139802838361_1429.jpg)

turns out his career stalled after he turned down the Fright Night sequel and he ended up doing gay porn!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Geoffreys
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on June 17, 2010, 06:16:11 PM
Vatican endorses "Blues Brothers" movie:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100617/people_nm/us_bluesbrothers_1
Why now?  I know they were on a mission from God, to get the band back together to raise funds for an orphanage, and there's that amazing gospel service segment, and they battle neo-Nazis and destroy a shopping mall, but why now?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 17, 2010, 09:33:51 PM
Not quite sure how I feel about this: they're doing a remake of Arthur, the Dudley Moore/John Gielgud/Liza Minnelli classic.  Russell Brand is playing Arthur, and they're talking about giving Gielgud's butler a sex change and having Meryl Streep play the part!  Screenplay by one of Sacha Baron Cohen's collaborators and it's being directed by the guy behind the very funny sitcom Modern Family. Hrm.

Arthur Update: No Streep, but Helen Mirren will be playing the John Gielgud role instead (I actually like that casting better) as a "nanny" rather than a butler. Jennifer Garner in the Liza Minnelli part, and Nick Nolte as her father.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 18, 2010, 08:58:23 AM
And speaking of remakes: Taylor Lautner wants to play the Matthew Modine role in a remake of Vision Quest. ::)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 24, 2010, 07:54:52 AM
Saw Toy Story 3 last nite and it's as wonderful as you've heard.  This has been a  crappy summer for movies so far; last summer there were 5 or 6 movies I was looking forward to at the outset and this year there were only two: TS3 and Inception. So I'm happy to report TS3 lived up to the hype. You'll laugh! You'll cry!

OTOH, unlike Avatar or How to Train Your Dragon, you really don't need the 3-D (or the extra $5 surcharge) for Toy Story.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on June 24, 2010, 09:49:24 AM
Saw Toy Story 3 last nite and it's as wonderful as you've heard.  This has been a  crappy summer for movies so far; last summer there were 5 or 6 movies I was looking forward to at the outset and this year there were only two: TS3 and Inception. So I'm happy to report TS3 lived up to the hype. You'll laugh! You'll cry!

OTOH, unlike Avatar or How to Train Your Dragon, you really don't need the 3-D (or the extra $5 surcharge) for Toy Story.
I will def see it. Did you see Karate Kid? Crappy or should check it out? My daughter wants A-Team and Grown Ups and I don't know if they are age appropriate.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 24, 2010, 09:53:28 AM
Saw Toy Story 3 last nite and it's as wonderful as you've heard.  This has been a  crappy summer for movies so far; last summer there were 5 or 6 movies I was looking forward to at the outset and this year there were only two: TS3 and Inception. So I'm happy to report TS3 lived up to the hype. You'll laugh! You'll cry!

OTOH, unlike Avatar or How to Train Your Dragon, you really don't need the 3-D (or the extra $5 surcharge) for Toy Story.
I will def see it. Did you see Karate Kid? Crappy or should check it out? My daughter wants A-Team and Grown Ups and I don't know if they are age appropriate.

No desire to see KK -- Will Smith & family have enuf money, I'm not giving 'em more.  How old is your daughter? Grown Ups looks horrible and tho' it's PG-13 it looks cruder than that.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on June 24, 2010, 10:40:04 AM
Saw Toy Story 3 last nite and it's as wonderful as you've heard.  This has been a  crappy summer for movies so far; last summer there were 5 or 6 movies I was looking forward to at the outset and this year there were only two: TS3 and Inception. So I'm happy to report TS3 lived up to the hype. You'll laugh! You'll cry!

OTOH, unlike Avatar or How to Train Your Dragon, you really don't need the 3-D (or the extra $5 surcharge) for Toy Story.
I will def see it. Did you see Karate Kid? Crappy or should check it out? My daughter wants A-Team and Grown Ups and I don't know if they are age appropriate.

No desire to see KK -- Will Smith & family have enuf money, I'm not giving 'em more.  How old is your daughter? Grown Ups looks horrible and tho' it's PG-13 it looks cruder than that.
11.  Surely it's crude. Looks funny tho.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 25, 2010, 12:23:14 PM
Saw Toy Story 3 last nite and it's as wonderful as you've heard.  This has been a  crappy summer for movies so far; last summer there were 5 or 6 movies I was looking forward to at the outset and this year there were only two: TS3 and Inception. So I'm happy to report TS3 lived up to the hype. You'll laugh! You'll cry!

OTOH, unlike Avatar or How to Train Your Dragon, you really don't need the 3-D (or the extra $5 surcharge) for Toy Story.
I will def see it. Did you see Karate Kid? Crappy or should check it out? My daughter wants A-Team and Grown Ups and I don't know if they are age appropriate.

No desire to see KK -- Will Smith & family have enuf money, I'm not giving 'em more.  How old is your daughter? Grown Ups looks horrible and tho' it's PG-13 it looks cruder than that.
11.  Surely it's crude. Looks funny tho.

Even the NYPost's Kyle Smith -- a right-winger who you'd think would stick up for fellow Repub Sandler -- said this:

"How desperate is Grown Ups? At one point it pauses and all but begs for applause as the guys proudly hoist an American flag. I momentarily wished for a Canadian birth certificate. The movie couldn't be more pathetic if it hired clowns to dash through the audience tossing handfuls of candy and gum."

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 25, 2010, 01:13:12 PM
ya can't make this stuff up: Debbie, er, Deborah Gibson and Tiffany unite in a SyFy Channel movie about giant snakes:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/i-think-its-the-80s-now-tiffany-and-debbie-gibson-reunite-for-tv-movie/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on June 25, 2010, 10:45:03 PM
Saw Toy Story 3 last nite and it's as wonderful as you've heard.  This has been a  crappy summer for movies so far; last summer there were 5 or 6 movies I was looking forward to at the outset and this year there were only two: TS3 and Inception. So I'm happy to report TS3 lived up to the hype. You'll laugh! You'll cry!

OTOH, unlike Avatar or How to Train Your Dragon, you really don't need the 3-D (or the extra $5 surcharge) for Toy Story.
I will def see it. Did you see Karate Kid? Crappy or should check it out? My daughter wants A-Team and Grown Ups and I don't know if they are age appropriate.

No desire to see KK -- Will Smith & family have enuf money, I'm not giving 'em more.  How old is your daughter? Grown Ups looks horrible and tho' it's PG-13 it looks cruder than that.
11.  Surely it's crude. Looks funny tho.

Even the NYPost's Kyle Smith -- a right-winger who you'd think would stick up for fellow Repub Sandler -- said this:

"How desperate is Grown Ups? At one point it pauses and all but begs for applause as the guys proudly hoist an American flag. I momentarily wished for a Canadian birth certificate. The movie couldn't be more pathetic if it hired clowns to dash through the audience tossing handfuls of candy and gum."
My other youngun just got home from seeing Grownups. He is happy about it but his standards have not been set high yet.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on June 28, 2010, 09:34:26 PM
Saw TS3 yesterday. Sweet. Had me misty at the end but def. not bawling.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on June 28, 2010, 11:22:14 PM
Saw TS3 yesterday. Sweet. Had me misty at the end but def. not bawling.

Saw it on Saturday when we had an unexpected free afternoon. Quite good--those Pixar guys have still got their touch, despite being employees of the Mouse. Only negative comment was that there was one scene toward the end that I thought would be pretty damn scary for a kid under 7 or so. But lots of good stuff before and after that.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 30, 2010, 01:13:11 PM
"The Last Airbender is an agonizing experience in every category I can think of and others still waiting to be invented. The laws of chance suggest that something should have gone right. Not here. It puts a nail in the coffin of low-rent 3D, but it will need a lot more coffins than that.

Let's start with the 3D, which was added as an afterthought to a 2D movie. Not only is it unexploited, unnecessary and hardly noticeable. M. Night Shyamalan's retrofit produces the drabbest, darkest, dingiest movie of any sort I've seen in years. You know something is wrong when the screen is filled with flames that have the vibrancy of faded Polaroids. It's a known fact that 3D causes a measurable decrease in perceived brightness, but Airbender looks like it was filmed with a dirty sheet over the lens"

Oh, there's nothing like a Roger Ebert pan of a movie he REALLY hates.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100630/REVIEWS/100639999
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on July 01, 2010, 07:08:45 PM
Judd Apatow developing new Pee Wee Herman film:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100701/ap_en_mo/us_people_apatow_reubens
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 05, 2010, 04:12:26 PM
a movie I've been wanting to see forever -- Marty Feldman's In God We Trust -- is making a rare cable appearance on (of all places) HBO's Family channel, this afternoon at 4:45.  It was Feldman's 1980 directorial debut, a satire of religion (also featuring Andy Kaufman, Louise Lasser and Richard Pryor as God!) that was barely released by Universal, whose execs hated it so much they terminated Feldman's contract.  I'm psyched.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 05, 2010, 09:02:21 PM
a movie I've been wanting to see forever -- Marty Feldman's In God We Trust -- is making a rare cable appearance on (of all places) HBO's Family channel, this afternoon at 4:45.  It was Feldman's 1980 directorial debut, a satire of religion (also featuring Andy Kaufman, Louise Lasser and Richard Pryor as God!) that was barely released by Universal, whose execs hated it so much they terminated Feldman's contract.  I'm psyched.

I am 90% sure I saw that on HBO in 1980-81: we were the first family in the neighborhood to have the channel, and I vividly remember watching such fare as Scanners and The Rose (and Sgt. Pepper!).  Alas, all I remember are the promos, not the film itself.  Feldman was hard to fathom at 8.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 05, 2010, 09:16:22 PM
a movie I've been wanting to see forever -- Marty Feldman's In God We Trust -- is making a rare cable appearance on (of all places) HBO's Family channel, this afternoon at 4:45.  It was Feldman's 1980 directorial debut, a satire of religion (also featuring Andy Kaufman, Louise Lasser and Richard Pryor as God!) that was barely released by Universal, whose execs hated it so much they terminated Feldman's contract.  I'm psyched.

I am 90% sure I saw that on HBO in 1980-81: we were the first family in the neighborhood to have the channel, and I vividly remember watching such fare as Scanners and The Rose (and Sgt. Pepper!).  Alas, all I remember are the promos, not the film itself.  Feldman was hard to fathom at 8.

It wasn't great but some of it was quite funny and anything that lampoons religion is OK by me. The story persists that Universal deep-sixed it because of that aspect. And apparently it's never been issued on DVD.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 13, 2010, 09:08:58 AM
Now HERE'S a remake I can get behind: Oh, God! with Betty White as the deity and Paul Rudd in the John Denver role.

http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/divine-inspiration-warner-bros-pitched-betty-white-for-oh-god-remake/#more-53265
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 13, 2010, 10:12:08 PM
Now HERE'S a remake I can get behind: Oh, God! with Betty White as the deity and Paul Rudd in the John Denver role.

http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/divine-inspiration-warner-bros-pitched-betty-white-for-oh-god-remake/#more-53265

I would swoon if this were to happen - I *adore* Rudd.

But I hate to imagine people tweeting "Think God" ad infinitum in a modernized version.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on July 14, 2010, 10:34:10 AM
Attn Gaz: Micky Dolenz joins Tiffany and Debbie Gibson in new TV horror film
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/here-he-comes-micky-dolenz-joins-tiffany-and-deborah-gibson-in-horror-movie/

He was also on Capitol Hill, lobbying for artist royalties bill.  Includes video:
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/06/monkee-ing_on_capitol_hill.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on July 19, 2010, 08:34:55 AM
Amy Adams to play Janis Joplin in long-awaited biopic?  I like her as an actress (Junebug, Enchanted, Doubt, Sunshine Cleaning, Julie & Julia), but many question the casting.  She must have impressed the producers.  Maybe she can pull it off?
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/07/19/should-amy-adams-play-janis-joplin/
http://www.examiner.com/x-27339-Cincinnati-Pop-Culture-Examiner~y2010m7d18-Amy-Adams-among-the-list-of-names-to-possibly-play-legendary-Janis-Joplin-videos
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on July 19, 2010, 04:40:54 PM
Amy Adams to play Janis Joplin in long-awaited biopic?  I like her as an actress (Junebug, Enchanted, Doubt, Sunshine Cleaning, Julie & Julia), but many question the casting.  She must have impressed the producers.  Maybe she can pull it off?
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/07/19/should-amy-adams-play-janis-joplin/
http://www.examiner.com/x-27339-Cincinnati-Pop-Culture-Examiner~y2010m7d18-Amy-Adams-among-the-list-of-names-to-possibly-play-legendary-Janis-Joplin-videos

Wow, so how many actresses/singers does that make who have been named to be playing Joplin on the big screen? I honestly can't recall them all, but I know how many have actually made it to release: 0.  (That's assuming you don't count Bette Midler's star turn in The Rose, which was based partially on Joplin but heavily fictionalized.)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on July 20, 2010, 08:50:01 AM
Kurt Cobain biopic in the works.  Sounds interesting, though Robert Pattinson would be a total miscast.  I'm thinking Jared Leto would be a better choice.  

http://www.nme.com/movies/news/biopic-of-nirvanas-kurt-cobain-will-be-raw-and-ch/179962
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 20, 2010, 12:32:52 PM
Bill Murray talks to Rotten Tomatoes about Ghostbusters 3:

"There was a story—and I gotta be careful here, I don't want to hurt someone's feelings. When I hurt someone's feelings, I really want to hurt them. [laughs] Harold Ramis said, Oh, I've got these guys, they write on The Office, and they're really funny. They're going to write the next Ghostbusters. And they had just written this movie that he had directed, Year One. Well, I never went to see Year One, but people who did, including other Ghostbusters, said it was one of the worst things they had ever seen in their lives. So that dream just vaporized. That was gone. But it's the studio that really wants this thing. It's a franchise. It's a franchise, and they made a whole lot of money on Ghostbusters.  And it's still one of the biggest movies of all time. And ever since that story broke, everywhere I go people are like, 'So are you gonna make that movie?' I was down in Austin at South by Southwest, and you go at it hard down there—fun but, man, you need to sleep for days afterwards. Anyhow, I got into it one night with a bunch of younger people who were like, Oh, I love Peter Venkman! I grew up with Peter Venkman! We got to talking, and the more we talked about it, the more I thought, Oh Christ, I should just do this thing."



Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on July 20, 2010, 01:24:48 PM
Kurt Cobain biopic in the works.  Sounds interesting, though Robert Pattinson would be a total miscast.  I'm thinking Jared Leto would be a better choice.  

http://www.nme.com/movies/news/biopic-of-nirvanas-kurt-cobain-will-be-raw-and-ch/179962

How about Courtney Love in drag playing Kurt?  after all, I think she always wanted to be him.  Then we can get Sandra Bernhardt in a blond wig to be Courtney.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on July 20, 2010, 02:42:26 PM
Kurt Cobain biopic in the works.  Sounds interesting, though Robert Pattinson would be a total miscast.  I'm thinking Jared Leto would be a better choice.  

http://www.nme.com/movies/news/biopic-of-nirvanas-kurt-cobain-will-be-raw-and-ch/179962

How about Courtney Love in drag playing Kurt?  after all, I think she always wanted to be him.  Then we can get Sandra Bernhardt in a blond wig to be Courtney.

I think Courtney wanted to be Nancy Spungen (aim high, girl - aim high!)  Sandra Bernhardt would be a good Courtney, but if Kirstie Alley lost a few pounds, she could be in the running too.

Looky who's fighting to play Elizabeth Taylor in her biopic...
http://www.nme.com/movies/news/angelina-jolie-and-catherine-zeta-jones-battling-for/179814
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 20, 2010, 02:45:42 PM
Kurt Cobain biopic in the works.  Sounds interesting, though Robert Pattinson would be a total miscast.  I'm thinking Jared Leto would be a better choice.  

http://www.nme.com/movies/news/biopic-of-nirvanas-kurt-cobain-will-be-raw-and-ch/179962

How about Courtney Love in drag playing Kurt?  after all, I think she always wanted to be him.  Then we can get Sandra Bernhardt in a blond wig to be Courtney.

I think Courtney wanted to be Nancy Spungen (aim high, girl - aim high!)  Sandra Bernhardt would be a good Courtney, but if Kirstie Alley lost a few pounds, she could be in the running too.

Looky who's fighting to play Elizabeth Taylor in her biopic...
http://www.nme.com/movies/news/angelina-jolie-and-catherine-zeta-jones-battling-for/179814

If Kirstie Alley DOESN'T lose a few (dozen) pounds, she could play old fat Liz!  But Russell Crowe as Richard Burton -- that'd be perfect!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 20, 2010, 09:45:49 PM
if Kirstie Alley lost a few pounds, she could be in the running too.

And if she could be into running, she could lose a few pounds.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on July 22, 2010, 11:36:31 AM
More biopics: Jerry Garcia Biopic Gets Script, Director (so who should play him?)
http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/22/jerry-garcia-biopic/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on July 22, 2010, 11:39:13 AM
More biopics: Jerry Garcia Biopic Gets Script, Director (so who should play him?)
http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/22/jerry-garcia-biopic/

Mark Ruffalo!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 22, 2010, 11:41:14 AM
More biopics: Jerry Garcia Biopic Gets Script, Director (so who should play him?)
http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/22/jerry-garcia-biopic/

this seems an odd project, in that it's about his PRE-Dead days. How many people wanna see a Jerry movie without GD songs in it? This post on boston.com suggests Edward Norton, tho' he might be getting a bit old to play a 24-year old.

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/blog/2008/11/cryptical_devel.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on July 22, 2010, 12:02:10 PM
More biopics: Jerry Garcia Biopic Gets Script, Director (so who should play him?)
http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/22/jerry-garcia-biopic/

Mark Ruffalo!

Zach Galifianakis!

(http://startheory.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/zach_hangover.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 22, 2010, 12:13:31 PM
More biopics: Jerry Garcia Biopic Gets Script, Director (so who should play him?)
http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/22/jerry-garcia-biopic/

Mark Ruffalo!

Zach Galifianakis!


I like SG's Ruffalo suggestion. They'll probably pick Jonah Hill or that skinny idiot-boy from Socerer's Apprentice.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on July 22, 2010, 12:42:57 PM
More biopics: Jerry Garcia Biopic Gets Script, Director (so who should play him?)
http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/22/jerry-garcia-biopic/

Mark Ruffalo!

Zach Galifianakis!


I like SG's Ruffalo suggestion. They'll probably pick Jonah Hill or that skinny idiot-boy from Socerer's Apprentice.
Zach would be good too - and how about Kirstie Alley in drag?  I'm kidding - they'll probably cast Robert Pattinson after he finishes playing Kurt Cobain (wtf?)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on July 22, 2010, 12:50:47 PM
More biopics: Jerry Garcia Biopic Gets Script, Director (so who should play him?)
http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/22/jerry-garcia-biopic/

Mark Ruffalo!

Zach Galifianakis!


I like SG's Ruffalo suggestion. They'll probably pick Jonah Hill or that skinny idiot-boy from Socerer's Apprentice.
Zach would be good too - and how about Kirstie Alley in drag?  I'm kidding - they'll probably cast Robert Pattinson after he finishes playing Kurt Cobain (wtf?)

Ruffalo would make a hotter JG, but Zach would save on makeup costs (save for hair dye)! 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on July 22, 2010, 02:10:11 PM
Jeff Bridges faces his younger self in new "TRON: Legacy."  Watch trailer:
http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movie-talk-tron-legacy-comic-con-trailer.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on July 22, 2010, 11:56:29 PM
More biopics: Jerry Garcia Biopic Gets Script, Director (so who should play him?)
http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/22/jerry-garcia-biopic/

Mark Ruffalo!

Cate Blanchett.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 23, 2010, 07:28:04 AM
More biopics: Jerry Garcia Biopic Gets Script, Director (so who should play him?)
http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/22/jerry-garcia-biopic/

Mark Ruffalo!

Cate Blanchett.

ROTFL!  Actually she'd make a good Bowie, methinks.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 24, 2010, 08:07:28 AM
More biopics: Jerry Garcia Biopic Gets Script, Director (so who should play him?)
http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/22/jerry-garcia-biopic/

Mark Ruffalo!

Cate Blanchett.

ROTFL!  Actually she'd make a good Bowie, methinks.

She was my second favorite of the Dylans.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on July 26, 2010, 07:41:48 PM
This is a cool documentary in the works about the last indie record store in Teesside, England and record collecting in general.  Breaks my heart that all the small record stores that I used to buy vinyl from as a kid have closed their doors. (RIP Reckless Records, Rough Trade, Bay Area Records and Tapes, etc.)

Favorite part of the clip: A note in The Smiths section that reads, "8 out of 10 men would turn gay for Morrissey. Scientific fact."  :)

http://www.indiegogo.com/sound-it-out
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on July 27, 2010, 05:56:39 PM
Tonight 7:30pm in movie theaters nationally, Eric Clapton's Crossroads Concert from just last night in Chicago is being shown (one of those type events that movie theaters are increasingly doing). Co-stars BB King, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, ZZ Top, Steve Winwood, others.  Details, theaters: http://www.fathomevents.com/concertsandmusic/event/ericclaptoncrossroad.aspx

And, this Thurs 7/29, 7pm, the movie "Elvis on Tour" will be shown in theatres one night.  An opportunity to experience an Elvis concert via the big screen.  Details, theaters: http://www.fathomevents.com/concertsandmusic/series/elvisontour.aspx
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 27, 2010, 11:27:34 PM
I'm watching With Six You Get Egg Roll on TCM right now.  Culturally obnoxious title aside, it's got a few funny moments ("My friend can't meet a man who's her intellectual equal." "Has she tried the yellow pages?"), but the usually delightful Alice Ghostley is a canned ham here, and Doris Day has never exuded warmth to me.  Added bonus: a cameo from the Grass Roots, performing a nonhit called "Feelings" that nicks a lick from "Under My Thumb."  Their drummer looks like young Sean Penn.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 28, 2010, 08:00:34 AM
I'm watching With Six You Get Egg Roll on TCM right now.  Culturally obnoxious title aside, it's got a few funny moments ("My friend can't meet a man who's her intellectual equal." "Has she tried the yellow pages?"), but the usually delightful Alice Ghostley is a canned ham here, and Doris Day has never exuded warmth to me.  Added bonus: a cameo from the Grass Roots, performing a nonhit called "Feelings" that nicks a lick from "Under My Thumb."  Their drummer looks like young Sean Penn.

"instant family" was a popular meme at the time (see also the orig Yours Mine & Ours) and would of course lead to The Brady Bunch.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 29, 2010, 08:20:35 AM
Finally caught up with Despicable Me last nite.  Better than I expected (I'm always apprehensive about non-Pixar stuff). Clever, funny and just the right amount of sweetness. If not exactly Toy Story 3, certainly on a par with How to Train Your Dragon and way ahead of noisy obnoxious stuff like Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.  Bonus: a very nice job of musical scoring by Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 30, 2010, 06:54:50 PM
Thurs 7/29, 7pm, the movie "Elvis on Tour" will be shown in theatres one night.  An opportunity to experience an Elvis concert via the big screen.  Details, theaters: http://www.fathomevents.com/concertsandmusic/series/elvisontour.aspx

if ya missed the above, the movie will be on TCM in about 5 minutes -- followed at 9pm by the Stones concert flick Let's Spend the Night Together
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 04, 2010, 09:36:01 AM
A great quote from a movie-blog poster in re: Julia Roberts (on the occasion of Eat Pray Love opening next week):

Ever notice Julia Roberts is one of those women that WOMEN think is beautiful, but NO GUY EVER has EVER found attractive? She's not unattractive, she's actually beautiful if we're speaking technically... but ZERO appeal to any straight guy ever. Have never, ever met a dude with a thing for Julia Roberts. But TOTALLY the one, maybe the only one, chick who every guy's mom or crazy aunt is, "Julia Roberts is the prettiest woman in movies." I don't get it.


I LOL'ed at this, since I've always said something similar -- Julia has always looked to me like her brother Eric in drag. Discuss!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on August 04, 2010, 10:13:17 AM
A great quote from a movie-blog poster in re: Julia Roberts (on the occasion of Eat Pray Love opening next week):

Ever notice Julia Roberts is one of those women that WOMEN think is beautiful, but NO GUY EVER has EVER found attractive? She's not unattractive, she's actually beautiful if we're speaking technically... but ZERO appeal to any straight guy ever. Have never, ever met a dude with a thing for Julia Roberts. But TOTALLY the one, maybe the only one, chick who every guy's mom or crazy aunt is, "Julia Roberts is the prettiest woman in movies." I don't get it.


I LOL'ed at this, since I've always said something similar -- Julia has always looked to me like her brother Eric in drag. Discuss!

I agree.  I think she acts like she knows at least half the population thinks she's "...the prettiest woman in movies."   I also don't like Julianne Moore for similar reasons.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 07, 2010, 11:17:23 AM
A great quote from a movie-blog poster in re: Julia Roberts (on the occasion of Eat Pray Love opening next week):

Ever notice Julia Roberts is one of those women that WOMEN think is beautiful, but NO GUY EVER has EVER found attractive? She's not unattractive, she's actually beautiful if we're speaking technically... but ZERO appeal to any straight guy ever. Have never, ever met a dude with a thing for Julia Roberts. But TOTALLY the one, maybe the only one, chick who every guy's mom or crazy aunt is, "Julia Roberts is the prettiest woman in movies." I don't get it.


I LOL'ed at this, since I've always said something similar -- Julia has always looked to me like her brother Eric in drag. Discuss!

I agree.  I think she acts like she knows at least half the population thinks she's "...the prettiest woman in movies."   I also don't like Julianne Moore for similar reasons.


Apropos of the above, this very funny "if you're a man, see Expendables, not Eat Pray Love" trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIZTgUxVa28&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 07, 2010, 05:42:11 PM
If you have IFC on your cable system, tonite at 8:30 they're showing the original The Inglorious Bastards from 1978, with Fred Williamson -- yes, the cheezy action flick that inspired Tarantino to make his Inglourious Basterds.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 07, 2010, 07:19:41 PM
Standard British coming-of-age stuff, but this one takes place in the early-'70s UK Northern Soul dance scene.  Killer soundtrack, needless to say:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_6NS_lLgis

Lord knows if it will ever get a US release.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on August 08, 2010, 08:22:53 AM
A great quote from a movie-blog poster in re: Julia Roberts (on the occasion of Eat Pray Love opening next week):

Ever notice Julia Roberts is one of those women that WOMEN think is beautiful, but NO GUY EVER has EVER found attractive? She's not unattractive, she's actually beautiful if we're speaking technically... but ZERO appeal to any straight guy ever. Have never, ever met a dude with a thing for Julia Roberts. But TOTALLY the one, maybe the only one, chick who every guy's mom or crazy aunt is, "Julia Roberts is the prettiest woman in movies." I don't get it.


I LOL'ed at this, since I've always said something similar -- Julia has always looked to me like her brother Eric in drag. Discuss!

I agree.  I think she acts like she knows at least half the population thinks she's "...the prettiest woman in movies."   I also don't like Julianne Moore for similar reasons.


Here's an unretouched studio shot of Julia:

(http://www.hemmingva.com/images/hep/promotion/rewards/NOVWT%20-%20Wind%20up%20teeth%20.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on August 08, 2010, 11:14:54 AM
Standard British coming-of-age stuff, but this one takes place in the early-'70s UK Northern Soul dance scene.  Killer soundtrack, needless to say:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_6NS_lLgis

Lord knows if it will ever get a US release.

Thanks for posting this one, RG!  Gonna look out for this one.  Yes!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 10, 2010, 08:59:04 AM
Reese Witherspoon *IS* Peggy Lee! (maybe):

http://www.awardsdaily.com/2010/08/fever-pitch-reese-and-nora-take-on-peggy-lee/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 11, 2010, 11:19:07 AM
Coen Bros and Zhang Yimou fans unite!  Zhang has remade Blood Simple as a Chinese period piece.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMGBQDpfLnc&feature=player_embedded

Damn, I can't wait to see this one!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on August 15, 2010, 09:09:14 PM
Just got home from seeing Inception, and decided to check in here to see what y'all had said about it. And am surprised that there's been precious little mention of it at all. Or did I miss something? Anyway, I really loved it. Very engaging sci-fi thriller--I was on the edge of my seat for nearly the entire film. Even Ellen Page was good in a part that was as far from her Juno role as it could be. Thoughts?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 16, 2010, 07:39:42 AM
Just got home from seeing Inception, and decided to check in here to see what y'all had said about it. And am surprised that there's been precious little mention of it at all. Or did I miss something? Anyway, I really loved it. Very engaging sci-fi thriller--I was on the edge of my seat for nearly the entire film. Even Ellen Page was good in a part that was as far from her Juno role as it could be. Thoughts?

have not seen it yet -- a 2-1/2 hour movie is something I have to make time for on the weekend, and so far I haven't been able to work it in. Also, I've been told to see it in IMAX so I've been waiting for the crowds to die down a bit.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 17, 2010, 02:14:40 PM
Rats on the Westside, bedbugs uptown...

http://gothamist.com/2010/08/16/bedbugs_love_amc_empire_25_hate_rep.php
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: radical347 on August 17, 2010, 02:22:57 PM
Saw Toy Story the other day. (Late, I know.) And the final verdict...

...C-, and the only reason it's that high is because of the animation.  Otherwise it would be two full grades lower.  Worst movie I've seen in the past year (not counting a few bloopers from the Asian American Film Fest) and perhaps the biggest disappointment of all time to me.

I usually adore this type of movie (LOVED How to Train Your Dragon and I even liked Shrek 4, which was even more of an unnecessary sequel than TS3).  But ugh.  It just totally rubbed me the wrong way.

The good: The animation was brilliant.  TS1 and TS2, as long as they didn't fudge anything up, would have wow'd because the animation was then cutting edge, but this took it to a whole new level.

The bad: This was cancelled out by having a worse story line than that "Godzilla" movie a few years back.  

SPOILER ALERTS

Too many inconsistencies; the thing I really liked about the first two TS is that every time a human comes into the room - the toys rearrange themselves right back to where they left them.   This one ripped that to shreds.  The issue of how the toys "officially" got back to Andy was never resolved and then when Woody writes a note telling him to donate the toys to that girl, and then Woody himself jumping in that box -- totally fudged up the meaning of the series.  And put a completely misplaced tearjerking scene in.
 
There were were so many things here that didn't belong in a G-rated movie either.  Don't get me wrong; I'm no puritan but it was incredibly disturbing to see a bunch of these things in a movie about kids' toys, aimed for kids.  First, there's Barbie and Ken.  That's ok, but right when they meet Ken asks Barbie if she wants to spend the night in his dreamhouse and then the rest of the toys cheer her on!  This is just so akin to college frat boys/sorrority girls trying to get their bro/sis a "Score."  Then Barbie saying "nice ascot" - seriously, she might as well have just said "nice ass" and it would have been the same.

The bear's a sociopath too - kids don't need to see that and to top it off everything having to do with the bear was portrayed so badly.  If the rest of the toys were trying to get on his good side, for instance, it didn't help that Woody seemed to rub it because he kept on rubbing it in to the bear "you got replaced!"  And then when Woody saves him from the dumpster at the end - WTF!!! The bear tried to kill him!!! You do NOT save people who try to kill you - that's irresponsible AND dangerous!

Finally, the scene where the toys were about to burn to their fiery deaths -- that didn't belong in a kids movie either.

I also felt disgusted at the toys being covered in garbage and then simply washed themselves off as if nothing had happened and going back to Andy.  They're still going to bring so many germs back to the owner -- seriously if I found out my toys did had been there I'd just throw them all away.

And then a few things happened that just didn't make a lot of sense.  The girl already has her set of toys, she didn't need to acquire a whole new set of them.  (And the toys are going to have the same problem in another 10 years or so.)

Woody, when explaining to the girls' toys how he "escaped" from the nursery, puts on the most generic arrogant face, which was just completely unncessary and by this point overdone. (Hiccup in 'Dragon' was like this, and it was equally annoying but understandable as it was integral to his character.  It's not to Woody's so there was no reason for him to act like that.)

A few things about the story that I can appreciate:
The girl's toys, when hearing that Woody already has an owner, helped him locate him.
and the Barbie and Ken scene, despite the above caveats, was probably the most well-done of the character dynamics in the movie.

Worst of all, although this isn't something I can really take off for, now the market is once again going to be flooded with a bunch of ugly toys - most notably Woody and Buzz Lightyear.  They were ok in the movie as generic toys but they don't need to be real.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 17, 2010, 03:08:22 PM
Wow, r-347...  I think you're over-thinking things a tad. ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on August 18, 2010, 06:24:30 PM
"True Grit" remake: The Duke replaced by The Dude:
http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movie-talk-iconic-john-wayne-role-redone.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 21, 2010, 10:12:30 PM
It was Paul Newman Day on TCM, and I just watched Cool Hand Luke, which (amazingly) I'd never seen in its entirety.  Great film, of course, but amazing how many famous faces in small supporting roles: Harry Dean Stanton, Dennis Hopper, Joe Don Baker, a pre-M*A*S*H Wayne Rogers and a pre-Waltons Ralph Waite. And another great Lalo Schifrin score -- I'd forgotten that a piece of it (from the road-paving scene) later became famous on ABC-TV local affiliates in NYC, LA & Chicago as the "Eyewitness News" theme:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXjofHL0t1A&feature=related
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 22, 2010, 06:58:26 PM
Just got home from seeing Inception, and decided to check in here to see what y'all had said about it. And am surprised that there's been precious little mention of it at all. Or did I miss something? Anyway, I really loved it. Very engaging sci-fi thriller--I was on the edge of my seat for nearly the entire film. Even Ellen Page was good in a part that was as far from her Juno role as it could be. Thoughts?

have not seen it yet -- a 2-1/2 hour movie is something I have to make time for on the weekend, and so far I haven't been able to work it in. Also, I've been told to see it in IMAX so I've been waiting for the crowds to die down a bit.

Just came from finally seeing it. Loved it; def one to see a second time. Worth the IMAX surcharge too.

Meanwhile, there were displays in the lobby for a 3-D Yogi Bear 'toon opening at Xmas (Justin Timberlake *IS* Boo-Boo. Seriously). But...  Gayest. Tagline. EVAH: "Good Things Come in Bears". Uh, really?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 23, 2010, 09:40:45 AM
Landmark is closing the Clay in Pac Heights.  :'( :'( :'(

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/23/DDOI1EVQGV.DTL&type=movies
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 23, 2010, 01:27:18 PM
Meanwhile, there were displays in the lobby for a 3-D Yogi Bear 'toon opening at Xmas (Justin Timberlake *IS* Boo-Boo. Seriously). But...  Gayest. Tagline. EVAH: "Good Things Come in Bears". Uh, really?

turns out someone else noticed it first:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/05/yogi-bear-given-unintenti_n_672547.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on August 23, 2010, 01:29:25 PM
Meanwhile, there were displays in the lobby for a 3-D Yogi Bear 'toon opening at Xmas (Justin Timberlake *IS* Boo-Boo. Seriously). But...  Gayest. Tagline. EVAH: "Good Things Come in Bears". Uh, really?

turns out someone else noticed it first:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/05/yogi-bear-given-unintenti_n_672547.html

oh my!  the illustration just has to be seen, too!

(http://i.huffpost.com/gen/190086/YOGI-BEAR-TAGLINE.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 23, 2010, 02:05:22 PM

oh my!  the illustration just has to be seen, too!


someone's having a pic-a-nic with their, um, basket.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 25, 2010, 11:47:38 AM
Landmark is closing the Clay in Pac Heights.  :'( :'( :'(

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/23/DDOI1EVQGV.DTL&type=movies

Went to the Embarcadero yesteday to catch a 5:00 show of Lebanon -- the box office was closed and I was directed to the conncession stand to buy my ticket there. Landmark has done this at smaller theaters on occasion, like the Clay and the Bridge, but that's the first time it's happened to me at their flagship Embarcadero. Things are indeed tough all over.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 25, 2010, 09:42:53 PM
Right now on the RetroPlex cable channel, a real '70s relic: Gas-s-s-s, Roger Corman's 1970 satire about what happens after a chemical mishap kills everyone over 25 and "the kids" take over. Sort of a (very) poor man's Wild in the Streets, starring Cindy Williams (!) Ben Vereen (!!) and "Tally Coppola", who later changed her name to Talia Shire. With music by Country Joe & the Fish!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on August 26, 2010, 12:28:37 PM
Right now on the RetroPlex cable channel, a real '70s relic: Gas-s-s-s, Roger Corman's 1970 satire about what happens after a chemical mishap kills everyone over 25 and "the kids" take over. Sort of a (very) poor man's Wild in the Streets, starring Cindy Williams (!) Ben Vereen (!!) and "Tally Coppola", who later changed her name to Talia Shire. With music by Country Joe & the Fish!

Did you watch it?  Where'd it fall on the OMGWTFLOL-meter?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 26, 2010, 12:39:44 PM
Right now on the RetroPlex cable channel, a real '70s relic: Gas-s-s-s, Roger Corman's 1970 satire about what happens after a chemical mishap kills everyone over 25 and "the kids" take over. Sort of a (very) poor man's Wild in the Streets, starring Cindy Williams (!) Ben Vereen (!!) and "Tally Coppola", who later changed her name to Talia Shire. With music by Country Joe & the Fish!

Did you watch it?  Where'd it fall on the OMGWTFLOL-meter?

I saw it decades ago on commercial TV. The local ABC affiliate in NY, Channel 7, had a package of "hip" movies that they used to show on Friday nites at 1am, right after  the network ran "In Concert" (they had Night of the Living Dead, some foreign stuff, etc) and they showed Gas-s-s-s a few times. It's not very good, more interesting as a historical footnote than as a film. Makes Wild in the Streets look like The Godfather.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 29, 2010, 07:35:49 PM
Landmark is closing the Clay in Pac Heights.  :'( :'( :'(

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/23/DDOI1EVQGV.DTL&type=movies

the Clay gets a reprieve:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/29/DDH31F5FD5.DTL&tsp=1
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 01, 2010, 09:11:47 PM
on TCM: Pal Joey with Sinatra and Kim Novak, which I'm kind of amazed I've never seen.  San Francisco in the '50s -- hot cha!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 03, 2010, 09:43:42 AM
To celebrate the film's 35th anniversary (!) The Castro will be showing a digitally restored print of Tommy on Monday.

(http://991.com/newGallery/The-Who-Tommy-The-Movie-301124.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on September 05, 2010, 05:07:25 PM
To celebrate the film's 35th anniversary (!) The Castro will be showing a digitally restored print of Tommy on Monday.

(http://991.com/newGallery/The-Who-Tommy-The-Movie-301124.jpg)
When I saw the original premier at the Paramount, it felt like I was in the Castro on halloween walking through the crowd in the lobby!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on September 07, 2010, 08:26:28 PM
Over the weekend I caught "Machete" with Danny Trejo, Robert DeNiro, Steven Segal, Don Johnson, Cheech Marin, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Lindsay Lohan.  Reminded me of '60's spaghetti westerns/early 70's pulp fiction/kung-fu films, tongue-in-cheek action.  Despite violence it's non-stop action with humor too. 
Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIxcVzwLR1k

NY Post review via video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFxHAFYA1pY

Review in Boston Globe: http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2010/09/03/robert_rodriguezs_machete_is_a_cut_above/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 10, 2010, 07:33:38 AM
The fine docu Who is Harry Nilsson (and why is Everybody Talkin' About Him?) which I saw 3-1/2 years ago at SF NoizePop, finally getting a brief theatrical release; look for it on DVD soon.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/movies/10who.html?ref=movies

And today at the Roxie, a Phil Spector docu:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/10/MVPP1F9TPK.DTL
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 13, 2010, 08:36:53 PM
Just came from seeing the terrific docu The Tillman Story. Powerful stuff.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 14, 2010, 12:20:49 PM
"At The Movies" returns from the dead -- on PBS:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/14/DDRG1FC2LG.DTL&type=entertainment
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 16, 2010, 09:45:28 AM
last nite I saw the docu The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector at the Roxie. Damn, he is one wacky dude.

(http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/100709/Phil-Spector-hair_175.jpg)

http://movie-critics.ew.com/2010/07/10/the-agony-and-ecstasy-of-phil-spector/

 But seriously, it's pretty terriffic; it's a BBC thing, they interviewed him during the first murder trial (the one that ended in a hung jury) and there are many great old B&W clips of the Crystals, Ronnettes etc. Many of his classic records play during scenes of the trial. A bit surreal, but it works, IMHO. Worth checking out -- should be on DVD soon.  And speaking of, in a couple of weeks the Roxie will be showing the Harry Nilsson docu I mentioned recently. If you're at all a fan of the guy, definitely worth a look.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on September 16, 2010, 11:19:28 AM
last nite I saw the docu The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector at the Roxie. Damn, he is one wacky dude.

http://movie-critics.ew.com/2010/07/10/the-agony-and-ecstasy-of-phil-spector/


that was at the Roxie, right?  I thought about seeing that on Monday, but I saw The Two Escobars instead, a doc about Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and Colombia soccer player Andres Escobar.  It's great.

http://30for30.espn.com/film/the-two-escobars.html

it will appear on ESPN next month.   Pablo put lots of money into the Colombian national team's development (and fixed many games along the way, but as a financier he kept the good players happy), which culminated in their appearance in the 94 US-hosted World Cup.  We all (might) know that Andres Escobar scored an own-goal in the game against the US, and he was eventually killed back in Colombia when he talked back to some goons who mocked his own-goal.  (Pablo the drug lord was dead himself by then.)  

what a world.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on September 16, 2010, 11:26:56 AM
Like googlie moderne architecture?  then you should try to see this movie:

"INFINITE SPACE - The Architecture of John Lautner "
http://www.infinitespacethemovie.com/

I saw it at the SFPL last night.  John Lautner designed lots of cool futuristic stylin' homes, mostly in Socal.  Remember that scene in Diamonds Are Forever where James fights with Bambi and Thumper in that super-cool house?   He designed that house.
(http://cosmopolitanscum.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/elrod-house-3.jpg?w=700&h=466)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 16, 2010, 11:29:47 AM
Like googlie moderne architecture?  then you should try to see this movie:

"INFINITE SPACE - The Architecture of John Lautner "
http://www.infinitespacethemovie.com/


I prefer Taylor Lautner to John Lautner  ;)

(http://images.nymag.com/images/2/daily/2009/06/20090601_shirtlesstyler_190x190.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on September 16, 2010, 11:31:12 AM
Ew, no Taylor Lautner.  That pug nose is such a turnoff.  It's like he walked into a wall and it stayed there.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 16, 2010, 11:36:47 AM
Ew, no Taylor Lautner.  That pug nose is such a turnoff.  It's like he walked into a wall and it stayed there.

dude, nobody's looking at his nose.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 17, 2010, 12:46:34 PM
Sacha Baron Choen *IS* Freddie Mercury!

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/is-this-the-real-life-borat-star-to-play-freddie-mercury-in-queen-movie/

(http://flashyourstache.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/freddie_borat.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 26, 2010, 04:26:29 PM
a too-hot-for-the-gym weekend led me to the movies twice: 

Yesterday, The Town, a very entertaining, absorbing and well-made Boston crime flick. Not as good (or as dark) as Affleck's previous directing job, Gone Baby Gone, but a fine bit of commercial American moviemaking.

Today, Wall Street 2, also quite entertaining, if a bit convoluted. Could be the last time we hear Michael Douglas speak on film, so worth it for that alone, but great supporting cast and terrific use of some David Byrne/Brian Eno songs from their LP of 2 years ago.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on September 27, 2010, 09:06:15 AM
Sacha Baron Choen *IS* Freddie Mercury!

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/is-this-the-real-life-borat-star-to-play-freddie-mercury-in-queen-movie/

(http://flashyourstache.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/freddie_borat.jpg)

For some reason this makes me sad.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 07, 2010, 12:39:12 PM
Meanwhile, there were displays in the lobby for a 3-D Yogi Bear 'toon opening at Xmas (Justin Timberlake *IS* Boo-Boo. Seriously). But...  Gayest. Tagline. EVAH: "Good Things Come in Bears". Uh, really?

turns out someone else noticed it first:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/05/yogi-bear-given-unintenti_n_672547.html

and if you think that Yogi Bear reboot looks bad, wait until Pepe le Pew -- starring Mike Meyers.  Christ on a cracker!

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/10/mike_myers_to_voice_pepe_le_pe.html?mid=twitter_vulture&_r=true
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 10, 2010, 07:06:29 PM
TCM doing a Tony Curtis marathon today -- just watched Sweet Smell of Success, which amazingly I'd never seen. Helluva flick.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 14, 2010, 03:58:25 PM
last nite I saw the docu The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector at the Roxie. Damn, he is one wacky dude.

(http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/100709/Phil-Spector-hair_175.jpg)

http://movie-critics.ew.com/2010/07/10/the-agony-and-ecstasy-of-phil-spector/

 But seriously, it's pretty terriffic; it's a BBC thing, they interviewed him during the first murder trial (the one that ended in a hung jury) and there are many great old B&W clips of the Crystals, Ronnettes etc. Many of his classic records play during scenes of the trial. A bit surreal, but it works, IMHO. Worth checking out -- should be on DVD soon. 

OMFG! Al Pacino *IS* Phil Spector!

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/al-pacino-to-take-on-phil-spector-in-hbo-movie/

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 22, 2010, 10:23:48 PM
HBO is showing Myra Breckenridge, another infamous film I'd never seen. And it is indeed quite awful. Rex Reed (!), Raquel Welch, very young Farrah Fawcett and Tom Selleck -- oh my stars. And an 80-something Mae West, asking some young stud how tall he is. He says: "6 feet 7 inches". Mae replies: "Well, never mind the six feet, and let's talk about the seven inches." Zing!  Jaw-droppingly bad.

ETA: OMFG, Mae West doing "Hard To Handle" surrounded by dancing black guys in tuxedos!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on October 23, 2010, 08:30:41 AM
HBO is showing Myra Breckenridge, another infamous film I'd never seen. And it is indeed quite awful. Rex Reed (!), Raquel Welch, very young Farrah Fawcett and Tom Selleck -- oh my stars. And an 80-something Mae West, asking some young stud how tall he is. He says: "6 feet 7 inches". Mae replies: "Well, never mind the six feet, and let's talk about the seven inches." Zing!  Jaw-droppingly bad.

ETA: OMFG, Mae West doing "Hard To Handle" surrounded by dancing black guys in tuxedos!

I have seen it; it made my head spin.  Wonder what it would make a good double feature with - Valley of the Dolls?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 23, 2010, 10:00:57 AM
HBO is showing Myra Breckenridge, another infamous film I'd never seen. And it is indeed quite awful. Rex Reed (!), Raquel Welch, very young Farrah Fawcett and Tom Selleck -- oh my stars. And an 80-something Mae West, asking some young stud how tall he is. He says: "6 feet 7 inches". Mae replies: "Well, never mind the six feet, and let's talk about the seven inches." Zing!  Jaw-droppingly bad.

ETA: OMFG, Mae West doing "Hard To Handle" surrounded by dancing black guys in tuxedos!

I have seen it; it made my head spin.  Wonder what it would make a good double feature with - Valley of the Dolls?

The orig VOTD, yes.  I have to say after watching Myra to the end that it's bad, but it's an *interesting* bad movie -- all that stuff with inserting the old movie clips is quite ahead of its time and it's amazing FOX let the director (a first-timer who never worked again) use their library like that. It's still a better movie than Beyond the VOTD and all the other Russ Meyer crap that people like Roger Ebert worship.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 27, 2010, 08:27:19 AM
So I caught up with Nowhere Boy, the film about John Lennon's teen years, last nite. I had some issues with the young actor who plays John -- for one thing, he has big blue eyes and John's were brown. He's not a dead ringer at all, but he gets the attitude down.  And the great Kristin Scott-Thomas is superb as his Aunt Mimi, as is the actress who plays his mother, Julia. It's nicely directed, tho' the big climactic catharsis is a bit too on-the-nose. Worth a look if you're a Beatle completists; it'll be just fine on DVD.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 06, 2010, 11:34:20 AM
Saw Megamind yesterday. Clever and quite funny; nice voice-work from Ferrell and Tina Fey (who I worship). But seriously: "Bad to the Bone" and "Mr Blue Sky" should be banned from ever being used in a movie ever again. Talk about lazy.

And since it was in 3-D they showed the trailer for the 3-D Justin Beiber concert flick. Beware.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on November 06, 2010, 10:27:49 PM
...But seriously: "Bad to the Bone" and "Mr Blue Sky" should be banned from ever being used in a movie ever again. Talk about lazy.


Def. agree on Mr. Blue Sky. We were watching an old ep of Dr. Who (David Tennant/Rose Tyler period) the other night and that song was used at several points in the show. I made a similar comment to Sarah. Ever since they used it in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" it's been like shit--it's everywhere.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 14, 2010, 08:18:30 PM
Thank you, Telemundo -- Best. Spanish. Movie-Title. Translation. EVAH: Hulk: El Hombre Increible!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 18, 2010, 10:46:34 AM
This is the first I've heard of this, but it's right up my alley:  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/21/PK9118TNQ9.DTL&type=movies

I'm certainly interested in seeing this.

I've seen the trailer a bunch of times, it really does look great.  Nice to see the Edge get the spotlight instead of Bono for a change! 

Opens today, and -- of course! -- Mick LaSalle says it like, TOTALLY SUCKS, dude!  Which means it must be great.


Finally saw It Might Get Loud last nite -- it's really terrific (LaSalle shows himself to be a musical idiot yet again). The vintage clips alone are worth the price of admission, but it's fascinating to hear these guys talk about music. Highly recommmended.

Minor quibble: Jack White, talented as he is, is a bit too self-consciously hipster-weird (everything he wears seems to be a carefully-chosen costume, the tie matches the hat etc, while Page and Edge are wearing T-shirts and jeans), and not once but twice he refers to Meg as his "sister" -- wasn't that charade buried years ago? Did the filmmakers not know?

saw this last night and I think Mick is right on about the sequences where all three are together in the warehouse.  Nothing really happens there.  The best part of the three together was watching the Edge and Jack barely contain themselves as Jimmy was playing the riff to Whole Lotta Love.  Most of the movie deals w the three individually, and that stuff is great. Director does a fine job delving into their carious beginnings and highlighting the moments when they decided to persue their muses.

Jack does come off as trying a little too hard to be cool.  He's really into the "performance art" of it all. The bloody guitar, the deep desire to become a Son House song.   I thought his customized guitar w the harmonica microphone inside it was just silly.   Does it really add that much to your music to be able to grab a harp mic from your guitar body and sing through your Humbuckers?   He does play dress-up a lot, but Jimmy is seen in his long Edwardian coat and The Edge is never without his beanie.  Jack does take it over the top though.  But you gotta dress the part, and he's a star.   

The Edge seems like a real regular dude -- so does Jimmy, for the most part, but Jack doesn't seem like he'd be really fun to hang out with, frankly -- I loved how The Edge deconstructed his riff to Elevation, showing us how it's all effects that produces that sound.  I mean, we all know that about his music, his sound, but it was a nice moment.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on November 19, 2010, 05:20:42 PM
OK.  Can someone please 'splain to me, why the hell are they remaking Judge Dredd???  What next?  Battlefield Earth?

I wouldn't even bother with a link, but I'll provide one so you wouldn't think I was making this crap up.

http://blog.moviefone.com/2010/11/19/karl-urban-judge-dredd-image/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on November 19, 2010, 07:00:32 PM
OK.  Can someone please 'splain to me, why the hell are they remaking Judge Dredd???  What next?  Battlefield Earth?

I wouldn't even bother with a link, but I'll provide one so you wouldn't think I was making this crap up.

http://blog.moviefone.com/2010/11/19/karl-urban-judge-dredd-image/

Ummm...'cause there's no one with a lick of imagination left running any of the Hollywood studios?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 19, 2010, 07:53:22 PM
OK.  Can someone please 'splain to me, why the hell are they remaking Judge Dredd???  What next?  Battlefield Earth?

I wouldn't even bother with a link, but I'll provide one so you wouldn't think I was making this crap up.

http://blog.moviefone.com/2010/11/19/karl-urban-judge-dredd-image/

Ummm...'cause there's no one with a lick of imagination left running any of the Hollywood studios?

I think in this case it's a "the remake HAS to be an improvement on the original" kinda deal.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 20, 2010, 06:51:01 PM
Just tuned in to San Francisco on TCM -- right in time for the big earthquake climax. Pretty good special effects for pre-CGI 1936...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on November 22, 2010, 09:48:21 PM
Saw Julie & Julia last nite -- Streep has her next Oscar in the bag. Like most critics, I found the "Julia" portions a lot more interesting than the "Julie" parts.  And oh, that food.  "You can never have too much butter!"
finally saw the DVD.  Pleasant film.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 24, 2010, 09:14:20 AM
If you thought Burlesque was the worst movie opening this week, apparently Nutcracker 3-D is even worse. Sez Mr Ebert:

Quote
You may be in disbelief. I was. “The Nutcracker in 3D” is one of those rare holiday movies that may send children screaming under their seats. Their parents, naively hoping to see a sweet version of “The Nutcracker,” will be appalled or angry, take your choice.

Yes, the film uses melodies that began with Tchaikovsky at one point, but now they have — are you sitting down? — lyrics by Tim Rice (“Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Evita” and “The Lion King”).

“The Nutcracker in 3D” easily qualifies as one of the most preposterous ideas in the history of the movies. It isn’t a story, it’s a gag line for one of David Letterman’s “Top 10 Lists” (No. 9, “It’s a Horrible Life”; No. 8, “A Christmas Carol in Hell”).

Only one thing could have made this film worse, and they haven’t neglected it. That would be to present it in 3-D. They have. The movie was filmed in Hungary in 2007, and perhaps those studio execs screening it sensed a certain lack of enthusiasm. Maybe they thought that by retroactively “adapting” it to 3-D, it would play better. No luck. I’ve seen bad retro 3-D, but I’ve never seen 3-D as bad as this. The film is so dim and dingy, you almost wonder if the smoke from those burning toys is drifting between you and the screen.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on November 24, 2010, 09:27:02 AM
If you thought Burlesque was the worst movie

Of course, Mick gives Burlesque a rave review:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/24/MV8E1GFJU8.DTL

Checking Yahoo, most are giving it much less stellar reviews, though nobody seems to be out and out panning it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 24, 2010, 09:30:55 AM
If you thought Burlesque was the worst movie

Of course, Mick gives Burlesque a rave review:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/24/MV8E1GFJU8.DTL

Checking Yahoo, most are giving it much less stellar reviews, though nobody seems to be out and out panning it.

Mick also LURVED the new Tyler Perry thing.  :o
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 28, 2010, 08:14:42 PM
My usual multiple-movie holiday weekend: the new Harry Potter (good, but a few talky, slow patches); 127 Hours (not for the squeamish); Fair Game (the Valerie Plame affair, and quite excellent); Scott Pilgrim vs the World (maybe I'm just too old, but I felt, after about 20 minutes, like "hey, OK, I *get* it --now stop hitting me over the head with it!"); and tonite... I caught up with another cult classic I'd never seen: Phantom of the Paradise. Which is... strange but kinda interesting -- made in '74 and with things that may have been stolen from Rocky Horror (did DePalma see the stage version of RH in '73?), pretty cool Paul Williams songs (I can totally imagine Karen Carpenter nailing the ballads), and some clever satire of the music biz.  Apparently FOX has remakes of both POTP and RH in development.


Meanwhile, the Monkees talk about Head, now that it's available on Blu-Ray:

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/11/monkees_head_tork_dolenz.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 30, 2010, 12:00:03 PM
oh, and last nite I saw Tangled -- much much better than I expected. The trailer made it look bland and generic, but it's both funny and sweet and the 3-D is quite good.  And it's a musical, which Disney doesn't seem to want people to know, because they're trying to get boys to see it.  But it's worth the extra surcharge.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 30, 2010, 12:22:00 PM
I watched 'Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage' last night and thought it was, of course, great b/c I'm a fan. Some good stills of the geeky Geddy and Alex in middle school, great archival footage throughout.  It contains video (or it might have been super 8 sound footage ?) of a twelfth-grade Alex Lifeson sitting at the family dinner table defending his decision to quit his last year of high school and do music.

But they're pretty average, boring, geeky dudes overall who just happen to rock awesomely with rocking awesomeness!

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 05, 2010, 05:09:16 PM
Last nite I caught up with I'm Still Here, the Joaquin Phoenix/Casey Affleck mockumentary, or mock-mockumentary, or whateverthefuck. Can't say I enjoyed it -- as mockumentaries go, it's not really funny so much as, well, strange -- but it seems clear that the critics' reactions were colored by whether they thought it was "real" (Hi, Roger Ebert!) or a "hoax" or couldn't decide one way or the other. Now that Affleck has admitted that it's a fiction I gotta say Phoenix's commitment to making it appear "real" is impressive.  If you have Comcast it's now reached the $4.99 price level, so if yer so inclined...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on December 06, 2010, 11:42:17 AM
This Yogi Bear movie seems like a bad acid trip.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 06, 2010, 12:01:06 PM
This Yogi Bear movie seems like a bad acid trip.

It will surely make a ton of money (see: the 2 Chipmunk movies) but it does once again raise the question of how exactly Yogi and Boo-Boo are, um, related. They're not father & son; not brothers or cousins.  Is Boo-Boo his boo?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 08, 2010, 08:03:11 AM
For all you unreconstructed hippies: the Wavy Gravy docu gets a nice review in the NYT:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/movies/08saint.html?ref=movies
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 16, 2010, 09:06:04 AM
Last nite I saw I Love You Phillip Morris, the Jim Carrey/Ewan McGregor prison comedy. And I gotta say -- wow. Best thing Carrey has done in ages (I'm admittedly not his biggest fan) and the gayest mainstream flick I've seen since Bruno. "Enough romance -- let's fuck!" Pretty amazing stuff, and considering it sat on the shelf awhile and nearly went straight-to-DVD at one point, it qualifies as one of the surprises of the year.  Written/directed by the guys who wrote Bad Santa, if that's a selling point for you (it was for me).

Oh, and the film makes great use of Nina Simone's cover of "To Love Somebody"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 17, 2010, 08:12:47 PM
Tonite at 11, TCM is showing 1974's orig Black Christmas, sometimes called "the first slasher movie", made 4 years before Halloween. Directed by Bob Clark, years before he did Porky's and starring Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder in their prime as hotties alone in a sorority house during Xmas break. Happy holidays!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 23, 2010, 04:47:49 PM
Just came from seeing The Fighter --easily one of the most entertaining films of the year and superbly acted -- Christian Bale is winning the Oscar, no doubt about it.  Tonite I'm making it a pugilistic double bill (a one-two-punch, if you will) by seeing Boxing Gym, the new Frederick Wiseman docu at the Roxie. And it's not even Boxing Day!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on December 28, 2010, 07:48:18 AM
This Thurs Dec 30 at 8PM its "The Wizard of Oz" at the fabulous art-deco Paramount Theater Oakland, conveniently located at the 19th St BART Station at Broadway & 20th St.  If you haven't been to Paramount classic movie nights, for just $5 you get a classic cartoon, period newsreel & previews, Deco-Win live wheel of fortune game and the main feature on giant screen in a beautifully restored theater:
http://www.paramounttheatre.com/schedule.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on December 28, 2010, 08:45:17 AM
This Yogi Bear movie seems like a bad acid trip.

It will surely make a ton of money (see: the 2 Chipmunk movies) but it does once again raise the question of how exactly Yogi and Boo-Boo are, um, related. They're not father & son; not brothers or cousins.  Is Boo-Boo his boo?
Never gave that any thought. Do they have to be related or just part of the same den/pack? Boo Boo just a little buddy kind of like Fred and Barney?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 31, 2010, 05:20:29 PM
coulda put this in several threads, but... Double TANC:  last nite on a How I Met Your Mother rerun, they made terrific use of Roxy Music's "Mother of Pearl"; this morning I saw Somewhere and Mr Ferry's cover of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" plays over the closing credits; then I walked into Mel's for a chocolate shake and the Platters' version of "Smoke..." was playing on their jukebox. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 01, 2011, 04:29:25 PM
Finally saw TRON: Legacy and it was just as I expected: fabulous eye-candy, not much of a script. Loved Michael Sheen.  Saw it at the Castro; their digital projection was crystal-clear and 12 bucks for 3-D is pretty cheap compared to Metreon.  Did anyone else notice that the actor who played Sam looks a lot like Buster Posey?

Meanwhile: alert the princess! The Streep to play Margaret Thatcher!

http://movies.gearlive.com/movies/article/q107-meryl-streep-to-play-margaret-thatcher-in-new-biopic/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on January 01, 2011, 08:37:14 PM
Finally saw TRON: Legacy and it was just as I expected: fabulous eye-candy, not much of a script. Loved Michael Sheen.  Saw it at the Castro; their digital projection was crystal-clear and 12 bucks for 3-D is pretty cheap compared to Metreon.  Did anyone else notice that the actor who played Sam looks a lot like Buster Posey?

Meanwhile: alert the princess! The Streep to play Margaret Thatcher!

http://movies.gearlive.com/movies/article/q107-meryl-streep-to-play-margaret-thatcher-in-new-biopic/

WTF is with movie prices?  I saw Tron in the Metreon Imax 3D theater and tickets were $18.  Good thing we had a coupon that took $3.50 off each ticket.  Geebus!  as for the movie, I agree, good eye candy: I wish there was more light cycle scenes and gaming in general.  Imax is cool, huge screen, but it wasn't necessary.  Many scenes weren't in 3D, too.   

I didn't recognize Michael Sheen at first -- I was thinking that maybe it was Simon Pegg. 

Streep as Margaret Thatcher?   I think Micheal Sheen would do a better job.  Tell me they don't look alike...!

(http://www.solidprinciples.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/margaret-thatcher.jpg)(http://static.reelmovienews.com/images/gallery/michael-sheen-photo.jpg)

and you're right about Sam/Buster Posey.  Some bloggy wagger throws Napoleon Dynamite into the mix, too:

(http://fusedfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/garrett_hedlund.jpg)(http://www.bayareasportsguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Buster-Posey-Giants.jpg)(http://www.bayareasportsguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/napolean-dynamite-buster-posey1.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on January 01, 2011, 09:25:23 PM
Saw True Grit tonight.  It's pretty dang good.  Powerful.   I don't always like the Coen brothers, but in this one they don't get too hysterical with the camera athletics, which is nice.  I like a good 8 minute tracking shot as much as anyone (oh, wait, that's from Touch of Evil) but they tell the story fairly straight, visually.    (I do wish there were more extreme long shots of landscapes, a la John Ford in his Monument Valley epics).  I love westerns.  The girl was really good.  The dialog is dense and florid at times, but certainly seeming from the period, sort of like how Deadwood came across, if you're familiar with that HBO series.  Listen closely, there's some good lines in there.  "He has overrun the banks of English" someone says of someone else who pontificates.

I don't recall much about John Wayne's version, but I do know they replicated the final shootout-on-horseback scene where Rooster takes the reins in his teeth and has guns a-blazin' on both hands.

The song over the closing credits was by Iris DeMent, whom I saw at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass a couple years back, where she was fantastic. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 01, 2011, 10:22:25 PM
Saw True Grit tonight.  It's pretty dang good.  Powerful.   I don't always like the Coen brothers, but in this one they don't get too hysterical with the camera athletics, which is nice.  I like a good 8 minute tracking shot as much as anyone (oh, wait, that's from Touch of Evil) but they tell the story fairly straight, visually.    (I do wish there were more extreme long shots of landscapes, a la John Ford in his Monument Valley epics).  I love westerns.  The girl was really good.  The dialog is dense and florid at times, but certainly seeming from the period, sort of like how Deadwood came across, if you're familiar with that HBO series.  Listen closely, there's some good lines in there.  "He has overrun the banks of English" someone says of someone else who pontificates.


I enjoyed it too, tho' I think Bridges was trying a little too hard not to be John Wayne (as well as not wanting to repeat his Crazy Heart drunk, either). Definitely the most conventional flick the Coens have made, and I *am* a big fan of theirs.

Also saw Rabbit Hole and Somewhere and liked both; Nicole Kidman is very good in the former (as are Aaron Eckhart and Dianne Wiest) and I didn't have any problem with Kidman's allegedly creepy forehead.  Somewhere is one of those Antonioni-esque flicks about ennui; not much happens in it, but (speaking of little-girl actors) Elle Fanning (Dakota's li'l sis) is quite excellent.

And TC, your Thatcher/Sheen side-by-side was genius. Same teeth!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 02, 2011, 01:26:55 PM
Finally saw TRON: Legacy and it was just as I expected: fabulous eye-candy, not much of a script. Loved Michael Sheen.  Saw it at the Castro; their digital projection was crystal-clear and 12 bucks for 3-D is pretty cheap compared to Metreon.  Did anyone else notice that the actor who played Sam looks a lot like Buster Posey?

Meanwhile: alert the princess! The Streep to play Margaret Thatcher!

http://movies.gearlive.com/movies/article/q107-meryl-streep-to-play-margaret-thatcher-in-new-biopic/

WTF is with movie prices?  I saw Tron in the Metreon Imax 3D theater and tickets were $18.  Good thing we had a coupon that took $3.50 off each ticket.  Geebus!  as for the movie, I agree, good eye candy: I wish there was more light cycle scenes and gaming in general.  Imax is cool, huge screen, but it wasn't necessary.  Many scenes weren't in 3D, too.   

I didn't recognize Michael Sheen at first -- I was thinking that maybe it was Simon Pegg. 

Streep as Margaret Thatcher?   I think Micheal Sheen would do a better job.  Tell me they don't look alike...!

and you're right about Sam/Buster Posey. 

OMG: just saw this Assmussen bit from Friday -- TRON = MUNI. Just freakin' brilliant!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/31/DDASMUSSENBR.DTL
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on January 03, 2011, 10:35:23 AM

I don't recall much about John Wayne's version, but I do know they replicated the final shootout-on-horseback scene where Rooster takes the reins in his teeth and has guns a-blazin' on both hands.


It was almost a scene for scene replication of the first film, as far as what happens.  Different feel, and slight differences here and there, but almost identical (the biggest difference is LaBeouf's final disposition).  So, I found it surprising that the first film didn't truly stray from the novel.

I enjoyed this one a lot, but couldn't help but feel it was a bit unneccesary.  Or that I have seen the Duke's version a few too many times.  Good, or great, performances all around.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 05, 2011, 08:23:21 AM
For those of us who are Phil Ochs fans (and those who need to be introduced to his brilliance), a new docu getting raves:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/movies/05phil.html?ref=movies&pagewanted=1
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on January 05, 2011, 08:11:49 PM
For those of us who are Phil Ochs fans (and those who need to be introduced to his brilliance), a new docu getting raves:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/movies/05phil.html?ref=movies&pagewanted=1
please post if it plays here.  I really loved Phil Ochs, and even wrote my own new verse for There But For Fortune!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 06, 2011, 08:23:57 PM
Now this is my kinda flick:  Willem Dafoe as the owner of a strip club; Bob Hoskins as his manager; Sylvia Miles as their landlady... directed by Abel (Bad Lieutenant) Ferrara.  Cheese Louise, why was this never released?

http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/movies/07gogo.html?ref=movies
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on January 06, 2011, 08:30:44 PM
Please rank these - either in your preferred order or the presumed order of a pop culture vulture with escapist tastes:

True Grit
I Love You Phillip Morris
Tron: Legacy
Black Swan
How Do You Know

Merci buckets, from someone who's considering actually seeing a film this weekend.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 06, 2011, 08:51:52 PM
Please rank these - either in your preferred order or the presumed order of a pop culture vulture with escapist tastes:

True Grit
I Love You Phillip Morris
Tron: Legacy
Black Swan
How Do You Know

Merci buckets, from someone who's considering actually seeing a film this weekend.

ILY Phillip Morris -- really worth seeing from a gay perspective, and I'm not the biggest Jim Carrey fan.
Black Swan -- I was very entertained but I'm kinda baffled by the OMG! reviews. A horror movie with a PhD.
True Grit. -- see discussion in this thread.
Tron -- great visuals, crappy script. If Michael Sheen isn't auditioning for a Bowie biopic during his brief appearance, then I just don't know.
How Do You Know -- I loves me some Paul Rudd but boy is this thing a dud. Painful.

I also HIGHLY recommend The Fighter and (if you're looking for misery and depression) Rabbit Hole. No interest in the Phil Ochs docu?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on January 06, 2011, 09:06:59 PM
No interest in the Phil Ochs docu?

The story of Phil Ochs depresses me like almost no other.  I'm not sure I could bear it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 06, 2011, 09:19:50 PM
No interest in the Phil Ochs docu?

The story of Phil Ochs depresses me like almost no other.  I'm not sure I could bear it.

Understandable, and probably why the planned biopic never got off the ground.  Sean Penn wanted to play him -- 20 years ago -- and would've been perfect, I think
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on January 07, 2011, 02:26:22 PM
Slideshow: Actors portraying musicians:
http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/collections/gallery/3160/actors-playing-musicians
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 13, 2011, 12:26:10 PM
In his surprisingly positive review of The Dilemma (surprising because it's at 24% on Rotten Tomatoes), the NYT's AO Scott nonetheless gets in this zinger at the expense of Vince Vaughn's expanse -- Vaughn is paired with the petite Jennifer Connelly:

"To ask if Mr. Vaughn and Ms. Connelly have any chemistry is to invoke the wrong science; extreme disparities of size and shape suggest, instead, a fascinating problem of zoology, as if a whippet had decided to cohabit with a yak"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on January 13, 2011, 12:41:06 PM
... at the expense of Vince Vaughn's expanse -- Vaughn is paired with the petite Jennifer Connelly:

...

nice.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 17, 2011, 07:36:54 PM
TCM is showing Camelot at the moment. Vanessa Redgrave was quite hot in 1967.

(http://content7.flixster.com/photo/10/99/47/10994757_gal.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 20, 2011, 08:29:01 PM
Weird-ass Idea of the Month: Eastwood to direct Beyonce in a remake of A Star is Born. Er... WHAT??

http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/01/20/star-is-born-remake-clint-eastwood-beyonce/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on January 20, 2011, 09:36:43 PM
Weird-ass Idea of the Month: Eastwood to direct Beyonce in a remake of A Star is Born. Er... WHAT??

http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/01/20/star-is-born-remake-clint-eastwood-beyonce/

Wish Hollywood would get over this trend toward remaking every hit movie from the past 50 years (not to mention television shows, although that seems to be declining a little). HAVE AN ORIGINAL IDEA FOR A CHANGE. You will be lauded as a new and important talent rather than dubbed a revisionist hack.

Btw, Mike: Not sure what your latest avatar is, as it's pixilated and pretty much illegible.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 20, 2011, 11:17:16 PM
Weird-ass Idea of the Month: Eastwood to direct Beyonce in a remake of A Star is Born. Er... WHAT??

http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/01/20/star-is-born-remake-clint-eastwood-beyonce/

Wish Hollywood would get over this trend toward remaking every hit movie from the past 50 years (not to mention television shows, although that seems to be declining a little). HAVE AN ORIGINAL IDEA FOR A CHANGE. You will be lauded as a new and important talent rather than dubbed a revisionist hack.


It's an awful, awful idea.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 21, 2011, 07:23:49 AM
Weird-ass Idea of the Month: Eastwood to direct Beyonce in a remake of A Star is Born. Er... WHAT??

http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/01/20/star-is-born-remake-clint-eastwood-beyonce/

Wish Hollywood would get over this trend toward remaking every hit movie from the past 50 years (not to mention television shows, although that seems to be declining a little). HAVE AN ORIGINAL IDEA FOR A CHANGE. You will be lauded as a new and important talent rather than dubbed a revisionist hack.


It's an awful, awful idea.

I can see it working, *IF*  it's set in the jazz world (something Clint knows a lot about -- maybe even a period piece?) and not in some current pop/hip-hop setting, which would just lead to embarrassment.  Beyonce was actually pretty good (IMHO) in Cadillac Records as Etta James.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on January 24, 2011, 03:49:45 AM

Beyonce was actually pretty good (IMHO) in Cadillac Records as Etta James.

Yes, IYHO. :) I couldn't take her seriously.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 25, 2011, 08:51:27 AM
WTF, Academy? Christopher Nolan is denied a Best Director nod -- again.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on January 26, 2011, 12:46:20 PM
It's a hard knock life with Willow Smith starring in a remake of Annie produced by...Jay-Z of all people.  Something to avoid.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/01/jay-z_production_company.html?mid=facebook_nymag
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 26, 2011, 12:57:19 PM
It's a hard knock life with Willow Smith starring in a remake of Annie produced by...Jay-Z of all people.  Something to avoid.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/01/jay-z_production_company.html?mid=facebook_nymag

will she wear the red curly wig?  I loved this comment:

"What's next? Jennifer Hudson as Fanny Brice in the remake of Funny Girl?"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 26, 2011, 02:30:05 PM
Quote of the Day, from a posting on a film blog I frequent:

"He's so obscure, he doesn't even have a Wikipedia page yet"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 27, 2011, 11:08:04 AM
Roger Ebert's latest swipe at 3-D:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/01/post_4.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on January 27, 2011, 06:07:58 PM
Open casting call in SF this weekend (Jan 29-30) for extras for new Steven Soderbergh film Contagion, starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne, Bryan Cranston, Elliott Gould:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/culture/detail?entry_id=81876

Filming starts Feb 9, release set for this Oct.  More in IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1598778/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on January 28, 2011, 07:58:10 AM
The Secret Of Steve McQueen's Bullitt Chase Scene

http://jalopnik.com/5744523/the-real-story-of-the-chase-scene-in-bullitt
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 31, 2011, 08:52:50 AM
A jam-packed movie weekend, caught up with the last of the Oscar nominees I hadn't yet seen: Biutiful with the great Javier Bardem; Another Year, the lovely British drama, and the very weird Dogtooth, one of the Foreign Film nominees (from Greece) which is quite wonderfully bizarre. Also, on PPV, Night Catches Us a little indie drama set in 1976 about a former Black Panther (Anthony Mackie) who retuns to his old 'hood after being on the lam for a few years. Really outstanding. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 31, 2011, 01:49:13 PM
True Grit vs. True Grit:

http://vimeo.com/19373173
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 02, 2011, 08:12:36 AM
a docu about the heyday of the legendary club The Troubador in LA -- currently playing in NYC but will turn up on PBS in March:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/movies/02troub.html?ref=movies
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on February 02, 2011, 09:17:58 AM
a docu about the heyday of the legendary club The Troubador in LA -- currently playing in NYC but will turn up on PBS in March:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/movies/02troub.html?ref=movies

Quote
Out in the shiny night, the rain
was softly falling
The tracks that ran down the boulevard had
all been washed away

Out of the silver light, the past came softly calling
And I remember the times we spent
inside the Sad Cafe

Oh, it seemed like a holy place,
protected by amazing grace
And we would sing right out loud, the
things we could not say
We thought we could change this world
with words like "love" and "freedom"
We were part of the lonely crowd
Inside the Sad Cafe
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on February 02, 2011, 09:30:11 AM
True Grit vs. True Grit:

http://vimeo.com/19373173

Unfortunately they are using a cut version of the John Wayne scene.  He also says "Fill your hands, you son of a bitch!"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 04, 2011, 08:54:50 AM
looking for an alternative to the Super Bowl (or the Puppy Bowl)? Mick suggests 9-1/2 hours of the Holocaust:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/04/MVVA1HH928.DTL

and it is one of the greatest docus ever -- wish I had the time to set aside, but there's always DVD.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 04, 2011, 05:26:06 PM
True Grit vs. True Grit:

http://vimeo.com/19373173

Unfortunately they are using a cut version of the John Wayne scene.  He also says "Fill your hands, you son of a bitch!"

I reckon The Coen Bros are heading for a shutout this year, despite the 10 Noms & how much I loved it*.  My thinking is their best bet is they get Adapted Screenplay, but I'd be pleasantly shocked if they get more than one.  Although, come to think of it, Deakins is overdue** for the kind of unofficial 'career retrospective' Oscar that Bridges got last year...and that Wayne got for the orginal.

*the original was one of the first 3-5 movies I ever saw (I would've been 6 then), a drive-in double feature with 2001 as the second show.  My folks expected my younger brothers & I to fall asleep in the backseat of the Rambler wagon, but in fact I leaned forward & watched almost all of both films.  Didn't much care for Glen Campbell, but HAL gave me nightmares well after.

**this being his 9th nom in 8 award yrs, and 5th for a Coen Bros film (he got 2 in one yr in 2008, and if anything his work in the NON-Coen Bros film was better than in No Country For Old Men..right, Mike?)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 04, 2011, 07:48:14 PM
I reckon The Coen Bros are heading for a shutout this year, despite the 10 Noms & how much I loved it*.  My thinking is their best bet is they get Adapted Screenplay, but I'd be pleasantly shocked if they get more than one.  Although, come to think of it, Deakins is overdue** for the kind of unofficial 'career retrospective' Oscar that Bridges got last year...and that Wayne got for the orginal.

**this being his 9th nom in 8 award yrs, and 5th for a Coen Bros film (he got 2 in one yr in 2008, and if anything his work in the NON-Coen Bros film was better than in No Country For Old Men..right, Mike?)

Oh my yes.  I think he may well win this year for that reason.  'bout freakin' time. And I think Supp Actress is a possibility -- the Academy loves little girls (see: Anna Pacquin, Tatum O'Neal) and every Oscar night needs one upset.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on February 04, 2011, 10:16:50 PM
...And I think Supp Actress is a possibility -- the Academy loves little girls (see: Anna Pacquin, Tatum O'Neal) and every Oscar night needs one upset.

If it's all the same to you I'd rather see Anna Paquin as a big girl:

(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTTkAPofolOtksb0HRoUjmKKPMB0vyJ8Hp58WMLKIfpW7RJIvVd)

I didn't realize until I started looking at pics of her that she had such a prominent gap in her smile. She could almost be Ray Davies' illegitimate daughter.

(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSW16-0SuNfaCnY8UUvuXm6wJNvluZhiET5yJDsnyMyEjghVFUnNA)

(http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS9Ov3rMB9touy9X6cZq-xMs1bm8DwxLEs68h7qXYQhXKAZtAvytg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 05, 2011, 10:54:18 AM
very funny spoofs of best-of-2010 films:

http://www.theshiznit.co.uk/feature/if-the-best-picture-nominee-posters-told-the-truth.php?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 05, 2011, 10:04:11 PM
...And I think Supp Actress is a possibility -- the Academy loves little girls (see: Anna Pacquin, Tatum O'Neal) and every Oscar night needs one upset.

If it's all the same to you I'd rather see Anna Paquin as a big girl:

(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTTkAPofolOtksb0HRoUjmKKPMB0vyJ8Hp58WMLKIfpW7RJIvVd)


Check out young Miss Steinfeld... methinks she'll be following in Pacquin's footstps in a few years:

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2011/02/virtuosos.php
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 15, 2011, 08:46:55 PM
OMG -- the very first Siskel & Ebert show (before they went national) is avaialble (along with many other episodes) at siskelandebert.org:

http://siskelandebert.org/video/GWHWHKY3W9R7/Opening-SoonOne-Flew-Over-the-Cuckoos-Nest

And yes, that's Billy Joel's "Root Beer Rag" as their theme music!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 17, 2011, 09:46:48 AM
Yes, the headline is for real -- I thought it was an Onion-style parody at first. Oy gevalt!  Guess the Jews really *do* run Hollywood!

http://www.jpost.com/ArtsAndCulture/Entertainment/Article.aspx?id=205195
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on February 20, 2011, 10:44:50 AM
OMG -- the very first Siskel & Ebert show (before they went national) is avaialble (along with many other episodes) at siskelandebert.org:
http://siskelandebert.org/video/GWHWHKY3W9R7/Opening-SoonOne-Flew-Over-the-Cuckoos-Nest
And yes, that's Billy Joel's "Root Beer Rag" as their theme music!
Today is anniv of Gene Siskel's passing at age 53, 2/20/99.  This tribute aired a week later:
http://siskelandebert.org/video/7UGXRW836N9M/Siskel-and-Ebert-Remembering-Gene-Siskel
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 20, 2011, 12:45:22 PM
Channel 7 is showing one of my fave unsung movies of the last dozen years, Dick, with Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams as high school cuties who stumble into Nixon's White House during Watergate. Hilarious. And Gaz, if you've never seen it, you need to put it at the top of your Netflix queue.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 20, 2011, 06:34:51 PM
Watching the orig Valley of the Dolls on cable -- a true campy hoot. REAL camp doesn't know it's bad; that's why it's camp.

ETA and TANC: The Autumn King on KPOO is playing Dionne Warwick's "Valley of the Dolls", which remains quite a lovely song.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on February 27, 2011, 11:18:23 AM
Watched the Will Farrell film Stranger Than Fiction last night. Good quirky story, great cast (Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman, to name a few) but during the credits Sarah and I were both dumbfounded to see Tom Hulce's name listed in the role of some doctor. We had to go back and watch his scene again to see who it was because neither of us had a clue. Turns out he played this dumpy, bearded, touchy-feely psychologist/HR guy. But he bears no resemblance whatsoever to the guy who played the title role in Amadeus (which we just saw on cable last week) or Pinto in Animal House.

Then:

(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR5Xm9-FnKBXSFh5xQ4ypie1vFWaRuSHXpWPWhPVvnKczkNIgunDQ)

Now:

(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQdTZ99mAaXkCsR6AddhJlbSHdmBIO75RdWRVRH-az4d6wsR7MAxA)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 27, 2011, 11:21:55 AM
Watched the Will Farrell film Stranger Than Fiction last night. Good quirky story, great cast (Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman, to name a few) but during the credits Sarah and I were both dumbfounded to see Tom Hulce's name listed in the role of some doctor. We had to go back and watch his scene again to see who it was because neither of us had a clue. Turns out he played this dumpy, bearded, touchy-feely psychologist/HR guy. But he bears no resemblance whatsoever to the guy who played the title role in Amadeus (which we just saw on cable last week) or Pinto in Animal House.


from cutie-pie to Daddy Bear! (and yeah, he's gay)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 27, 2011, 12:53:48 PM
And for those watching the Oscars tonite... I'll be doing my snarky thang on FB. (No more double-posting.) Join me -- and don't be afraid to be rude! Hey, it's working for Charlie Sheen...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 08, 2011, 11:56:00 AM
Hilarious post from a movie blog, re: the upcoming Pixar sequel to Cars:

Quote
I've never seen a frame of any Pixar movie, but the main thing I remember about CARS is that somehow it gave a second lease on life to that idiotic LIFE IS A HIGHWAY song by Tom Cochrane that was a massive unavoidable radio hit my first year of college. One of those one-hit wonders that's everywhere for six months, never to be heard from again. Then lo and behold, 14 years later with it blissfully out of mind for the entire planet, it's back in every TV spot for CARS, and I couldn't BELIEVE someone would subject us to that hideous racket again. Then I find out it wasn't even the original, but a 100% soundalike cover that became a MASSIVE hit (Rascal Flatts) anew, and has a whole generation of kids thinking it was an original.

So fingers crossed that Big and Rich can do a pitch-perfect cover of White Town's "Your Woman" or Shawn Mullins' "Rockabye" for the sequel.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 11, 2011, 09:48:09 AM
Nice piece in today's Chron, an interview with Phil Ochs' daughter. The docu about him plays at the Balboa starting next Friday (3/18).

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/11/MVDP1I6FA5.DTL
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 12, 2011, 09:19:20 PM
a docu about the heyday of the legendary club The Troubador in LA -- currently playing in NYC but will turn up on PBS in March:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/movies/02troub.html?ref=movies

and lo, this docu is showing on KQED at this very moment.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on March 12, 2011, 10:30:50 PM
a docu about the heyday of the legendary club The Troubador in LA -- currently playing in NYC but will turn up on PBS in March:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/movies/02troub.html?ref=movies

and lo, this docu is showing on KQED at this very moment.

Crap. OPB showed this last week. Missed it, dammit.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 13, 2011, 09:43:32 AM
a docu about the heyday of the legendary club The Troubador in LA -- currently playing in NYC but will turn up on PBS in March:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/movies/02troub.html?ref=movies

and lo, this docu is showing on KQED at this very moment.

Crap. OPB showed this last week. Missed it, dammit.

It's pledge-drive season -- it'll be rerun ad infinitum.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on March 16, 2011, 10:22:05 PM
Martha and I attended a free screening (facebook link) of The Music Never Stopped tonight. It was at times funny, tear-inducing, and quite touching.  I'm sure some of you would enjoy it, but I would hesitate to recommend it to the, er how you say, non-aligned among us.  You never know.  Part of the whole thing is that we all have our own personal memories connected to specific music.  I wonder how my kids would react.

IMDB link (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1613062/)

(http://www.daemonsmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/the-music-never-stopped-movie-photo-01-550x386.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 17, 2011, 07:39:49 AM
Martha and I attended a free screening (facebook link) of The Music Never Stopped tonight. It was at times funny, tear-inducing, and quite touching.  I'm sure some of you would enjoy it, but I would hesitate to recommend it to the, er how you say, non-aligned among us.  You never know.  Part of the whole thing is that we all have our own personal memories connected to specific music.  I wonder how my kids would react.


and don't forget the Phil Ochs docu at the Balboa starting tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on March 17, 2011, 09:57:41 AM
Martha and I attended a free screening (facebook link) of The Music Never Stopped tonight. It was at times funny, tear-inducing, and quite touching.  I'm sure some of you would enjoy it, but I would hesitate to recommend it to the, er how you say, non-aligned among us.  You never know.  Part of the whole thing is that we all have our own personal memories connected to specific music.  I wonder how my kids would react.

IMDB link (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1613062/)

(http://www.daemonsmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/the-music-never-stopped-movie-photo-01-550x386.jpg)
OK. You said tear inducing. I welled up watching the preview. Memory loss is troubling me now. Not me yet but MIL with severe Alz/dementia and my Dad after having a brain tumor removed in December just had an episode of seizures two days ago and I took him home from the hospital yesterday. He is not back to his mentally sharp self yet. Troubling. I am seeing my Dad slip away slowly.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on March 17, 2011, 05:59:35 PM
Martha and I attended a free screening (facebook link) of The Music Never Stopped tonight. It was at times funny, tear-inducing, and quite touching.  I'm sure some of you would enjoy it, but I would hesitate to recommend it to the, er how you say, non-aligned among us.  You never know.  Part of the whole thing is that we all have our own personal memories connected to specific music.  I wonder how my kids would react.


and don't forget the Phil Ochs docu at the Balboa starting tomorrow.
yes, I need to carve out some time for that too.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on March 17, 2011, 06:05:19 PM
Martha and I attended a free screening (facebook link) of The Music Never Stopped tonight. It was at times funny, tear-inducing, and quite touching.  I'm sure some of you would enjoy it, but I would hesitate to recommend it to the, er how you say, non-aligned among us.  You never know.  Part of the whole thing is that we all have our own personal memories connected to specific music.  I wonder how my kids would react.

IMDB link (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1613062/)
OK. You said tear inducing. I welled up watching the preview. Memory loss is troubling me now. Not me yet but MIL with severe Alz/dementia and my Dad after having a brain tumor removed in December just had an episode of seizures two days ago and I took him home from the hospital yesterday. He is not back to his mentally sharp self yet. Troubling. I am seeing my Dad slip away slowly.

Well, it continues to resonate for me a day after seeing it, and I'm torn between identifying with the father and the son.  Certainly, now that I'm 60, I relate to much of what the father character goes through, but at the same time, I'm the same age (born around the same time) as the son.  I am the deadhead, and my dad wasn't.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on March 21, 2011, 04:45:44 PM

When movies ruin great songs

From "Forrest Gump" to "Garden State," the films (and one TV show) that mutilate the music we love

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/film_salon/2011/03/18/songs_ruined_by_movies/slideshow.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 24, 2011, 08:55:49 PM
Bad reviews are so much more fun to read than raves. Case in point: AO Scott's pan of Sucker Punch. (No surprise, it looks godawful to me)

"You could go to see Sucker Punch this weekend — a lot of people probably will, and a few may even admit as much back at the office on Monday — or you could try to make it yourself, which might be more fun, though not necessarily cheaper. Here’s what you will need: a bunch of video-game platforms; DVDs of Shutter Island, Kill Bill, Burlesque and Shrek; some back issues of Maxim; a large bag of crystal meth; and around $100 million. Your imagination will take care of the rest."

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 06, 2011, 02:15:27 PM
I don't see many trailers for comedies these days that actually make me want to see the movie, but this looks pretty funny to me. Damn, that Julianne Moore cheats in every movie lately!  Bonus: it's directed by the guys who did I Love You Phillip Morris, one of my favorite underseen flicks of the past year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiCibwSV1ts
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on April 06, 2011, 02:52:03 PM
I don't see many trailers for comedies these days that actually make me want to see the movie, but this looks pretty funny to me. Damn, that Julianne Moore cheats in every movie lately!  Bonus: it's directed by the guys who did I Love You Phillip Morris, one of my favorite underseen flicks of the past year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiCibwSV1ts


That didn't last long--the clip has been pulled due to Warner's copyright claim. So what movie were you referring to? You didn't mention the title.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 06, 2011, 02:56:58 PM
I don't see many trailers for comedies these days that actually make me want to see the movie, but this looks pretty funny to me. Damn, that Julianne Moore cheats in every movie lately!  Bonus: it's directed by the guys who did I Love You Phillip Morris, one of my favorite underseen flicks of the past year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiCibwSV1ts


That didn't last long--the clip has been pulled due to Warner's copyright claim. So what movie were you referring to? You didn't mention the title.

Crazy Stupid Love. Steve Carrell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDLhjm-0rJQ
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on April 06, 2011, 03:41:39 PM
I don't see many trailers for comedies these days that actually make me want to see the movie, but this looks pretty funny to me. Damn, that Julianne Moore cheats in every movie lately!  Bonus: it's directed by the guys who did I Love You Phillip Morris, one of my favorite underseen flicks of the past year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiCibwSV1ts


That didn't last long--the clip has been pulled due to Warner's copyright claim. So what movie were you referring to? You didn't mention the title.

Crazy Stupid Love. Steve Carrell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDLhjm-0rJQ

That does look good.  Of course they give away a lot of the plot points during the clip (it appears), but since it's a RomCom I don't suppose there would much surprise anyway.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 07, 2011, 09:25:43 AM
Saw Source Code last nite -- really great, smart sci-fi (and a rare occasion where I agree with Mick laSalle 100%!). the plot is "Groundhog Day... with a bomb", essentially. Jake Gyllenhaal doing terrific acting (this could easily have been a Nic Cage-running-around-looking-crazy kinda thing) and Vera Farmiga and Jeffrey Wright in supporting roles, fer chrissakes!  Directed by Duncan Jones (aka David Bowie's son Zowie), whose Moon was a fave of mine a couple of years ago. Highly recommended, sez me.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on April 07, 2011, 10:14:40 PM
Saw Source Code last nite -- really great, smart sci-fi (and a rare occasion where I agree with Mick laSalle 100%!). the plot is "Groundhog Day... with a bomb", essentially. Jake Gyllenhaal doing terrific acting (this could easily have been a Nic Cage-running-around-looking-crazy kinda thing) and Vera Farmiga and Jeffrey Wright in supporting roles, fer chrissakes!  Directed by Duncan Jones (aka David Bowie's son Zowie), whose Moon was a fave of mine a couple of years ago. Highly recommended, sez me.

We just saw it tonight (before I read your post). Really good, well conceived and concisely presented. Completely agree with the Groundhog Day comparison, with one part Memento for good measure, and a little bit of Avatar, too. And every time I saw Jeffrey Wright, I couldn't shake the thought that he was doing a riff on Orson Welles. And yeah, Moon was great. Jones definitely has a thing about characters in isolation.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on April 08, 2011, 11:42:55 AM
Schwarzenegger to return to big screen in 'Last Stand'
MovieWeb.com and SlashFilm.com both report that The Ahnuld is in talks to headline The Last Stand, the English-language debut film for South Korean director Kim Ji-Woon (The Good, the Bad, the Weird).
This would mark Schwarzenegger's first live-action starring role since elected governor eight years ago. MW describes the film's plot as follows:
"The story will follow the exploits of a drug cartel leader who blasts his way out of a courtroom, steals a car, and heads towards the Mexican border. Arnold Schwarzenegger will play a sheriff with an inexperienced staff who becomes involved with trying to stop the cartel leader from entering Mexico after the two parties inadvertently cross paths."  Liam Neeson was originally going to play the sheriff before leaving the project earlier this year.
http://www.slashfilm.com/arnold-schwarzeneggers-return-film-kim-jiwoons-the-stand/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on April 08, 2011, 12:00:52 PM
I finally saw Pretty In Pink last night. First time ever.  (I think Sunday and Radical's excitement over the OMD tour got me to put it in my netflix queue. -- TANC: Mike commented in OMD's If You Leave being played twice today, once on KFOG once on some 10at10. Well, of course the song features prominently in the movie.)

The young Jon Crier as Ducky is quite annoying at first, but realistic w all the hyperactivity and emotions, etc. Actually some heavy issues covered quite nicely in there.  Impressive.  I'm a born-again John Hughes fan! 

Did you know the orig script had Molly Ringwald's Andie and Ducky pairing off?  didn't test well, so they had John Hughes write a new ending and brought back everyone to shoot it.  By then, Andrew McCarthy had shaved his hair off for another role, so they stuck him in a bad wig.  HA!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on April 08, 2011, 05:58:06 PM

The young Jon Crier as Ducky is quite annoying at first, but realistic w all the hyperactivity and emotions, etc. Actually some heavy issues covered quite nicely in there.  Impressive.  I'm a born-again John Hughes fan!  

Did you know the orig script had Molly Ringwald's Andie and Ducky pairing off?  


(http://allieiswired.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/jon-cryer-duckie-pretty-in-pink.jpg)
(http://cache2.artprintimages.com/p/LRG/15/1583/76PDD00Z/art-print/steven-myers-happy-little-duckie.jpg)(http://images.wikia.com/ncis/images/a/a8/Dr._Mallard.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 19, 2011, 08:50:45 AM
Remake update: They're doing a new version of They Live, John Carpenter's political/satrirical alien invasion flick (and one of my '80s faves). Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let me In) is directing. It's actually based on the orig short story that Carpenter based his script on.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 20, 2011, 11:38:23 AM
Peter Dinklage, everybody's favorite go-to "little person" actor, will play Herve Villechaize in a forthcoming flick. Ya can't make this stuff up!

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R-AhPgfJIeo/SOfsIjYK2FI/AAAAAAAAB6I/AVeMqAPFaGI/s320/peter-dinklage.jpg)(http://a.giscos.free.fr/cinema/Acteur/H/HerveVillechaize.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 24, 2011, 05:17:01 PM
Mentioned this on FB too, but TCM has been doing Easter & Jesus movies all day, and "JC Superstar" just started @ 5pm, and it'll be followed by "Godspell".

ETA: and Whinyface at her best!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on April 24, 2011, 09:16:39 PM
I finally saw Pretty In Pink last night. First time ever.  (I think Sunday and Radical's excitement over the OMD tour got me to put it in my netflix queue. -- TANC: Mike commented in OMD's If You Leave being played twice today, once on KFOG once on some 10at10. Well, of course the song features prominently in the movie.)

The young Jon Crier as Ducky is quite annoying at first, but realistic w all the hyperactivity and emotions, etc. Actually some heavy issues covered quite nicely in there.  Impressive.  I'm a born-again John Hughes fan! 

Did you know the orig script had Molly Ringwald's Andie and Ducky pairing off?  didn't test well, so they had John Hughes write a new ending and brought back everyone to shoot it.  By then, Andrew McCarthy had shaved his hair off for another role, so they stuck him in a bad wig.  HA!

OM(D)G!  Pretty In Pink is one of my top 10 fave movies of all time.  Maybe it was because I was a freshman in high school when it came out and I went to school with a bunch of rich kids who lived in mansions in Sea Cliff and Pac Heights (while I was living in a cramped apartment with my mom in Lower Nob).  These kids were f*cked up, for sure.  Oh, and I loved Annie Pott's record store clerk character...and the soundtrack!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 25, 2011, 07:44:30 AM
Mentioned this on FB too, but TCM has been doing Easter & Jesus movies all day, and "JC Superstar" just started @ 5pm, and it'll be followed by "Godspell".

ETA: and Whinyface at her best!

So I gotta say that while JCS is not a great film -- the whole hippies-putting-on-a-show framing device seems a cop-out, the choreography is very dated in a leftover-from-Hair kinda way -- the music carries it, and Carl Anderson rules. Whinyface and Neely also very good.

But Godspell: sheesh.  I caught the last half, which was more than enuf.  The clown/mime motif, the painfully cutesy-sincere expressions on every. single. cast-member's face at every. single. moment (reaction shots have rarely been so painful)... sorry, talk about a product of its time. OK, some of the songs are nice.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on April 25, 2011, 10:31:31 AM
Peter Dinklage, everybody's favorite go-to "little person" actor, will play Herve Villechaize in a forthcoming flick. Ya can't make this stuff up!

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_R-AhPgfJIeo/SOfsIjYK2FI/AAAAAAAAB6I/AVeMqAPFaGI/s320/peter-dinklage.jpg)(http://a.giscos.free.fr/cinema/Acteur/H/HerveVillechaize.jpg)

I've been waiting awhile for this.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on April 25, 2011, 10:35:35 AM
Mentioned this on FB too, but TCM has been doing Easter & Jesus movies all day, and "JC Superstar" just started @ 5pm, and it'll be followed by "Godspell".

ETA: and Whinyface at her best!

So I gotta say that while JCS is not a great film -- the whole hippies-putting-on-a-show framing device seems a cop-out, the choreography is very dated in a leftover-from-Hair kinda way -- the music carries it, and Carl Anderson rules. Whinyface and Neely also very good.

But Godspell: sheesh.  I caught the last half, which was more than enuf.  The clown/mime motif, the painfully cutesy-sincere expressions on every. single. cast-member's face at every. single. moment (reaction shots have rarely been so painful)... sorry, talk about a product of its time. OK, some of the songs are nice.

I've never seen "Godspell," and now I think I won't. Nothing compares, nothing compares to Jeeeeeeeeewison! OK, Webber, Rice, Anderson, Neeley and Caiphas helped out a bit, too. :)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: radical347 on April 25, 2011, 01:40:04 PM
Saw "Source Code" the other day...agreed with all the good reviews.  The only gripe I have is the last three or so minutes aren't necessary.  It would have been happy enough as is.  But, that's forgiveable.

I also saw "Super."  I caught the panel w/ Gunn & Wilson @ WonderCon and while they were extremely annoying and arrogant...the movie did look good.  It's not a work of art by any means but it was daaaaamn entertaining.

& now I'm curious about "Pretty in Pink" too!  It's probably my favorite soundtrack, but I have yet to see the movie...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on April 26, 2011, 02:00:51 AM
Saw "Source Code" the other day...agreed with all the good reviews.  The only gripe I have is the last three or so minutes aren't necessary.  It would have been happy enough as is.  But, that's forgiveable.

SPOILER ALERT!
I think the last three minutes were necessary to explain how no one in the world realised that the...thing that happened in the beginning hadn't ever really happened. I was certainly awaiting some explanation, and was about to write the film off as a logistical mess until the last part. But I could have done without the coocooing lovey dovey couple scenes.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 11, 2011, 08:20:43 AM
If movie posters were honest:

http://www.awardsdaily.com/2011/05/if-this-summer%e2%80%99s-movie-posters-told-the-truth/#more-39301
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 12, 2011, 09:56:23 AM
If movie posters were honest:

http://www.awardsdaily.com/2011/05/if-this-summer%e2%80%99s-movie-posters-told-the-truth/#more-39301

Those are hysterical!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: radical347 on May 13, 2011, 08:28:42 PM
Caught an advance screening of Priest 3D yesterday... B-.  Spare & cold is an apt descriptor.  I was left wanting more (this was both good & bad).  Not a lot of character or plot development.  Stoicism worked for the main character...the others not so much.  Final fight is underwhelming.  At 1:20 at least it stops just short of overstaying its welcome.  However - attention to detail (esp. the city/town/outback), use of slow-motion & 3D = brilliant.  It's based on a Korean graphic novel, & I felt like it everything jumped right out of the pages.  I gather it's difficult to make a cohesive plot out of something like that but I suspect this isn't going to make the reviewers too sympathetic, so I'm fully expecting it to get critically panned.  Still, I think it's worth seeing on the big screen (it will probably suck if you wait til it gets to Cinemax), but be aware that it's not going to knock your socks off.

Other recent movies:
Thor: C-.  Derivative of a derivative of a derivative.  Couldn't really root for any of the characters, Thor's revelation was not convincing & even the villain couldn't really make up his mind & then the movie gets rid of him in the most generic way.  Good but not great SFX can't save it as "eye candy."  3D could have made it a lot better...but it didn't.

The Greatest Movie Ever sold: D+.  I actually love seeing name brands plastered across the screen as much as anyone could but honestly I found this a snooze-inducing self-serving 90 minute infomercial.

Hanna: C.  Colorful but didn't seem to know what it was doing.

(Geez, I'm harsh.  ;))
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on May 14, 2011, 01:27:07 PM
Now that I've seen a trailer for it, I actually kinda want to see The Beaver.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 14, 2011, 07:07:13 PM
Now that I've seen a trailer for it, I actually kinda want to see The Beaver.

Saw it the other nite: pretty disappointing. Mel can certainly do crazy; no surprise there. But it would''ve been better had it been darker and funnier -- it's way too Oprah-ized and touchy-feely. A misfire, sez me.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 15, 2011, 09:37:18 AM
Saw a really interesting flick on PPV (IFC On Demand): Super. Dunno how many of you saw Kick-Ass last year but this is sorta the (very) dark side of the same concept: average people dressing up like superheroes to fight crime. Not as cartoony as Kick-Ass and much much bloodier -- the point is that anyone who would do such a thing is probably ... nuts. Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler and Kevin Bacon (playing the sleaziest coke dealer ever!). Liked it a lot.

Meanwhile, high on my list of "movies I've never seen but really really want to" is 1980's The Idolmaker

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Idolmaker

The fictionalized story of the guy who discovered Fabian, Frankie Avalon etc. It was Taylor Hackford's directorial debut and is always being short-listed as one of the best movies about music, like, EVER. Didn't do well at the box office and I'm not sure if it's even on video. So now Ryan Gosling is going to direct and star in a remake. WTF?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on May 16, 2011, 03:38:47 PM
Today, May 16, is the 25th anniversary (!) of the release of Top Gun
Time magazine piece: Top 10 Reasons Why Top Gun Is Still Awesome
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2071414_2071416_2071427,00.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 18, 2011, 08:13:00 AM
First pic of Ed Harris as John McCain in the HBO flick Game Change. Uncanny.

(http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/images/column/cannes2011/mccainharris.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 19, 2011, 12:39:09 PM
not surprising that Pirates of the Carribbean: On Stranger Tides is getting some bad reviews, but this is effin' priceless:

Quote
One of the worst films of all time, On Stranger Tides has absolutely and utterly no redeeming qualities whatsoever. I wanted to say it's like watching an enema, but even that's a good thing: you get rid of the filth. Instead, here, you are force-fed shit, then made to regurgitate it, and then eat it again. It's as if you were cloned, and the clones shared the same consciousness, and then were turned into the human centipede, but instead of three, this centipede is endless. It's not so much pain, though there's that, too, but, instead, nausea.

What can I say about it? There are pirates and movie stars and ships and mermaids and whatever. Something about the Fountain of Youth. I don't know. I don't fucking care anymore....The film has no scope, no imagination, no sense of wonder. It's just a product, and it's a product for the international audiences more than the U.S. ones; like most of Hollywood's latest major product, it sets sails for these morally dubious shores. It's like a circus geek show, but instead of the geek biting the head of a chicken, in this one, he shits in your mouth.

If we cannot take solace from an art form, what can we take solace from? As I tweeted that I was on my way to see the film, a friend replied to say he considered Jerry Bruckheimer a marketing genius. This is it, though, isn't it? Marketing. Products. Consumption. Joy of fucking joys. We had dreams once, we fought for libertι, ιgalitι, fraternitι. While doing that, we were supposed to be given hope and power by the arts. Now the arts have become our enemy.

I will be the first person to admit that not everything is a front in the Kulturkampf. And, as I said, indignation is an unattractive quality (the gatekeeper, it seems, to modern wisdom is indignation). But, in the words of the great Jean Luc Picard, the line must be drawn here—this far, no further! Stop fucking seeing pieces of shit like this, start demanding better from your gods. Because, if you like this film, you are a cunt.

(Ali Arikan, writing on Slant.com)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on May 20, 2011, 10:19:14 AM
not surprising that Pirates of the Carribbean: On Stranger Tides is getting some bad reviews, but this is effin' priceless:

Quote
One of the worst films of all time, On Stranger Tides ..

(Ali Arikan, writing on Slant.com)

awesome, thanks for posting.  

Clarification of the domain, though: it's on slantmagazine.com (slant.com is some designer) >>
http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2011/05/a-fountain-of-maggots-rob-marshalls-pirates-of-the-caribbean-on-stranger-tides/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on May 20, 2011, 11:57:28 AM
Some movie entertainment for tonight and Saturday:
"The Rapture" (1991) with Mimi Rogers, David Duchovny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmX7d9B20WQ

Arnold in "End of Days" (1999): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzkwtbyiaME

"Left Behind" (2000): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h2LtAG3Mkw
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 20, 2011, 01:22:31 PM
Some movie entertainment for tonight and Saturday:
"The Rapture" (1991) with Mimi Rogers, David Duchovny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmX7d9B20WQ

Arnold in "End of Days" (1999): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzkwtbyiaME

"Left Behind" (2000): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h2LtAG3Mkw

"The Rapture" is a good movie, actually -- it's got enuf to piss-off both fundies AND atheists. "Like, OMG -- what if this stuff is actually true??"

The "Left Behind" films (there have been several sequels), starring that great thespian Kirk "Growing Pains" Cameron, are as crappy as you'd expect. "Piously acted, stiffly directed, and infused with a view of world politics that might charitably be described as delusional." (the Phila. Inquirer)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on May 27, 2011, 09:03:15 PM
Attn: Geoff and others: Magic Trip (Official Movie Site) - Starring Ken Kesey, Neal Cassady, and The Merry Band of Pranksters... http://www.magictripmovie.com/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 30, 2011, 04:35:11 PM
Just saw Bridesmaids -- damn, it's hilarious. Kudos to everyone, but Kristen Wiig (who stars and co-wrote) RULES. And I'll never say anything bad about Wilson-Phillips ever again.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 02, 2011, 09:06:19 PM
Japanese monster nite on TCM: Rodan, Ghidrah and Godzilla vs Monster Zero. Tokyo is in ruins!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 03, 2011, 09:04:56 PM
On TCM at this hour: High Society -- in case you'd like to see if the Crosby/Sinatra version of "Well Did You EVAH?" is better than the Iggy Pop/Debbie Harry take.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on June 03, 2011, 09:40:15 PM
Just saw Bridesmaids -- damn, it's hilarious. Kudos to everyone, but Kristen Wiig (who stars and co-wrote) RULES. And I'll never say anything bad about Wilson-Phillips ever again.

We just saw it tonight, and must report that the old folks dug it too!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 03, 2011, 10:04:56 PM
Just saw Bridesmaids -- damn, it's hilarious. Kudos to everyone, but Kristen Wiig (who stars and co-wrote) RULES. And I'll never say anything bad about Wilson-Phillips ever again.

We just saw it tonight, and must report that the old folks dug it too!

I love Kristen Wiig.  She can be my Target Lady any time.  And I heard that even Maya Rudolph is acceptable in this.   

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Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on June 04, 2011, 12:20:57 AM
Guilty pleasure of the week:  The Green Berets.

I watched half last night, finished it off tonight.  On Demand, the Preferred Collection (which has a bunch of free movies, and kind of rocks).

Yes, it is an awful, awful movie.  Bad acting, bad directing, and the worst kind of right-wing propaganda.  But it is funny as hell.  Hella funny.  OMG funny.

What I want to do is do a mash up of The Green Berets, Apocalypse Now, Star Trek (George Takei is awesomely awsome in TGB) and Barney Miller (Jack Soo too).  I'm not exactly sure how it would work, but in the end, Martin Sheen would kill John Wayne.

BTW, I finally got my wireless going at home, so I'm likely to be much more active on my computer in the evenings from now on.  Fair warning.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 04, 2011, 09:16:37 AM
Guilty pleasure of the week:  The Green Berets.


I remember seeing it in a theater when I was, like, 14. The bit about Viet hookers putting razors in their pussy was pretty mind-blowing to a 14-year-old.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on June 04, 2011, 02:25:29 PM
Guilty pleasure of the week:  The Green Berets.


I remember seeing it in a theater when I was, like, 14. The bit about Viet hookers putting razors in their pussy was pretty mind-blowing to a 14-year-old.

ewww!

TMI!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on June 04, 2011, 09:02:49 PM
Guilty pleasure of the week:  The Green Berets.


I remember seeing it in a theater when I was, like, 14. The bit about Viet hookers putting razors in their pussy was pretty mind-blowing to a 14-year-old.

Uh, I think you might be remembering a different movie.  The movie is graphic to a point, but they kept it pretty clean too...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 06, 2011, 09:00:48 AM
Meant to mention I watched Gnomeo & Juliet on PPV sat nite. It was... cute. Lots of bright colors. And Sir Elton's catalog gets quite the workout.  But boy am I glad I didn't pay 15 bucks to see it in 3-D.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 06, 2011, 03:52:13 PM
No TEXTING, bitch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L3eeC2lJZs&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 06, 2011, 04:38:02 PM
No TEXTING, bitch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L3eeC2lJZs&feature=player_embedded

that's pretty funny, but she also sounded tipsy on that recorded message.  Lesson number two: Don't drink and dial!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 07, 2011, 07:38:03 AM
Saw Midnight in Paris last evening, and it's as good as you've heard. The best Mr Allen has done in a few years at least and Owen Wilson is Woody's best surrogate since John Cusack in Bullets Over B'way.  Unlike that horrid Anything Else in 2003 where Jason Biggs and Christina Ricci sit around talking about Billie Holiday (as if she's still as popular with twentysomethings as Beyonce), Wilson, whose character is a writer, is actually believable as someone who reveres Hemingway and Fitzgerald. Nice work.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 07, 2011, 08:27:29 AM
Saw Midnight in Paris last evening, and it's as good as you've heard. The best Mr Allen has done in a few years at least and Owen Wilson is Woody's best surrogate since John Cusack in Bullets Over B'way.  Unlike that horrid Anything Else in 2003 where Jason Biggs and Christina Ricci sit around talking about Billie Holiday (as if she's still as popular with twentysomethings as Beyonce), Wilson, whose character is a writer, is actually believable as someone who reveres Hemingway and Fitzgerald. Nice work.

heh, I almost went myself.  I might go tonight to see that or Terence Malick's Tree Of Life

last night I saw Playtime at the Castro.  It's playing again tonight as part of a mini-70mm festival.  Coming up is  Vertigo, Lawrence of ArabiaWest Side Story already finished its two-day run.

http://www.castrotheatre.com/p-list.html#jun05
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 08, 2011, 09:48:13 AM
So, I was gonna post in another thread that Alec Baldwin is considering a run for Mayor of NYC, now that Mr Weiner's hopes have been (pink) torpedoed.  But the article on HuffPo mentions, almost as an afterthought, that he's starring on the film adaptation of the B'way hair-band musical Rock of Ages (!)  Why did I not know about this??

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/31/alec-baldwin-in-rock-of-ages-photo_n_869200.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 08, 2011, 11:10:03 AM
Saw Tree of Life last night.  It's a very ambitious movie, and challenging.  I think Mick LaSalle said of it that it comes close to showing on screen how memory works. That's debatable  -- my memories were never in such detailed and clear expansive visuals, mine often play out more like scratchy fuzzy super-8 clips -- but it does illuminate the non-narrative aspect of the movie.  If you're expecting a plot-driven ride, go elsewhere.  This is largely dark and very tense at times when it focuses on the main character's unsettling recollections.  Large portions are devoted to seemingly tangential forays into cosmological- or molecular-level displays that might come off as laughable if you're not in the mood.  Likewise with the  occasional disconnected and ponderous voiceover clips that play out from the main character's consciousness.   Parts of the movie are also tedious, perhaps like some well-worn memories we'd rather not see again?

It will stick with me: it's powerful, but I can't say it was completely enjoyable... nevertheless I give it two gerbils up!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 08, 2011, 11:22:57 AM
Saw Tree of Life last night.  It's a very ambitious movie, and challenging.  I think Mick LaSalle said of it that it comes close to showing on screen how memory works. That's debatable  -- my memories were never in such detailed and clear expansive visuals, mine often play out more like scratchy fuzzy super-8 clips...

So then you'll be seeing Super 8 this weekend?  ;)

I've got Tree.... pencilled in for Monday after work. And next week there's the "event" screening of the concert version of Sondheim's Company with Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Colbert!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 12, 2011, 05:58:21 PM
OK I realize trailers can be misleading, but that Tom Hanks/Julia Roberts thing (Larry Crowne) looks... lame.  And I just found out it was written by Nia "My Big Fat Greek Chick Flick" Vardalos, which oughta be a HUGE red flag.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on June 13, 2011, 09:42:09 AM
OK I realize trailers can be misleading, but that Tom Hanks/Julia Roberts thing (Larry Crowne) looks... lame.  And I just found out it was written by Nia "My Big Fat Greek Chick Flick" Vardalos, which oughta be a HUGE red flag.

Okay Stan...

Actually I didn't think it looked that bad.  Sure it's going to be shmaltzy as all get out, but it's got Hanks and Roberts, and they will probably make it work.  I have a weak spot for romcoms, and it usually comes down to the leads.  I kind of like the big fat greek wedding chick too.  Not exactly intellectually stimulating, but jovial and pleasant.  I even liked My Life In Ruins (with Richard Dreyfuss), and nobody should admit to that.

But I like happy endings (get your mind out of the gutter).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 13, 2011, 09:49:38 AM
OK I realize trailers can be misleading, but that Tom Hanks/Julia Roberts thing (Larry Crowne) looks... lame.  And I just found out it was written by Nia "My Big Fat Greek Chick Flick" Vardalos, which oughta be a HUGE red flag.

Okay Stan...


well, I didn't actually use the word "shit"  ;)

I'm confused by the premise, tho': they FIRE him after 20 years because he didn't go to college? Isn't that illegal or something? Wha?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on June 13, 2011, 11:37:05 AM

"The Rapture" is a good movie, actually -- it's got enuf to piss-off both fundies AND atheists. "Like, OMG -- what if this stuff is actually true??"


I just watched it last night. I don't know if I'd describe it as "good," but I agree it's pretty fair when it comes to the piss-off. Lemon Faire, Vermont!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 14, 2011, 08:52:41 AM
Saw Tree of Life last night.  It's a very ambitious movie, and challenging.  I think Mick LaSalle said of it that it comes close to showing on screen how memory works. That's debatable  -- my memories were never in such detailed and clear expansive visuals, mine often play out more like scratchy fuzzy super-8 clips -- but it does illuminate the non-narrative aspect of the movie.  If you're expecting a plot-driven ride, go elsewhere.  This is largely dark and very tense at times when it focuses on the main character's unsettling recollections.  Large portions are devoted to seemingly tangential forays into cosmological- or molecular-level displays that might come off as laughable if you're not in the mood.  Likewise with the  occasional disconnected and ponderous voiceover clips that play out from the main character's consciousness.   Parts of the movie are also tedious, perhaps like some well-worn memories we'd rather not see again?

It will stick with me: it's powerful, but I can't say it was completely enjoyable... nevertheless I give it two gerbils up!


saw it last nite and to my surprise I liked it a lot. I'm not a Malick groupie by any stretch; while I loved Badlands and Days of Heaven way back when, I was lukewarm about The New World and found Thin Red Line painfully long and obtuse.

But mostly agree with what TC said above, about Tree. Parts of it are achingly beautiful, you def need to be in the mood for this sort of thing. Thought Pitt was quite good and the child actors were excellent.  The dinosaurs were a bit "WTF?" and that last bit on the beach was a tad Oprah-esque, but overall it worked for me.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 16, 2011, 06:09:41 PM
Another cheezy thurs nite of sci-fi on TCM: Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.  Great stuff.

And later tonite, Queen of Outer Space and Mars Needs Women!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on June 18, 2011, 08:07:47 AM
As we were leaving the hotel yesterday, I caught part of a movie with Jeff Bridges as an alien.  When I got home, I figured it out, it was "Starman," which I'd never seen.  I'm sure most of you guys have.  I enjoyed it for geeky reasons (I worked on the space probe Voyager back in '74-'75), but found it quite predictable.  It looked like he was mimicking TNG's Data, but this movie predates TNG.  It has relatively good fan ratings, and a decent Ebert review too.  Did anyone else see this?  It said Jeff got an Oscar nod too, which seems incredible to me.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 18, 2011, 09:56:38 AM
As we were leaving the hotel yesterday, I caught part of a movie with Jeff Bridges as an alien.  When I got home, I figured it out, it was "Starman," which I'd never seen.  I'm sure most of you guys have.  I enjoyed it for geeky reasons (I worked on the space probe Voyager back in '74-'75), but found it quite predictable.  It looked like he was mimicking TNG's Data, but this movie predates TNG.  It has relatively good fan ratings, and a decent Ebert review too.  Did anyone else see this?  It said Jeff got an Oscar nod too, which seems incredible to me.

It's a pretty  wonderful film, and Bridges Oscar nod was well-deserved for the kind of acting Oscar tends to overlook.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 20, 2011, 01:13:25 PM
Official trailer for the new Muppet Movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4YhbpuGdwQ&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 20, 2011, 01:32:38 PM
did anyone see Super-8?  I loved it.  Saw it in IMAX!  A rollicking ride with nods to The Goonies, E.T., Close Encounters...

what about Trollhunter?  anyone catch that?  Pretty fun Norwegian movie about ... a troll hunter.  Showing at Lumiere currrently.  If you miss it, catch it on the DVD.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 20, 2011, 01:52:29 PM
did anyone see Super-8?  I loved it.  Saw it in IMAX!  A rollicking ride with nods to The Goonies, E.T., Close Encounters...

what about Trollhunter?  anyone catch that?  Pretty fun Norwegian movie about ... a troll hunter.  Showing at Lumiere currrently.  If you miss it, catch it on the DVD.

Looking forward to seeing Super 8, and Trollhunter is available in your living room right now via Comcast On-Demand -- I will probably watch it this weekend. (they're already talking American remake, BTW)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on June 20, 2011, 04:27:49 PM
did anyone see Super-8?  I loved it.  Saw it in IMAX!  A rollicking ride with nods to The Goonies, E.T., Close Encounters...
I saw Super-8 a week ago and enjoyed it.  Saw it in regular format, not IMAX; wonder how much the experience differs?   Felt like I was back at the movies again in the late '70s/early 80s.   Like you said, "a rollicking ride with nods to The Goonies, E.T., Close Encounters..."  and elements of Jaws too.   And be sure to stick around during the credits to see the final edit of the film that the kids were working on during the movie.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 23, 2011, 09:03:09 PM
Final cheezy-'50s-monster-movie Thursday of the month on TCM: Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, a fave of mine from childhood and the film that put Ray Harryhausen on the map. Great stuff.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 25, 2011, 10:05:31 PM

what about Trollhunter?  anyone catch that?  Pretty fun Norwegian movie about ... a troll hunter.  Showing at Lumiere currrently.  If you miss it, catch it on the DVD.

Just watched it on PPV... Trollhunter rocks!  Really enjoyed it. One reviewer called it "Cloverfield meets Monty Python" which is a good description... and appropriate, since all the Norwegian scenery had me pinin' for the fjords...  ;)

BTW, Tinka, if you liked Trollhunter I think you'd love Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, the Finnish holiday horror flick that played here last December.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 26, 2011, 10:42:07 PM

what about Trollhunter?  anyone catch that?  Pretty fun Norwegian movie about ... a troll hunter.  Showing at Lumiere currrently.  If you miss it, catch it on the DVD.

Just watched it on PPV... Trollhunter rocks!  Really enjoyed it. One reviewer called it "Cloverfield meets Monty Python" which is a good description... and appropriate, since all the Norwegian scenery had me pinin' for the fjords...  ;)

BTW, Tinka, if you liked Trollhunter I think you'd love Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, the Finnish holiday horror flick that played here last December.

"TRROOOLLLLLLL!!!"

yes, I've heard of Rare Exports... I should netflix it for the holidays.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 27, 2011, 08:26:12 AM
The Coen Bros next film will be about the Greenwich Village folk scene of the early '60s, loosely based on Dave Van Ronk's memoirs.

http://www.awardsdaily.com/2011/06/coens-next-film-inhabits-early-nyc-folk-music-scene/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on June 28, 2011, 03:39:36 PM
Went to a screening of Upside Down: The Creation Records Story last night.  This was my favorite label, back in da day...Jesus & Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Teenage Fanclub, Ride, Boo Radleys, House of Love, My Bloody Valentine & Oasis were all interviewed in this documentary.  These folks really knew how to have a good time, I tells ya.  Oh and they also managed to put out some great records all the while. 

Mark Gardener from Ride ended up playing a short acoustic set at the end of the film.  This evening was just too amazing for words. 

Here's a link to the movie website:

http://www.upsidedownthemovie.com/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 29, 2011, 10:47:43 AM
on PBS last night the POV film series showed My Perestroika (http://myperestroika.com/), a doc about Soviets (Russians) who came of age just when the USSR was turning the corner.  They were indoctrinated in the Soviet Party system: encouraged to join the Party youth groups sing songs, etc, just like many youths.  The film catches up with them now: two are teachers and married, one is a musician, one is a businessman, one is a depressed chain-smoking single mom.  Pretty interesting, but I couldn't stay awake for the whole thing.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 29, 2011, 11:02:11 AM
on PBS last night the POV film series showed My Perestroika (http://myperestroika.com/), a doc about Soviets (Russians) who came of age just when the USSR was turning the corner.  They were indoctrinated in the Soviet Party system: encouraged to join the Party youth groups sing songs, etc, just like many youths.  The film catches up with them now: two are teachers and married, one is a musician, one is a businessman, one is a depressed chain-smoking single mom.  Pretty interesting, but I couldn't stay awake for the whole thing.

Wow -- I paid 10 hard-earned bucks to see that at the Balboa just a month ago!  Had I known...

(I liked it, BTW)

and speaking of quick turnarounds to TV, on Fri nite VH-1 Classic will be showing that S&G docu, "The Harmony Game", that Gaz, mshray and I saw (also at the Balboa) when Gaz was in town a few months back.  Well worth seeing if you have that channel on yer cable menu.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 30, 2011, 12:33:08 PM
Roger Ebert on Larry Crowne:

"I watched the movie with all the pleasure I bring to watching bread rise. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy watching bread rise, but it lacks a certain degree of interest. You look forward to it being finished."

oh, snap!

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: princessofcairo on July 01, 2011, 04:06:25 AM
Roger Ebert on Larry Crowne:

"I watched the movie with all the pleasure I bring to watching bread rise. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy watching bread rise, but it lacks a certain degree of interest. You look forward to it being finished."

oh, snap!



I haven't heard of the film, but that's a great line!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Gazoo on July 02, 2011, 02:51:58 PM
Wow -- I paid 10 hard-earned bucks to see that at the Balboa just a month ago!  Had I known...

Hey, yer helping keep the Balboa open.  :)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 04, 2011, 09:06:17 PM
did anyone see Super-8?  I loved it.  Saw it in IMAX!  A rollicking ride with nods to The Goonies, E.T., Close Encounters...
I saw Super-8 a week ago and enjoyed it.  Saw it in regular format, not IMAX; wonder how much the experience differs?   Felt like I was back at the movies again in the late '70s/early 80s.   Like you said, "a rollicking ride with nods to The Goonies, E.T., Close Encounters..."  and elements of Jaws too.   And be sure to stick around during the credits to see the final edit of the film that the kids were working on during the movie.

Finally saw it today as part of a holiday double-header: first up was X-Men: First Class, a nicely-rendered and well-cast "origins" story that I quite enjoyed. Then came Super 8 and it's as described previously, a wonderful throwback to '80s Spielberg-ism. Elle Fanning for Best Supporting Actress!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on July 05, 2011, 12:37:49 AM
did anyone see Super-8?  I loved it.  Saw it in IMAX!  A rollicking ride with nods to The Goonies, E.T., Close Encounters...
I saw Super-8 a week ago and enjoyed it.  Saw it in regular format, not IMAX; wonder how much the experience differs?   Felt like I was back at the movies again in the late '70s/early 80s.   Like you said, "a rollicking ride with nods to The Goonies, E.T., Close Encounters..."  and elements of Jaws too.   And be sure to stick around during the credits to see the final edit of the film that the kids were working on during the movie.

Finally saw it today as part of a holiday double-header: first up was X-Men: First Class, a nicely-rendered and well-cast "origins" story that I quite enjoyed. Then came Super 8 and it's as described previously, a wonderful throwback to '80s Spielberg-ism. Elle Fanning for Best Supporting Actress!

We saw Super 8 today as well, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Completely agree about Spielberg reclaiming some of his past glories--I saw (and felt) bits of E.T. and Close Encounters, as well as Alien (yeah, I know that was Ridley Scott) and a few others of that era, too. No Jaws, but didn't miss it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: radical347 on July 06, 2011, 11:44:19 PM
Saw 2 unnecessary remakes 2night...Cars 2 and Kung Fu Panda 2, although Kung Fu Panda 2 was somewhat redeeming.  Dazzling animation.  Decent story.  Predictably happy ending.  Cars 2 on the other hand was a total disaster.  I got a kick out of how they drew Japan, but for the rest, they just tried too hard.  The protagonist was annoying.  There wasn't a real developed villain, although the movie tried to make a few of them.  The plot was severely muddled.  The animation was probably good, but I was too busy being irritated at everything else to pay attention to that.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 07, 2011, 07:39:10 AM
Saw 2 unnecessary remakes 2night...Cars 2 and Kung Fu Panda 2, although Kung Fu Panda 2 was somewhat redeeming.  Dazzling animation.  Decent story.  Predictably happy ending.  Cars 2 on the other hand was a total disaster.  I got a kick out of how they drew Japan, but for the rest, they just tried too hard.  The protagonist was annoying.  There wasn't a real developed villain, although the movie tried to make a few of them.  The plot was severely muddled.  The animation was probably good, but I was too busy being irritated at everything else to pay attention to that.

indeed, C2 has gotten the worst reviews of any Pixar ever; they've got a lot of sequels in the pipeline including Monsters Inc 2 and Incredibles 2.

Last nite I saw Beginners, with Christopher Plummer & Ewan McGregor -- very moving and sweet. 2 thumbs up.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 07, 2011, 08:56:03 AM
from Rotten Tomatoes' comment section:

"Things I'd Rather Do Than See Zookeeper:

Spend an hour in a sleeping bag with Glenn Beck
Be Snooki's assistant
Eat at Jollibee's for a week"

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: radical347 on July 16, 2011, 04:00:49 PM

LOL!  That movie has like a 13%...among the lowest this year for sure, maybe ever.

I saw X-Men and Green Lantern the other day.  I agree that X-Men was well cast...felt just a little forced though, but it seemed to work.  Green Lantern OTOH = the most hilariously bad movie I've seen since "Glitter"  :-X
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 19, 2011, 08:09:45 AM
I am so TOTALLY looking forward to this one:  Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle! How could it be bad?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/movies/brendan-gleeson-and-don-cheadle-in-the-guard.html?_r=1&ref=movies
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on July 20, 2011, 12:39:09 PM
last call for The Red Vic!

The Last Waltz is showing tonight, they're closed tomorrow (Thurs), then begins a four-day run of Harold and Maude.

 Monday July 25 is their last day of operation.

http://www.redvicmoviehouse.com/

I need to see H&M there before they close.  :(

(http://www.redvicmoviehouse.com/banner/haroldandmaude_banner.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on July 20, 2011, 12:56:13 PM
last call for The Red Vic!

The Last Waltz is showing tonight
http://www.redvicmoviehouse.com/

 
Oh man, I wish I could be there tonight!  I saw The Last Waltz at The Castro once upon a time.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 20, 2011, 12:58:58 PM
last call for The Red Vic!

The Last Waltz is showing tonight, they're closed tomorrow (Thurs), then begins a four-day run of Harold and Maude.

I need to see H&M there before they close.  :(


"A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They're just backing away from life. *Reach* out. Take a *chance*. Get *hurt* even. But play as well as you can. Go team, go! Give me an L. Give me an I. Give me a V. Give me an E. L-I-V-E. LIVE! Otherwise, you got nothing to talk about in the locker room."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 21, 2011, 11:56:40 AM
And it looks like the Balboa may follow the RedVic into oblivion unless someone setps up...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/21/BAAK1KD5RI.DTL
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on July 21, 2011, 11:58:41 AM
last call for The Red Vic!

The Last Waltz is showing tonight, they're closed tomorrow (Thurs), then begins a four-day run of Harold and Maude.

I need to see H&M there before they close.  :(


"A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They're just backing away from life. *Reach* out. Take a *chance*. Get *hurt* even. But play as well as you can. Go team, go! Give me an L. Give me an I. Give me a V. Give me an E. L-I-V-E. LIVE! Otherwise, you got nothing to talk about in the locker room."


Did you quote that from memory?   (I would believe you if you said Yes.)

I'm going to the 7:15 PM showing tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 21, 2011, 12:13:09 PM
last call for The Red Vic!

The Last Waltz is showing tonight, they're closed tomorrow (Thurs), then begins a four-day run of Harold and Maude.

I need to see H&M there before they close.  :(


"A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They're just backing away from life. *Reach* out. Take a *chance*. Get *hurt* even. But play as well as you can. Go team, go! Give me an L. Give me an I. Give me a V. Give me an E. L-I-V-E. LIVE! Otherwise, you got nothing to talk about in the locker room."


Did you quote that from memory?   

Sorry. IMDB is my friend.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 22, 2011, 10:47:40 PM
Just saw Captain America, and I'm happy to say it's pretty terrific. A week ago I had no desire to see it, given the track record of superhero flicks this summer, but it got all these "wow, this is a LOT better than I thought it would be!" reviews and they are dead-on. Very pleasingly old-school without being campy. And a great supporting cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Dominic Cooper (as Tony "Iron Man" Stark's dad!), Hugo Weaving. Nice job.  Stay until the credits end for a glimpse of next summer's Avengers flick.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on July 27, 2011, 11:32:42 AM
Last Sunday, I went to the Castro to watch Kirk Douglas accept the Freedom of Expression award from SF Jewish Film Festival.  Despite his age (94) and the stroke he suffered abt 10 years ago, the guy is all there, and it was a real honor to be in attendance.  

He's pretty funny. When he was talking about politics and religion and mentioned "Ahmadinejad" -- he paused, looked at the audience, and said "My speech therapist would be proud of me."  

He insisted that blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo use his real name on the credit for the film Spartacus (Stanley Kubridk, directed and Douglas was producer) , which they showed after the presentation.  Douglas considers that decision to be his proudest professional achievement.

the Chron covered it
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/26/DDVL1KENLS.DTL
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 29, 2011, 08:03:37 PM
Oddity of the Week: tonite @ 11, TCM is showing Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One (yes, that's really the title!). I thought I'd heard of every obscure '60s cult film but this is a new one on me.  Seriously avant-garde, actors playing themselves and then commenting on their own improvised acting.  Sounds seriously whacked-out. I'm so toatlly there!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 01, 2011, 12:34:20 PM
This new docu about Ken Kesey opens Friday but has been available On Demand (if you have Comcast) for the past month.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/movies/magic-trip-reconstructs-footage-from-ken-keseys-bus-trip.html?_r=1&ref=movies
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 01, 2011, 09:30:54 PM
Last Sunday, I went to the Castro to watch Kirk Douglas accept the Freedom of Expression award from SF Jewish Film Festival.  Despite his age (94) and the stroke he suffered abt 10 years ago, the guy is all there, and it was a real honor to be in attendance.  

He's pretty funny. When he was talking about politics and religion and mentioned "Ahmadinejad" -- he paused, looked at the audience, and said "My speech therapist would be proud of me."  

He insisted that blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo use his real name on the credit for the film Spartacus (Stanley Kubridk, directed and Douglas was producer) , which they showed after the presentation.  Douglas considers that decision to be his proudest professional achievement.

the Chron covered it
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/26/DDVL1KENLS.DTL

TANC: just came from the Balboa where I saw Cameraman, the terrific docu about legendary cinematographer Jack Cardiff, and Kirk Douglas is one of the many also-legendary talking heads singing Cardiff's praises in the film. (Charlton Heston! Lauren Bacall!).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 04, 2011, 08:12:47 AM
Last nite I saw the week's *other* alien-invasion flick, Attck the Block -- a dandy little low-budget British B-movie about aliens attacking a London "council flat" (aka public housing project). No CGI (just guys in gorilla-suits with glow-in-the-dark teeth) and all the better for it. Think: the original The Thing, Assault on Precinct 13 and a touch of Night of the Living Dead. Howard Hawks, John Carpenter and George Romero would all be proud. Will work nicely on video (it's the lowest-budget Cinemascope movie I think I've ever seen) and those British/Jamaican accents are pretty thick, but a good time at the movies. Who needs Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford? 2 thumbs up!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 09, 2011, 08:06:50 AM
caught up with Cowboys & Aliens Sunday -- enjoyed it, and not quite understanding the critics who hated it. You don't go into a movie with that title expecting transcendence.  A fun mash-up of genres.

And last nite I saw The Devil's Double, with Dominic Cooper (who plays Iron Man's dad in Captain America) as both Uday Hussein (Saddam's son) and his double, a lookalike childhood friend he forces to become his "twin", so he can pretend to be in palces he's not, etc. Yes, it's a true story; takes place around the time of the first Gulf War.  Entertainingly lurid --Uday was a world-class psychopath, so there's lots of blood, drugs and naked women -- and Cooper deserves Oscar consideration IMHO.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 13, 2011, 07:18:18 PM
OMGWTF-of-the-Week: tonite on MTV2, they're showing a direct-to-DVD comedy from last year called (I *swear* I'm not making this up) The 41-Year-Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It.  Yes -- it's a "parody" of Judd Apatow movies. How does one parody a comedy, exactly?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 14, 2011, 06:48:44 PM
Last night I caught up with the remake of Jane Eyre from earlier this year. Very nicely rendered, with the girl from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland as Jane and Michael Fassbender, best-known to Americans as Young Magneto in X-Men Babies X-Men: First Class as Mr Rochester.

And I just watched The Other Guys, the Will Ferrell/Mark Wahlberg cop comedy from last year, which was MUCH funnier than I expected, not to mention economically relevant.  "I hope you like prison food... and penis!" BONUS: Rage Against the Machine's cover of "Maggie's Farm" over the closing credits.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 16, 2011, 11:49:15 AM
er... TWO Jeff Buckley biopics?

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/reeve-carney-to-play-jeff-buckley-in-biographical-film/

speaking of, whatever became of those 2 dueling Marvin Gaye biopics?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on August 16, 2011, 06:44:13 PM
Saw The Help today. I hate that movies always seem to make me cry. I laughed, I cried. Enjoyed.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 18, 2011, 12:33:28 PM
Since the new Conan flick is getting trashed from coast-to-coast, I half-expected Mick laSalle to do his contrarian (Conan-trarian?) thing and rave about it, but even he hated it. And I'll admit this is one of his funnier bits of writing in a while:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/18/DD7T1KOEIH.DTL
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 19, 2011, 09:13:48 AM
Since the new Conan flick is getting trashed from coast-to-coast, I half-expected Mick laSalle to do his contrarian (Conan-trarian?) thing and rave about it, but even he hated it. And I'll admit this is one of his funnier bits of writing in a while:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/18/DD7T1KOEIH.DTL

But lest you think Mick has somehow regained his sanity, check out the reviews for the new Anne Hathaway romance One Day...

Salon.com: "an appallingly bad movie made by talented people who could and should have done much better, but somehow all drove off the cliff together"

Boston Globe: "miscast, underwritten, drably directed adaptation of a very popular novel, it's the feel-bad film of the summer and an almost perfect example of how not to turn a book into a movie"

Rolling Stone: "This tear-jerking twaddle, adapted by David Nicholls from his 2009 bestseller, is nearly as bad as Anne Hathaway's British accent, which is heading for infamy." (BTW, Peter Travers goes out of his way to like almost everything)

ah, but then there's our Mick: "a beautiful movie, but beautiful in a way that life often is, not movies. Nothing is sudden or easy, either for the characters or for the audience, and there are no thunderbolts from the blue. Rather, the film achieves its effects and builds toward a wealth of feeling through an accumulation of seemingly day-to-day incidents, presented over the course of years. We meet two people, and with time and maturity, the towering consequence of their relationship reveals itself..."


Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 27, 2011, 09:48:17 PM
Finally saw Rise/Planet/Apes and damn, it's really great. Cleverly thought-out and very well-put-together -- a tight 100 minutes, unlike some bloated summmer blockbusters I could name.  So often a young director makes an acclaimed, little-seen indie and then H'wood signs him up to make some tentpole/reboot/CGI crapfest and he takes the money and runs. This guy, Rupert Wyatt, made a liitle movie called The Escapist a few years ago and now he's done this and I can't wait to see what he does next. 

How this movie opened with no buzz is beyond me. Why was FOX afraid to show it to anybody? WTF?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 28, 2011, 06:20:23 PM
OMGWTF: the FLIX channel is showing a Jim Henson double feature as we speak: Dark Crystal followed by Labyrynth. Bowie as Queen King Goblin. Bwahahaha!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 28, 2011, 08:11:03 PM
jeezus, channel 32 dredges up some seriously awful crap for their Sun nite movie slot, but tonite takes the cake: Blood Song, a 1982 low-budget shocker with Frankie Avalon as an axe murderer (!) and featuring an original song by Lainie Kazan (!!).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on August 28, 2011, 08:40:49 PM
hush now baby baby don'tchoo cryyyyy

The Wall is playing on Palladia.  Damn this is a creepy movie.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on August 28, 2011, 09:59:06 PM
hush now baby baby don'tchoo cryyyyy

The Wall is playing on Palladia.  Damn this is a creepy movie.
no shit, I had to turn the channel.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on August 28, 2011, 10:03:11 PM
hush now baby baby don'tchoo cryyyyy

The Wall is playing on Palladia.  Damn this is a creepy movie.
no shit, I had to turn the channel.
turned the channel to Hendrix at Woodstock on KCSM
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 29, 2011, 11:56:07 AM
"Je T'aime!" -- it's a Serge Gainsbourg biopic!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/movies/serge-gainsbourg-biographical-film-by-joann-sfar.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on August 29, 2011, 12:06:01 PM
Finally saw Rise/Planet/Apes and damn, it's really great. Cleverly thought-out and very well-put-together -- a tight 100 minutes, unlike some bloated summmer blockbusters I could name.  So often a young director makes an acclaimed, little-seen indie and then H'wood signs him up to make some tentpole/reboot/CGI crapfest and he takes the money and runs. This guy, Rupert Wyatt, made a liitle movie called The Escapist a few years ago and now he's done this and I can't wait to see what he does next. 

How this movie opened with no buzz is beyond me. Why was FOX afraid to show it to anybody? WTF?

I liked it, too.  Andy Serkis who did the motion acting for our protagonist, did a great job (as did the CGI techies to make Serkis' chimp emotionally appealing.)  Sure, there were cardboard characterizations, (Franco's vet girlfriend, the Malfoy actor at the Primate facility) but it worked emotionally on me.

One flaw: there were no bikes on the GG Bridge.  Everything else is completely plausible.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 29, 2011, 12:17:38 PM
Finally saw Rise/Planet/Apes and damn, it's really great. Cleverly thought-out and very well-put-together -- a tight 100 minutes, unlike some bloated summmer blockbusters I could name.  So often a young director makes an acclaimed, little-seen indie and then H'wood signs him up to make some tentpole/reboot/CGI crapfest and he takes the money and runs. This guy, Rupert Wyatt, made a liitle movie called The Escapist a few years ago and now he's done this and I can't wait to see what he does next. 

How this movie opened with no buzz is beyond me. Why was FOX afraid to show it to anybody? WTF?

I liked it, too.  Andy Serkis who did the motion acting for our protagonist, did a great job (as did the CGI techies to make Serkis' chimp emotionally appealing.)  Sure, there were cardboard characterizations, (Franco's vet girlfriend, the Malfoy actor at the Primate facility) but it worked emotionally on me.

One flaw: there were no bikes on the GG Bridge.  Everything else is completely plausible.

the question is: where do they take the sequel? I assume it'll be set at some time *after* humanity dies off ('cause who wants to watch 2 hours of people coughing up blood?). Like, when the Apes take over and perhaps a small band of virus-resistant humans are living in underground bunkers. or something.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on August 29, 2011, 01:27:19 PM
Finally saw Rise/Planet/Apes and damn, it's really great. Cleverly thought-out and very well-put-together -- a tight 100 minutes, unlike some bloated summmer blockbusters I could name.  So often a young director makes an acclaimed, little-seen indie and then H'wood signs him up to make some tentpole/reboot/CGI crapfest and he takes the money and runs. This guy, Rupert Wyatt, made a liitle movie called The Escapist a few years ago and now he's done this and I can't wait to see what he does next. 

How this movie opened with no buzz is beyond me. Why was FOX afraid to show it to anybody? WTF?

I liked it, too.  Andy Serkis who did the motion acting for our protagonist, did a great job (as did the CGI techies to make Serkis' chimp emotionally appealing.)  Sure, there were cardboard characterizations, (Franco's vet girlfriend, the Malfoy actor at the Primate facility) but it worked emotionally on me.

One flaw: there were no bikes on the GG Bridge.  Everything else is completely plausible.

the question is: where do they take the sequel? I assume it'll be set at some time *after* humanity dies off ('cause who wants to watch 2 hours of people coughing up blood?). Like, when the Apes take over and perhaps a small band of virus-resistant humans are living in underground bunkers. or something.

Apes' rise to real power will include clashes with fractious ape splinter groups, known as the Banana Party, which will hold rallies and offer candidates who don't believe they really descended from Apes.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 03, 2011, 09:59:59 PM
Just watched (via On-Demand; it is also in theaters) Magic Trip, the docu about the Ken Kesey/Merry Pranksters bus trip across the US in 1964. Wow. What an amazing historical document.  Hey Geoff: cameo appearance by the Dead!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 04, 2011, 10:22:26 PM
Just got home from seeing Crazy, Stupid, Love (yes, that's their punctuation). Dunno what took me so long, but it's very funny, pretty smart for a commercial, big-studio rom-com, and Ryan Gosling is awesome. But really, everyone in it does fine work. Same directing team as the wonderful, underseen I Love You Philip Morris -- can't wait to see what they do next.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 05, 2011, 06:51:08 PM
Doubleheader today: The Help and Our Idiot Brother.

The Help is an entertaining... sometimes moving... Hallmark Chammel movie. But Viola Davis is sublime and deserves every award/nomination she's gonna get in the next 6 months.

Ah, but Idiot Brother: I (heart) Paul Rudd and he's wonderful. Delightful and very funny. Gaz especially would love it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 06, 2011, 09:45:03 AM
wow, yet another very cool-looking '60s/'70s retro-documentary: The Black Power Mixtape.  Will be available via On-Demand later this month.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/movies/the-black-power-mixtape-1967-1975-temperate-militants.html?_r=1&ref=movies
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 08, 2011, 07:55:20 AM
Saw a wonderful film last nite that few people will see, probably: Higher Ground, with the great Vera Farmiga, who is also making her directing debut.  It's based on a memoir and is a rare even-handed film about faith. Farmiga's character spends her life exploring fundamentalist Christianity and suddenly hits a kind of wall as her marriage falters. Even as an atheist, I was moved by her plight and it's really a very impressive piece of work.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 08, 2011, 11:41:24 AM
I know anything from the Adam Sandler factory is probably gonna suck, but still I'm stunned by how mind-numbingly awful Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star looks. Easily the worst TV spots for a movie I've ever seen... and they seem to run on Comedy Central at every friggin' break.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 09, 2011, 07:18:22 PM
Cheeze Alert:  Tonite TCM is showing a double bill... @ 11:00 it's Breakin' -- ain't not stoppin' us! -- followed @ 12:30 by the skate-tastic goodness of Roller Boogie!  Linda Blair was never lovelier.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on September 14, 2011, 03:59:52 PM
I know anything from the Adam Sandler factory is probably gonna suck, but still I'm stunned by how mind-numbingly awful Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star looks. Easily the worst TV spots for a movie I've ever seen... and they seem to run on Comedy Central at every friggin' break.

Reviews are finally coming in, and they aint good.  As the guy from the NY Times says:

Quote
Let me put the matter another way: this may be the worst movie Pauly Shore has ever been in. Think about that.

Ouch.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Big Fingers McGee on September 14, 2011, 04:05:10 PM
I know anything from the Adam Sandler factory is probably gonna suck, but still I'm stunned by how mind-numbingly awful Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star looks. Easily the worst TV spots for a movie I've ever seen... and they seem to run on Comedy Central at every friggin' break.

Reviews are finally coming in, and they aint good.  As the guy from the NY Times says:

Quote
Let me put the matter another way: this may be the worst movie Pauly Shore has ever been in. Think about that.

Ouch.

Would the best Pauly Shore movie be a bit like the most passionate matchbox twenty song?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on September 14, 2011, 04:11:41 PM
I know anything from the Adam Sandler factory is probably gonna suck, but still I'm stunned by how mind-numbingly awful Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star looks. Easily the worst TV spots for a movie I've ever seen... and they seem to run on Comedy Central at every friggin' break.

Reviews are finally coming in, and they aint good.  As the guy from the NY Times says:

Quote
Let me put the matter another way: this may be the worst movie Pauly Shore has ever been in. Think about that.

Ouch.

Would the best Pauly Shore movie be a bit like the most passionate matchbox twenty song?
Pauly Shore?  Eek.  Oh, here's something that's funny - Brad Pitt's vintage Pringles commercial.  (BTW: I heart Pringles!)  Nice cars, too.  I see suicide doors, so my guess is that's an old Continental?  Paging Wayback...
http://www.evilbeetgossip.com/2011/09/14/brad-pitt-should-really-do-more-commercials/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Big Fingers McGee on September 14, 2011, 04:16:47 PM
I've only attended one movie at the theatre this year so far ("The Trip"), but I'm seriously contemplating "Moneyball". Should be interesting.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on September 14, 2011, 07:43:26 PM
Oh, here's something that's funny - Brad Pitt's vintage Pringles commercial.  (BTW: I heart Pringles!)  Nice cars, too.  I see suicide doors, so my guess is that's an old Continental?  Paging Wayback...
http://www.evilbeetgossip.com/2011/09/14/brad-pitt-should-really-do-more-commercials/
Yes, a '60s yellow Continental in the Pringles ad, and a '63 or '64 Ford Galaxie convertible in the Levi's spot.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on September 14, 2011, 07:46:14 PM
I've only attended one movie at the theatre this year so far ("The Trip"), but I'm seriously contemplating "Moneyball". Should be interesting.
The "Moneyball" premiere is Monday Sept 19 6PM at the Paramount in Oakland, if you wanna meet Brad Pitt and the cast:
http://www.paramounttheatre.com/schedule.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 14, 2011, 09:47:17 PM
I've only attended one movie at the theatre this year so far ("The Trip"), but I'm seriously contemplating "Moneyball". Should be interesting.

It's getting great reviews. "it's the Social Network of baseball movies!"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Big Fingers McGee on September 22, 2011, 08:40:54 AM
Ok, it's decided. I'm watching "Moneyball" tomorrow, and hopefully it will be "The Social Network of Baseball Movies".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 22, 2011, 08:55:18 AM
Ok, it's decided. I'm watching "Moneyball" tomorrow, and hopefully it will be "The Social Network of Baseball Movies".

Def seeing it this weekend. But I've a language question: for decades, people "saw" movies ("I'm going to see Jaws") and "watched" TV ("I watched Family Ties last nite"). In the last 10 years I hear younger people who've just been to a movie theater say "We watched Captain America tonite". And it grates on my ear because it just sounds wrong. But I guess in the DVD/download age the usage has changed.

Still sounds weird to me.

Moneyball has a 90 on RT and an 85 on Metacritic
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on September 22, 2011, 09:17:44 AM
Ok, it's decided. I'm watching "Moneyball" tomorrow, and hopefully it will be "The Social Network of Baseball Movies".

Def seeing it this weekend. But I've a language question: for decades, people "saw" movies ("I'm going to see Jaws") and "watched" TV ("I watched Family Ties last nite"). In the last 10 years I hear younger people who've just been to a movie theater say "We watched Captain America tonite". And it grates on my ear because it just sounds wrong. But I guess in the DVD/download age the usage has changed.

Still sounds weird to me.

Moneyball has a 90 on RT and an 85 on Metacritic

That's an interesting observation.  I had never noticed the distinction myself, but now that you mention it, it is (was) certainly there.  Since I see most movies by waiting to watch them in the comfort of my own home (that hd tv needs to pay for itself), I can see how the lines are being blurred.  

ETA:  I still haven't seen The Social Network.  Not high on my list of films to see, either.  But Moneyball, with the local angle and what looks like an inspired Brad Pitt, does look interesting.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 23, 2011, 12:27:29 PM
Critical quote of the week: the Toronto Daily Mail says "Taylor Lautner puts the abs in Abduction"

and in case you wondered just how bad this movie is (laughably so, apparently), here's the NY Post:

Quote
Actual abduction may be preferable to the movie of the same name, but only if your kidnappers don't torture you by forcing you to watch it... Taylor Lautner proves again he has the acting chops of Bert from "Sesame Street."

One of the strangest and most elaborate product placements I've ever seen takes up most of the third act, as everyone agrees to meet in a public place: the Pittsburgh Pirates' stadium (Leprosy Park or Canker Sore Field or whatever it is). In reality, this place draws the kinds of crowds you could fit in a minivan. Yet in the movie, the stadium is packed -- for a game against the lackluster Mets -- and the city overflows with buzzing, insignia-bedizened fans of this lost and irrelevant franchise.

and playing Lautner's love interest: Lili Collins -- daughter of Phil. Yeesh.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 24, 2011, 09:21:34 PM
Just came from seeing Moneyball -- it really is terriffic.  I've never been the biggest fan of Brad Pitt's acting, but he really is doing something Oscar-worthy here.  Very smart script, nicely played. Not your typical rah-rah sports movie, and that's all to the good.

My only quibble is that some of the casting of the A's players is off: Scott Hatteberg and Jeremy Giambi are redheads; how hard is that to get right? And Carlos Pena is a baby-faced cutie, not the bearded, mean-looking dude who plays him here (WTF?). And of course the Paul DePodesta character (he's been given a different name here) is played by tubby Jonah Hill; DePodesta is actually slim and attractive.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Big Fingers McGee on September 25, 2011, 06:50:24 AM
Just came from seeing Moneyball -- it really is terriffic.  I've never been the biggest fan of Brad Pitt's acting, but he really is doing something Oscar-worthy here.  Very smart script, nicely played. Not your typical rah-rah sports movie, and that's all to the good.

My only quibble is that some of the casting of the A's players is off: Scott Hatteberg and Jeremy Giambi are redheads; how hard is that to get right? And Carlos Pena is a baby-faced cutie, not the bearded, mean-looking dude who plays him here (WTF?). And of course the Paul DePodesta character (he's been given a different name here) is played by tubby Jonah Hill; DePodesta is actually slim and attractive.

I did have some minor quibbles regarding the accuracy - the film implied that Jeremy Giambi and Chad Bradford were acquired by the A's prior to the 2002 season, whereas both had been on the team the year before.

I'm surprised Art Howe hasn't sued yet.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 25, 2011, 09:43:19 PM
Dunno how many here are interested in the new Cameron Crowe docu Pearl Jam Twenty, but it's out at the Balboa -- apparently the only theater in SF where it's playing -- and is also available in your living room via On Demand.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 26, 2011, 01:24:50 PM
Dunno how many here are interested in the new Cameron Crowe docu Pearl Jam Twenty, but it's out at the Balboa -- apparently the only theater in SF where it's playing -- and is also available in your living room via On Demand.

another music docu: attention Pulp fans! the Roxie is showing their film THE BEAT IS THE LAW: FANFARE FOR THE COMMON PEOPLE, this Thursday nite (9/29) at 7:30 & 9:30 as part of NoisePop...

http://www.roxie.com/events/details.cfm?EventID=D958367B-1143-DBB3-C63A2CEEBA48E516&View=weeklist&linkDate=September%2026%2C%202011
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 28, 2011, 08:12:46 AM
Just came from seeing Moneyball -- it really is terriffic.  I've never been the biggest fan of Brad Pitt's acting, but he really is doing something Oscar-worthy here.  Very smart script, nicely played. Not your typical rah-rah sports movie, and that's all to the good.

My only quibble is that some of the casting of the A's players is off: Scott Hatteberg and Jeremy Giambi are redheads; how hard is that to get right? And Carlos Pena is a baby-faced cutie, not the bearded, mean-looking dude who plays him here (WTF?). And of course the Paul DePodesta character (he's been given a different name here) is played by tubby Jonah Hill; DePodesta is actually slim and attractive.

I did have some minor quibbles regarding the accuracy - the film implied that Jeremy Giambi and Chad Bradford were acquired by the A's prior to the 2002 season, whereas both had been on the team the year before.

I'm surprised Art Howe hasn't sued yet.

well, he hasn't sued (yet) but he's pissed:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/28/SPN71LADIJ.DTL&tsp=1

I did not know the Magnante story -- that really sucks.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 28, 2011, 09:22:09 PM
Just saw a terrific little docu at the Roxie called Farmageddon, about how the gov't harrasses small organic farmers while big factory farms make people literally sick.  Almost enuf to make me a libertarian.  ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 04, 2011, 11:10:09 AM
Great quote from a commenter on one of my fave film blogs:

"The British film industry seems to specialize in three things:

1. Miserable, gritty dramas set on council estates, often about incest, rape, murder, etc.
2. Jolly comedies featuring a group of eccentric townspeople coming together to put on a show or battle some evil landgrabbing tycoon or take part in a local competition to make the world's biggest scone or something.
3. Low-budget, straight to video gangster films"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 04, 2011, 07:57:49 PM
Dunno how many here are interested in the new Cameron Crowe docu Pearl Jam Twenty, but it's out at the Balboa -- apparently the only theater in SF where it's playing -- and is also available in your living room via On Demand.

UPDATE: save your money -- it will air on PBS later this month. (Wow, the TJ Lubinski "oldies" crowd will have a cow!)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 06, 2011, 12:39:07 PM
Saw 50/50, the "cancer comedy" with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen, last nite. And it's quite good at being blackly comic and touching, often at the same time. Thumbs up.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 07, 2011, 09:44:31 PM
Just saw Ides of March. I wouldn't call it great but it's good -- a solid B+. Certainly better then the play it's based on. And everyone in it is first-rate, some of my face actors: Clooney, Gosling, Giamatti, PS Hoffman, Marisa Tomei. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on October 07, 2011, 09:57:03 PM
Just came from seeing Moneyball -- it really is terriffic.  I've never been the biggest fan of Brad Pitt's acting, but he really is doing something Oscar-worthy here.  Very smart script, nicely played. Not your typical rah-rah sports movie, and that's all to the good.

My only quibble is that some of the casting of the A's players is off: Scott Hatteberg and Jeremy Giambi are redheads; how hard is that to get right? And Carlos Pena is a baby-faced cutie, not the bearded, mean-looking dude who plays him here (WTF?). And of course the Paul DePodesta character (he's been given a different name here) is played by tubby Jonah Hill; DePodesta is actually slim and attractive.

We just saw it too, and really liked it.  Perhaps I enjoyed it a lot because I don't really know the details of the reality.  I didn't really know how the story was going to turn out, but still I liked it!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Big Fingers McGee on October 08, 2011, 12:29:50 PM
Just saw Ides of March. I wouldn't call it great but it's good -- a solid B+. Certainly better then the play it's based on. And everyone in it is first-rate, some of my face actors: Clooney, Gosling, Giamatti, PS Hoffman, Marisa Tomei. 

I was tempted to see this in the theatre, but based upon reviews, it seems that Netflix (or excuse me, Quickster) is appropriate.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 15, 2011, 11:13:34 AM
If you have HBO Family as part of your cable package, they're doing a Planet of the Apes marathon starting at noon with the Chuck Heston original. Escape From... is especially fun.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 15, 2011, 11:29:46 PM
saw a real cool docu tonite called The Black Power Mixtape, an amazing assemblage of footage shot between '67 and '75 by Swedish journalists who came to the US to report on the civil rights movement, urban unrest and such -- never-before seen interviews with Stokely Carmichael, Angela Davis,  Eldridge Cleaver and others. Fascinating stuff. Available thru OnDemand on your cable system, and well worth checking out.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 16, 2011, 11:58:43 AM
More cheezy sci-fi fun: KMTP, Ch 32 is showing the original Little Shop of Horrors tonite at 8.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Wayback on October 19, 2011, 02:44:25 PM
'Airplane!,' 30 years later!
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F10%2F13%2FPKFM1L4GPO.DTL
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 19, 2011, 02:59:01 PM
'Airplane!,' 30 years later!
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F10%2F13%2FPKFM1L4GPO.DTL

31 years later, actually. Did somebody forget that last year was the 30th anniversary?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 22, 2011, 09:57:03 PM
Just saw Margin Call, the excellent new movie about the financial crisis -- great cast (Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Zachary Quinto, Jeremy Irons -- even Demi Moore is good!) and fine script. Playing at Metreon, but available via On Demand thru Comcast. Well worth seeing.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 27, 2011, 08:51:36 AM
Saw and enjoyed the new Almodovar film last nite, The Skin I Live In. I tend to run hot and cold on Pedro's stuff; when he's on he's really ON, but I find his love of melodrama a bit trying at times.  This new one is basically a mad-scientist movie in modern dress, sorta like Cronenberg's Dead Ringers-meets-Telemundo. And the source material (a novel called Tarantula) is pulpy to begin with so Almodovar's style blends well.  It's very creepy with a couple of sick twists (an old man and his granddaughter behind me left after an hour, muttering about how "weird" it was) and if ya like that sorta thing, have at it.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 28, 2011, 08:05:20 AM
good news regarding the Balboa:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/28/DD5U1LMJCM.DTL
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 01, 2011, 06:50:15 PM
Great double-bill on TCM starting now: Sleeper (Woody Allen) followed by Lost in America (Albert Brooks).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 01, 2011, 08:56:25 PM
Great double-bill on TCM starting now: Sleeper (Woody Allen) followed by Lost in America (Albert Brooks).

If I had cable (yeah, I know), I would be all over these!  I want to touch Indians.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Here'sToYa! on November 01, 2011, 09:01:18 PM
Great double-bill on TCM starting now: Sleeper (Woody Allen) followed by Lost in America (Albert Brooks).

If I had cable (yeah, I know), I would be all over these!  I want to touch Indians.
You're not the only one w/out cable, Cat. I want to touch the Orb!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 02, 2011, 08:50:56 PM
Just saw the very entertaining sci-fi flick In Time. Yeah, Mr Timberlake can act, but beyond that it's got a great premise, it LOOKS terrific (Roger Deakins, only one of the greatest cinematographers alive, lensed it) and it has a, er, timely political not-so-sub subtext, namely: Rich people suck. Occupy the Timekeepers!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 08, 2011, 08:49:04 PM
As if I wasn't already extremely psyched to see the new Muppet movie... I've just found out it has original songs by Bret MacKenzie of Flight of the Conchords!  OMFG!

http://www.boxofficemagazine.com/articles/2011-11-on-muppets-and-muppet-music
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 08, 2011, 09:13:48 PM
As if I wasn't already extremely psyched to see the new Muppet movie... I've just found out it has original songs by Bret MacKenzie of Flight of the Conchords!  OMFG!

http://www.boxofficemagazine.com/articles/2011-11-on-muppets-and-muppet-music

dude, I am also TOTALLY psyched about the Muppets.  It's gonna rock.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 10, 2011, 09:23:14 AM
Saw the very creepy Martha Marcy May Marlene last night -- really liked it. Elizabeth Olsen (yes, sister of the Olsen Twins) is quite good. Unsettling and beautifully shot.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 10, 2011, 01:52:27 PM
El Rey Theater - 80th anniversary benefit (http://www.elrey80th.com/)
Friday, Nov 18 Saturday, Nov 19
7 PM
1970 Ocean Avenue, SF


It's now a Pentecostal church, but they’ll be showing a movie on Nov 18th to honor its legacy as a picture palace.  It’s a benefit for the Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse, whatever that is, and it costs $25.  

http://www.elrey80th.com/

Lots of history nerds will be there.  My friend Therese Poletti will be giving a talk on the architect, Timothy Pflueger.    She literally wrote the book on him:
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Deco-San-Francisco-Architecture/dp/1568987560

(http://www.elrey80th.com/img/img1.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on November 11, 2011, 12:48:15 PM
El Rey Theater - 80th anniversary benefit (http://www.elrey80th.com/)
Friday, Nov 18
7 PM
1970 Ocean Avenue, SF


It's now a Pentecostal church, but they’ll be showing a movie on Nov 18th to honor its legacy as a picture palace.  It’s a benefit for the Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse, whatever that is, and it costs $25.  

http://www.elrey80th.com/

Lots of history nerds will be there.  My friend Therese Poletti will be giving a talk on the architect, Timothy Pflueger.    She literally wrote the book on him:
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Deco-San-Francisco-Architecture/dp/1568987560

(http://www.elrey80th.com/img/img1.jpg)
I'll have to share this with a coworker who is part of the current church there.  For me, I remember seeing Rainbow Bridge, and Mad Dogs and Englishmen there.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 14, 2011, 02:25:09 PM
oops!  my mistake, it's Saturday, not Friday:


Saturday Nov 19, 2011
- doors open  7:00 PM
- film at 8:30 PM


Prices    $25.00
tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/204713

Location    
El Rey Theater (View Venue)
1970 Ocean Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94112
United States


El Rey Theater - 80th anniversary benefit (http://www.elrey80th.com/)
Friday, Nov 18
7 PM
1970 Ocean Avenue, SF


It's now a Pentecostal church, but they’ll be showing a movie on Nov 18th to honor its legacy as a picture palace.  It’s a benefit for the Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse, whatever that is, and it costs $25.  

http://www.elrey80th.com/

Lots of history nerds will be there.  My friend Therese Poletti will be giving a talk on the architect, Timothy Pflueger.    She literally wrote the book on him:
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Deco-San-Francisco-Architecture/dp/1568987560

(http://www.elrey80th.com/img/img1.jpg)
I'll have to share this with a coworker who is part of the current church there.  For me, I remember seeing Rainbow Bridge, and Mad Dogs and Englishmen there.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 14, 2011, 05:15:20 PM
Just used my unexpected day off to see J. Edgar...

I liked it; it's better than some of the bad reviews indicate, IMHO. I'd call it one of Clint's better films of the last few years (I thought Changeling was kinda meh and HATED Hereafter). I joked earlier that it's Brokeback G-Men and that's actually a fair description, as far as the repressed-homo relationship stuff is concerned.  It's the usual biopic flashback structure; Leo is good and Armie Hammer as Clyde Tolson is esp memorable -- the major flaws are some horrendous old-age makeup and the worst RFK and Nixon impersonations I've ever seen.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 17, 2011, 08:24:16 AM
the Muppets take on Twilight:

http://www.boxofficemagazine.com/articles/2011-11-the-muppets-take-manh-er-vampires
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 17, 2011, 09:32:54 AM
Just used my unexpected day off to see J. Edgar...

I liked it; it's better than some of the bad reviews indicate, IMHO. I'd call it one of Clint's better films of the last few years (I thought Changeling was kinda meh and HATED Hereafter). I joked earlier that it's Brokeback G-Men and that's actually a fair description, as far as the repressed-homo relationship stuff is concerned.  It's the usual biopic flashback structure; Leo is good and Armie Hammer as Clyde Tolson is esp memorable -- the major flaws are some horrendous old-age makeup and the worst RFK and Nixon impersonations I've ever seen.

hmm... I'll pass on J Edgar.  (The makeup did look bad in the preview I saw.)  Eastwood sure does get big box office, but I'm usually not that excited about his movies.  Unforgiven was pretty great, but I recently watched the first three Dirty Harry movies, and his production company ("Malpaso" I think they're called) seems to cut some corners -- and I think it often shows.  And his scripts are often just too schmaltzy. Also, Leonardo di Caprio has too much star power for me to suspend disbelief.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 18, 2011, 07:37:09 PM
A holiday movie tip: Rare Exports, the wacked-out Scandinavian Xmas horror flick I raved about last year, is now on the Comcast Video-On-Demand menu. Not to be missed, assuming you have a sick sense of humor (and ah KNOW y'alls do).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 21, 2011, 08:44:43 PM
Just came from seeing The Descendants, which I liked quite a lot. Clooney is (yes) very good, tho' he can play this sort of part in his sleep by now. Great supporting perfs. A little hard to feel sorry for rich people who live in Hawaii, but it's got that funny/sad Terms of Endearment vibe.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 22, 2011, 08:49:12 AM
How nice of Disney to use Gaz & me in the ad campaign for the Muppet flick.

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/Alitain/StatlerWaldorfMuppetMoviePoster.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 22, 2011, 10:26:15 AM
How nice of Disney to use Gaz & me in the ad campaign for the Muppet flick.


Jason Segel was the host of SNL this past week, and his opening monologue featured the Muppets, including the famous old balcony cranks, Waldorf and the other dude (aka rgm and gaz).  It was pretty good.

watch it here:
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/Jason-Segel-and-Muppets-Monologue/1369450
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 22, 2011, 10:35:02 AM
How nice of Disney to use Gaz & me in the ad campaign for the Muppet flick.


Jason Segel was the host of SNL this past week, and his opening monologue featured the Muppets, including the famous old balcony cranks, Waldorf and the other dude (aka rgm and gaz).  It was pretty good.

watch it here:
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/Jason-Segel-and-Muppets-Monologue/1369450

OMFG that was awesome.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 22, 2011, 01:28:47 PM
How nice of Disney to use Gaz & me in the ad campaign for the Muppet flick.


Jason Segel was the host of SNL this past week, and his opening monologue featured the Muppets, including the famous old balcony cranks, Waldorf and the other dude (aka rgm and gaz).  It was pretty good.

watch it here:
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/Jason-Segel-and-Muppets-Monologue/1369450

OMFG that was awesome.

if you liked that, chk these out:

Kermit and Seth Myers on Weekend Update: http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/Weekend-Update:-Really-with-Seth-and-Kermit/1369449

Charming skit about local bar bad - (The Muppets appear briefly toward the end although they have no lines):
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/The-Blue-Jean-Committee-Saturday-Night-Live/1369504

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 24, 2011, 04:17:13 PM
So I saw Hugo earlier and I thought it was quite lovely, if a bit poky at times. Best overall use of 3-D since Avatar.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on November 24, 2011, 05:27:06 PM
We just saw the Muppet movie, and really enjoyed it.  It's kind of a Thanksgiving Turkey, per Dave's definition this morning.  We really enjoyed it, even if it's kind of stupid/silly.  At times, I was genuinely touched.  But I'm a corny old guy, and I'd be curious what the, how we say, less gullible reviewers think.

(http://kinopunkt.ru/i/news/n2971-1318400332.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: radical347 on November 24, 2011, 08:14:11 PM
Just saw the very entertaining sci-fi flick In Time. Yeah, Mr Timberlake can act, but beyond that it's got a great premise, it LOOKS terrific (Roger Deakins, only one of the greatest cinematographers alive, lensed it) and it has a, er, timely political not-so-sub subtext, namely: Rich people suck. Occupy the Timekeepers!

Saw "In Time" yesterday.  I pretty much agree with all of this, except for Justin Timberlake being able to act.  Amanda Seyfried is a little better, until she starts speaking.  But that can be forgiven due to the incredibly hot cast.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 25, 2011, 05:45:29 PM
We just saw the Muppet movie, and really enjoyed it.  It's kind of a Thanksgiving Turkey, per Dave's definition this morning.  We really enjoyed it, even if it's kind of stupid/silly.  At times, I was genuinely touched.  But I'm a corny old guy, and I'd be curious what the, how we say, less gullible reviewers think.


Just got home from seeing it -- it's beyond wonderful. I (heart) Jason Segel, he's some kind of genius, and the songs by Bret (Flight of the Conchords) McKenzie are VERY clever.  Maniacal Laugh! Maniacal Laugh!

And earlier I saw My Week With Marilyn -- Michelle Williams is quite good, as is Kenneth Branagh. The young kid... notsomuch. Enjoyable fluff.

ETA: almost forgot to mention that the new Pixar short that precedes the Muppet film (featuring the Toy Story gang) is also awesome.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on November 25, 2011, 10:27:58 PM
almost forgot to mention that the new Pixar short that precedes the Muppet film (featuring the Toy Story gang) is also awesome.
That was a nice treat indeed!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on November 27, 2011, 09:43:38 PM
We just saw the Muppet movie, and really enjoyed it.  It's kind of a Thanksgiving Turkey, per Dave's definition this morning.  We really enjoyed it, even if it's kind of stupid/silly.  At times, I was genuinely touched.  But I'm a corny old guy, and I'd be curious what the, how we say, less gullible reviewers think.

Loved it. Rainbow Connection got me misty.  Well done.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on November 27, 2011, 09:59:33 PM
We just saw the Muppet movie, and really enjoyed it.  It's kind of a Thanksgiving Turkey, per Dave's definition this morning.  We really enjoyed it, even if it's kind of stupid/silly.  At times, I was genuinely touched.  But I'm a corny old guy, and I'd be curious what the, how we say, less gullible reviewers think.

Loved it. Rainbow Connection got me misty.  Well done.
That scene reminded me of the Mighty Wind movie just a bit!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on November 28, 2011, 12:22:59 AM
We just saw the Muppet movie, and really enjoyed it.  It's kind of a Thanksgiving Turkey, per Dave's definition this morning.  We really enjoyed it, even if it's kind of stupid/silly.  At times, I was genuinely touched.  But I'm a corny old guy, and I'd be curious what the, how we say, less gullible reviewers think.

Loved it. Rainbow Connection got me misty.  Well done.
That scene reminded me of the Mighty Wind movie just a bit!

We saw it last night, too. First time I've been in a nearly full theater (at least at the local multiplex) in ages. Pretty much agree with the previously expressed opinions--my wife almost lost it during Rainbow Connection as well. Didn't make the Mighty Wind association at the time, but it's fitting.  And I had fun trying to spot the various cameos. Some were pretty obvious (like Neil Patrick Harris), but did anyone spot Dave Grohl? I saw someone that I thought kind of looked like him, mentioned it to Sarah, and it turned out I was right. That bugger is everywhere.

Was a little disappointed there was no final bit of action tacked on after the credits. Quite a few folks hung around anticipating some sort of lagniappe, and didn't get it. Oh well.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 01, 2011, 08:21:29 AM
Saw Arthur Christmas last nite in 3-D. From the Aardman folks, but not a Claymation thingy like their Wallace & Gromit or Chicken Run. Terribly British and wonderfully inventive -- really enjoyed it. But be warned: you'll be subjected to Justin Bieber's  version of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" -- TWICE.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on December 03, 2011, 12:37:42 AM
Watching Model Shop (Jacques Demy, 1968), and the band Spirit not only has some soundtrack music in it, but they make an appearance as themselves.  The main male character (played by Gary Lockwood, 2001) even sits down and chats w Jay Ferguson for a while. Jay's not a real good actor, btw.  Anouk Aimee also stars.   Nice LA locations. Vietnam war looms.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 03, 2011, 09:13:49 AM
Watching Model Shop (Jacques Demy, 1968), and the band Spirit not only has some soundtrack music in it, but they make an appearance as themselves.  The main male character (played by Gary Lockwood, 2001) even sits down and chats w Jay Ferguson for a while. Jay's not a real good actor, btw.  Anouk Aimee also stars.   Nice LA locations. Vietnam war looms.

YES! strange flick -- I posted this 3 years ago:

"So TCM is showing this odd, obscure 1969 film I'd never heard of called Model Shop, one of those existential things so fashionable back then, with people wandering aimlessly and contemplating the meaning of their existence. Very European (dir. by Jacques Demy) despite taking place in LA. Gary Lockwood (of 2001) becomes obsessed with French chick Anouk Aimee (best known for A Man and a Woman). And about 20 minutes into it, Lockwood's character goes to visit some friends who have a band, and they're played by... Spirit! And in the next scene he has a heart-to-heart conversation with Jay Ferguson! Weird."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on December 03, 2011, 09:46:10 AM
Watching Model Shop (Jacques Demy, 1968), and the band Spirit not only has some soundtrack music in it, but they make an appearance as themselves.  The main male character (played by Gary Lockwood, 2001) even sits down and chats w Jay Ferguson for a while. Jay's not a real good actor, btw.  Anouk Aimee also stars.   Nice LA locations. Vietnam war looms.

YES! strange flick -- I posted this 3 years ago:

"So TCM is showing this odd, obscure 1969 film I'd never heard of called Model Shop, one of those existential things so fashionable back then, with people wandering aimlessly and contemplating the meaning of their existence. Very European (dir. by Jacques Demy) despite taking place in LA. Gary Lockwood (of 2001) becomes obsessed with French chick Anouk Aimee (best known for A Man and a Woman). And about 20 minutes into it, Lockwood's character goes to visit some friends who have a band, and they're played by... Spirit! And in the next scene he has a heart-to-heart conversation with Jay Ferguson! Weird."

 you nailed it.  very existential, French New Wave feel.   

a couple self-reflexive moments:  
It's a slow moving movie, not much happens, which is like the main characters' lives, they are searching for some movement -- but the shots of LA, specifically around and along Santa Monica Blvd, are pretty fun. 

Did you notice Fred Willard as the gas station attendant about two thirds of the way in?  his role was uncredited, and I think his voice was dubbed. 

I was hoping Spirit would play some on-screen songs, but the best we get is a brief scene of the band putting down their instruments after a practice session.  They say hello to Gary and then the band shuffles out of the house.  Randy California (guitar) was probably 17 when they filmed this! 

Then Gary sits down with Jay, who plays a little electric piano ditty (which I was trying to identify as a Spirit song, and perhaps it was a riff from Fresh Garbage??) and he lends Gary $100 (two fifty dollar bills he peels out of his wallet) and says somethig like Hey, no problem, man. The band is doing well. We're really taking off." 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 03, 2011, 02:57:28 PM
Watching Big-Top PeeWee -- first time I've seen it in ages. Even more delightful than I remembered.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on December 06, 2011, 05:08:03 PM
A holiday movie tip: Rare Exports, the wacked-out Scandinavian Xmas horror flick I raved about last year, is now on the Comcast Video-On-Demand menu. Not to be missed, assuming you have a sick sense of humor (and ah KNOW y'alls do).

it will also play Dec 23 at 10:30 pm at the SF Film Society Cinema on Post St in J-town

http://www.sffs.org/content.aspx?catid=928,942&pageid=2603
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 13, 2011, 08:49:42 AM
catching up:

Last nite I saw The Artist, the French, black-&-white silent film about... silent films (or Hollywood during that era).  And it's very enjoyable, an extremely clever, well-made cinematic stunt.  But kinda slight.  As valentines-to-film go, I still prefer Hugo.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 15, 2011, 08:03:05 AM
last nite I saw Young Adult, the latest Diablo Cody/Jason Reitman collab -- loved it. Very funny and dark -- Charlize Theron great as usual and Patton Oswalt steals the show.  Plus the first of what I assume will be many retro-'90s soundtracks. Teenage Fanclub!  Well worth your time.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 21, 2011, 10:04:57 PM
Just came from seeing Shame, with Michael "donkey dick" Fassbender. Wow.  I loves me some NC-17.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on December 21, 2011, 10:07:38 PM
Just came from seeing Shame, with Michael "donkey dick" Fassbender. Wow.  I loves me some NC-17.

OMG jealous!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 21, 2011, 10:12:00 PM
Just came from seeing Shame, with Michael "donkey dick" Fassbender. Wow.  I loves me some NC-17.

OMG jealous!

 :)  It's actually a good movie, aside from the sex. Carey Mulligan does the damndest version of "New York New York".
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on December 21, 2011, 10:19:31 PM
Just came from seeing Shame, with Michael "donkey dick" Fassbender. Wow.  I loves me some NC-17.

OMG jealous!

 :)  It's actually a good movie, aside from the sex. Carey Mulligan does the damndest version of "New York New York".

I loves me some ginger Fassy:

(http://www.celebitchy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/michael_fassbender_1_wenn3624988.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Here'sToYa! on December 22, 2011, 12:56:58 PM


OMG jealous!
[/quote]

Green with envy; nice touch
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on December 22, 2011, 10:31:26 PM
We saw Tin Tin last night, and really enjoyed it.  I guess they figure it's just a kid's movie because there are only a few showings in the evening.  No, it's not too complex, but it's totally engrossing, as a movie should be.  We saw it on a real small screen at the Presidio, but at times could see why it might be good in 3D. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 22, 2011, 11:17:29 PM
We saw Tin Tin last night, and really enjoyed it.  I guess they figure it's just a kid's movie because there are only a few showings in the evening.  No, it's not too complex, but it's totally engrossing, as a movie should be.  We saw it on a real small screen at the Presidio, but at times could see why it might be good in 3D.

Oddly, I have no desire to see it, despite being an animation geek. I never read the comic books or watched the TV shows as a kid. It was never on my radar. But I'm amused that the bad guy appears to look just like Spielberg -- is that true to the original comics?

Tonite I saw The Muppets for the 2nd time; every bit as wonderful as the first time and I was able to pay more attention to how nicely it was directed. If Bret MacKenzie's songs aren't Oscar-nominated I may go postal.  My annual holiday movie orgy begins in earnest tomorrow. I hope to see most of these in the next 11 days:

Girl w/the Dragon Tattoo
Sherlock Holmes 2
We Bought a Zoo

(damn -- those rhyme!)
Land of Blood & Honey
War Horse
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Flowers of War
Pariah


and there are still Oscar-bait movies (Carnage, The Iron Lady, Coriolanus) that don't open here until January.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on December 23, 2011, 07:56:39 AM
We saw Tin Tin last night, and really enjoyed it.  I guess they figure it's just a kid's movie because there are only a few showings in the evening.  No, it's not too complex, but it's totally engrossing, as a movie should be.  We saw it on a real small screen at the Presidio, but at times could see why it might be good in 3D.

 Tonite I saw The Muppets for the 2nd time; every bit as wonderful as the first time and I was able to pay more attention to how nicely it was directed. If Bret MacKenzie's songs aren't Oscar-nominated I may go postal.  My annual holiday movie orgy begins in earnest tomorrow. I hope to see most of these in the next 11 days:

Girl w/the Dragon Tattoo
Sherlock Holmes 2
We Bought a Zoo

(damn -- those rhyme!)
Land of Blood & Honey
War Horse
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Flowers of War
Pariah


and there are still Oscar-bait movies (Carnage, The Iron Lady, Coriolanus) that don't open here until January.

Gonna see The Muppets today with my boy.  Can't wait! 
Turns out I have next week off.  Maybe I'll catch The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo with you!

Here's the trailer to Ridley Scott's Prometheus.  Looks bad-ass.  Fassy alert!
http://youtu.be/sftuxbvGwiU
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 23, 2011, 09:03:16 AM
Gonna see The Muppets today with my boy.  Can't wait! 
Turns out I have next week off.  Maybe I'll catch The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo with you!


I'm actually seeing TGWTDT today (it's loooong) "Tinker Taylor" tomorrow and am up for any of the others next week. Flowers of War is about the rape of Nanking and stars Christian Bale -- ah loves me some Bale -- and it's playing at the Bridge. I was thinking some early DimSum followed by a matinee.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on December 23, 2011, 09:37:30 AM
Gonna see The Muppets today with my boy.  Can't wait! 
Turns out I have next week off.  Maybe I'll catch The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo with you!


I'm actually seeing TGWTDT today (it's loooong) "Tinker Taylor" tomorrow and am up for any of the others next week. Flowers of War is about the rape of Nanking and stars Christian Bale -- ah loves me some Bale -- and it's playing at the Bridge. I was thinking some early DimSum followed by a matinee.

I loves me some Bale, too.  Dang, that means I missed Melancholia at The Bridge.  Dim Sum sounds good too.  Lemme see which days next week I'll be kid-free. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 23, 2011, 09:57:43 AM
Gonna see The Muppets today with my boy.  Can't wait! 
Turns out I have next week off.  Maybe I'll catch The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo with you!


I'm actually seeing TGWTDT today (it's loooong) "Tinker Taylor" tomorrow and am up for any of the others next week. Flowers of War is about the rape of Nanking and stars Christian Bale -- ah loves me some Bale -- and it's playing at the Bridge. I was thinking some early DimSum followed by a matinee.

I loves me some Bale, too.  Dang, that means I missed Melancholia at The Bridge.  Dim Sum sounds good too.  Lemme see which days next week I'll be kid-free.

sounds like a plan -- and Melancholia is available on Comcast On-Demand for 5 bucks.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on December 23, 2011, 10:08:47 AM
Gonna see The Muppets today with my boy.  Can't wait! 
Turns out I have next week off.  Maybe I'll catch The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo with you!


I'm actually seeing TGWTDT today (it's loooong) "Tinker Taylor" tomorrow and am up for any of the others next week. Flowers of War is about the rape of Nanking and stars Christian Bale -- ah loves me some Bale -- and it's playing at the Bridge. I was thinking some early DimSum followed by a matinee.

I loves me some Bale, too.  Dang, that means I missed Melancholia at The Bridge.  Dim Sum sounds good too.  Lemme see which days next week I'll be kid-free.

sounds like a plan -- and Melancholia is available on Comcast On-Demand for 5 bucks.
Dude.  I don't have Comcast.  That sh*t is hella spendy.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on December 23, 2011, 04:51:30 PM
Oddly, I have no desire to see it, despite being an animation geek. I never read the comic books or watched the TV shows as a kid. It was never on my radar. But I'm amused that the bad guy appears to look just like Spielberg -- is that true to the original comics?
I have no idea about the original comics.  It's just a well-made, entertaining movie.  I think you could say the bad guy looks like Spielberg; his voice is Daniel Craig.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 23, 2011, 04:59:08 PM
Oddly, I have no desire to see it, despite being an animation geek. I never read the comic books or watched the TV shows as a kid. It was never on my radar. But I'm amused that the bad guy appears to look just like Spielberg -- is that true to the original comics?
I have no idea about the original comics.  It's just a well-made, entertaining movie.  I think you could say the bad guy looks like Spielberg; his voice is Daniel Craig.

And speaking of Mr Craig, I just saw ...Dragon Tattoo. Thought it was pretty great -- but then I'm a big David Fincher fan.  I've neither read the books nor seen the Swedish films made of them, so it was all new to me.  And I kinda wanted to hate Rooney Mara (another child of privilege who wants to be a movie star; see also: Armie Hammer) but damn she's really impressive.  It's loooong -- over 2-1/2 hrs -- but never boring.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on December 23, 2011, 06:17:00 PM
Just saw The Muppets.  It really is all that!  Makes me wanna buy all the Muppet Show DVDs.....
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 25, 2011, 11:49:33 AM
Saw Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy yesterday. Another case of never having read the book or seen the orig BBC mini-series. But I really enjoyed it -- terrific British cast, and very densely-plotted, which I like. Big thumbs up if you're an old-fashioned spy-thriller type. 

And it turns out Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and In the Land of Blodd & Honey don't open here until January, along with Carnage, Albert Nobbs, Iron Lady and several other Oscar contenders. I can't remember the last time SF was denied so many year-end "prestige" pictures before Xmas. WTF, Hollywood?

And now I'm off to see We Bought a Zoo.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on December 25, 2011, 02:22:35 PM
And it turns out Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and In the Land of Blodd & Honey don't open here until January, along with Carnage, Albert Nobbs, Iron Lady and several other Oscar contenders. I can't remember the last time SF was denied so many year-end "prestige" pictures before Xmas. WTF, Hollywood?


Then I can probably count on seeing them in Portland around mid-February. ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 25, 2011, 04:42:11 PM

And now I'm off to see We Bought a Zoo.


and now I'm back -- it was rather sweet. You can imagine what Disney might've done with the same plot back in the '60s (where's Hayley Mills when you need her?).  Only in a Cameron Crowe movie would a zoo have a jukebox.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on December 29, 2011, 09:15:00 PM
Oddly, I have no desire to see it, despite being an animation geek. I never read the comic books or watched the TV shows as a kid. It was never on my radar. But I'm amused that the bad guy appears to look just like Spielberg -- is that true to the original comics?
I have no idea about the original comics.  It's just a well-made, entertaining movie.  I think you could say the bad guy looks like Spielberg; his voice is Daniel Craig.

And speaking of Mr Craig, I just saw ...Dragon Tattoo. Thought it was pretty great -- but then I'm a big David Fincher fan.  I've neither read the books nor seen the Swedish films made of them, so it was all new to me.  And I kinda wanted to hate Rooney Mara (another child of privilege who wants to be a movie star; see also: Armie Hammer) but damn she's really impressive.  It's loooong -- over 2-1/2 hrs -- but never boring.

I read the novels, which, while good, were rather creepy.  I understand that creepy sells, especially sex creepy, but DAYYYYMMMM! that was all too creepy for my tastes.  That something like that would capture the imagination of the reading world makes me somewhat queasy.

Anyway, I don't "go" to the movies much anymore.  I prefer to wait for them to come out on cable.  See my reviews in the next post.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on December 29, 2011, 09:25:44 PM
The Rise of the Planet of the Apes ****

At Christmas dinner (or maybe it was after dinner, when we were playing Yahtzee!), my sister asked if I'd seen TROTPOTA (excuse my Klingon).  I had not.  She, and my nephew, Bruce, had and they loved it.  So, I put it on my PPV list for this week.

Very good.  Four out of Five stars.  Nice story, excellent two-handed performances.  Excellent CGI and Andy Sedarkis (Ceaser lives!). 

Spoiler ALERT!!!
*
*
*
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And the coda that explains why the mini revolt actually results in the apes taking over the Planet was ingenious an well portrayed.  See it now!  Or wait til it comes on your premium channel of choice.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on December 29, 2011, 09:45:44 PM
Midnight in Paris ****

Nevermind the Yahtzee! crowd, my next foray into the world of film was Woody Allen's ode to Paris in the 20's, and Paris and life in general.  Again, four out of five stars, for a completely different kind of movie (as compared to my previous review).

Actually, I have it on right now.  My 24hrs of rental on On Demand is up in about 50 minutes, so it ends 20 minutes before the end.  I wonder what is going to happen.  Kind of cool considering how the film plays with time and time periods.

If I were to go to one time in place in history, it would probably be the 20's in Paris too.  All the luminaries Gil meets are the luminaries I would like to meet too:  Papa, Fitzgerald, Zelda, TS Eliot, Toklas, Stein, Picasso, Dali, Man Rey, Djuna Barnes, Faulkner (not shown, but referenced).  These are the artists and authors that inspired me to my degree in english lit. 

Spoiler alert!

The portrayals, especially Hemingway, are quite cliched.  I doubt Hem spoke exactly like he wrote, much as Gil doesn't speak like the opening of his novel, but speaks like Owen Wilson with a W. Allen accent.  But that is fine, even excellent, because the fantasy '20s that Gil finds himself stumbling into isn't real.  It's his romantic vison of it.  Duh.

So, again, see it.  Very nice.

ETA:  Also, it's very funny, in it's sly, WA way.  Highly recommended.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 30, 2011, 04:41:02 PM
So I saw War Horse today. Some love it; others think it's sentimental drivel. I'm not a "horse person", so I'll say it's beautifully shot and a number of my favorite unsung British actors (Peter Mullan, Eddie Marsan, Emily Watson etc) are in it and they're all swell.  It's being said that Spielberg is channelling John Ford; it's more like Ford by way of early-'60s Disney (Darby O'Gill & the Little People comes to mind... and what was that Disney flick about the white stallions?). It's genetically engineered to be called "stirringly old-fashioned" and that's not entirely a bad thing.  I'm betting it wins Best Picture.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 31, 2011, 08:05:25 PM
A sobering NYE: Just watched "We Were Here", the very powerful documentary about the early days of the AIDS epidemic in SF. On the short-list for the Best Docu Oscar. Currently avail on Comcast On-Demand. Highly recommended.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Here'sToYa! on January 01, 2012, 09:33:02 AM
Saw Adventureland last night -- highly recommended (and it woulda been a better choice for you, Gaz, as it takes place in Pittsburgh in 1987).  Sweet and funny with a killer sndtk -- everything from "Bastards of Young" to Shannon's "Let the Music Play".
I saw it last night as part of our stay-in NYE celebration. Agree with everything you say, RGM. 10@10ish vibe from the soundtrack, even if a few of the songs would never make it on air.
We made it a bit more than halfway through Social Network, too (and past midnight, yay!). It's interesting, but a bit "-ist" in several ways (and I usually am not too up in arms about that sort of thing). Most obvious is that women, and particularly Asian women, are portrayed as bimbos/trophy girlfriends. I guess the female lawyers are just as harsh and mean as their male counterparts, and one of the girlfriends gets to ask a couple of questions and seem interested in ideas in the first Justin Timberlake dinner scene, but mostly the women just wear tight clothes and hang out on nerd arms or in nerd beds. Maybe this is done deliberately to reflect the world view of the central characters. Maybe the movie is just shallow.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 01, 2012, 09:57:11 AM
We made it a bit more than halfway through Social Network, too (and past midnight, yay!). It's interesting, but a bit "-ist" in several ways (and I usually am not too up in arms about that sort of thing). Most obvious is that women, and particularly Asian women, are portrayed as bimbos/trophy girlfriends. I guess the female lawyers are just as harsh and mean as their male counterparts, and one of the girlfriends gets to ask a couple of questions and seem interested in ideas in the first Justin Timberlake dinner scene, but mostly the women just wear tight clothes and hang out on nerd arms or in nerd beds. Maybe this is done deliberately to reflect the world view of the central characters. Maybe the movie is just shallow.

Rooney Mara gets her revenge in Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.  ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 01, 2012, 10:41:50 PM
It's been a good week on Comcast On-Demand. In addition to the aforementioned We Were Here, I also caught up with Melancholia (yet another weird Lars Von Trier head-scratcher); The Debt, which I watched mainly because it was the only one of Jessica Chastain's half-dozen movies this year that I hadn't seen yet -- it's actually pretty good; and tonite I saw Warrior, the MMA drama that was in-and-out of theaters rather quickly in September.  It's very good, well-acted (though Tom Hardy, who I loooooooove, and who is incredibly hot in it, lays on the angry/inarticulate/blue-collar shtick a bit thick, like he watched Rocky too many times). But any movie that gets the generally meat-headed MMA crowd to reconsider what is or is not a "hero" is def OK in my book.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on January 01, 2012, 11:53:12 PM
Um, forgive my naivete, but what's "MMA" mean?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Here'sToYa! on January 02, 2012, 12:01:14 AM
Um, forgive my naivete, but what's "MMA" mean?
Mixed Martial Arts aka Ultimate Fighting Championship
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 02, 2012, 02:58:07 PM
so, having seen pretty much everything else that's out there, I gave in and saw Tin-Tin today, in 3-D. As I've said, I never read the comic books or watched the TV shows, so I have no nostalgic investment in the characters. (And neither, apparently, do most Americans; it's making far more $$$ in Europe than it is here.)  To be honest, I found it rather monotonous. It's Raiders Jr., essentially, so it all seemed very... recycled. Capt. Haddock was one of the more annoying characters I've encountered in a while. I'm still not sold on motion-capture technology, tho' it's less creepy-looking than, say, Polar Express.  The opening credit sequence, reminiscent of the one from Catch Me If You Can, was pretty cool.

But I still say the bad guy looks like Spielberg:

(http://www.soundonsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/steven-spielberg-and-sakharine-300x151.jpg)

and this is what he looks like in the orig comic books:

(http://images.wikia.com/tintin/images/d/d0/Ivan_Ivanovitch_Sakharine.png)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on January 02, 2012, 07:01:08 PM
so, having seen pretty much everything else that's out there, I gave in and saw Tin-Tin today, in 3-D. As I've said, I never read the comic books or watched the TV shows, so I have no nostalgic investment in the characters. (And neither, apparently, do most Americans; it's making far more $$$ in Europe than it is here.)  To be honest, I found it rather monotonous. It's Raiders Jr., essentially, so it all seemed very... recycled. Capt. Haddock was one of the more annoying characters I've encountered in a while. I'm still not sold on motion-capture technology, tho' it's less creepy-looking than, say, Polar Express.  The opening credit sequence, reminiscent of the one from Catch Me If You Can, was pretty cool.

I can't say I disagree with your analysis, I guess it just worked for me a little better.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 03, 2012, 11:57:16 AM
Starting Friday (1/6) at the Roxie: Everyday Sunshine: the Story of Fishbone, a docu about that underappreciated band.  They'll be at the theater Fri nite to play some tunes and answer questions:

http://www.roxie.com/events/details.cfm?eventID=F5B1DCF5-1143-DBB3-C6BB2A869378A598

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChXk4R0mGNw
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: radical347 on January 03, 2012, 12:26:43 PM
Fullmetal Alchemist is coming to Bay Area theaters!!!  :D

New People World in San Francisco 1/20-26:
http://www.sffs.org/content.aspx?catid=928,942&pageid=2712

Camera 3 in San Jose, 1/21 & 1/25:
http://www.cameracinemas.com/specialevents.shtml#fullmetalalchemist
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Here'sToYa! on January 03, 2012, 03:54:54 PM
Starting Friday (1/6) at the Roxie: Everyday Sunshine: the Story of Fishbone, a docu about that underappreciated band.  They'll be at the theater Fri nite to play some tunes and answer questions:

http://www.roxie.com/events/details.cfm?eventID=F5B1DCF5-1143-DBB3-C6BB2A869378A598

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChXk4R0mGNw

Dang suburban living . . . I'm sure I won't be there.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 04, 2012, 12:43:44 PM
and another rock'n'roll movie: this little indie called Roadie, about an aging , er, roadie (he used to work for Blue Oyster Cult!) facing a midlife crisis. Filmed on location in Forest Hills, Queens! And stars Ron Eldard, who I've always loved -- he grew up in my neighborhood!

http://www.metacritic.com/movie/roadie

It's avail via Comcast On-Demand as we speak.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on January 04, 2012, 01:02:30 PM
and another rock'n'roll movie: this little indie called Roadie, about an aging , er, roadie (he used to work for Blue Oyster Cult!) facing a midlife crisis. Filmed on location in Forest Hills, Queens! And stars Ron Eldard, who I've always loved -- he grew up in my neighborhood!

http://www.metacritic.com/movie/roadie

It's avail via Comcast On-Demand as we speak.

RΦADIE!

 let's hope they get Buck Dharma, Erica Bloom and/or Allen Lanier to make an appearance.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on January 04, 2012, 08:50:20 PM
and another rock'n'roll movie: this little indie called Roadie, about an aging , er, roadie (he used to work for Blue Oyster Cult!) facing a midlife crisis. Filmed on location in Forest Hills, Queens! And stars Ron Eldard, who I've always loved -- he grew up in my neighborhood!

http://www.metacritic.com/movie/roadie

It's avail via Comcast On-Demand as we speak.
dig yer icon Mike!

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/45rpminsert.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 06, 2012, 11:35:37 AM
Granted it's only Jan 6th, but... Movie Title of the Year (so far):

http://www.metacritic.com/movie/codependent-lesbian-space-alien-seeks-same
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 07, 2012, 11:50:28 AM
and another rock'n'roll movie: this little indie called Roadie, about an aging , er, roadie (he used to work for Blue Oyster Cult!) facing a midlife crisis. Filmed on location in Forest Hills, Queens! And stars Ron Eldard, who I've always loved -- he grew up in my neighborhood!

http://www.metacritic.com/movie/roadie

It's avail via Comcast On-Demand as we speak.

RΦADIE!

 let's hope they get Buck Dharma, Erica Bloom and/or Allen Lanier to make an appearance.

ha! dunno about that, but I've just discovered that (a) the film was directed by the guy who did L.I.E., one of the great forgotten indies of the past decade, and (b) the sndtk includes Lawn Guyland's own Good Rats!  Cannot wait to see it now.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: radical347 on January 07, 2012, 05:14:44 PM
Just saw Hugo.  Movie wasn't bad, but ad campaign & poster is misleading.  It made it seem like it would be a magical kids' animated film.  Instead what we got was something that wouldn't be out of place on PBS at 3 in the morning.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on January 07, 2012, 11:59:43 PM
Just saw Hugo.  Movie wasn't bad, but ad campaign & poster is misleading.  It made it seem like it would be a magical kids' animated film.  Instead what we got was something that wouldn't be out of place on PBS at 3 in the morning.

Saw Hugo a week or so ago. Both my wife and I also expected it would be animated, but totally loved it regardless. Seemed as if it were out of another era, which was no doubt the point.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 08, 2012, 09:38:07 AM
Just saw Hugo.  Movie wasn't bad, but ad campaign & poster is misleading.  It made it seem like it would be a magical kids' animated film.  Instead what we got was something that wouldn't be out of place on PBS at 3 in the morning.

Saw Hugo a week or so ago. Both my wife and I also expected it would be animated, but totally loved it regardless. Seemed as if it were out of another era, which was no doubt the point.

Wow, so both urth and radical thought it was animated? Based on... what? the poster? I'm really kinda baffled by that, but then I'm a film geek and I usually know about movies ahead of time. Which is why I liked it (esp the last 45 mins or so). Easily the best 3-D I've ever seen.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on January 08, 2012, 10:07:09 AM
Just saw Hugo.  Movie wasn't bad, but ad campaign & poster is misleading.  It made it seem like it would be a magical kids' animated film.  Instead what we got was something that wouldn't be out of place on PBS at 3 in the morning.

Saw Hugo a week or so ago. Both my wife and I also expected it would be animated, but totally loved it regardless. Seemed as if it were out of another era, which was no doubt the point.

Wow, so both urth and radical thought it was animated? Based on... what? the poster? I'm really kinda baffled by that, but then I'm a film geek and I usually know about movies ahead of time. Which is why I liked it (esp the last 45 mins or so). Easily the best 3-D I've ever seen.
I think I had some idea that it was animated, too, and the title Hugo probably had me subconsciously thinking of the Hunchback of Notre Dame.  So I was expecting some sort of Disney thing about the Hunchback -- but they already did that, didn't they.  So when I got into the theater and it started, I thought "wow, this is a sort of melding of live action and animation, like they filmed in reality and then laid some sort of animated "sheen" over it." that last for about a minute, then I settled in. 

I agree w Mike that it's the best animation I've seen, and used very well in service to the story, as opposed to just giving a thrill ride.  I really enjoyed it overall, even when the final third turned into a "Martin Scorsese Film Preservationist History Lesson."   I think that's what radical means by something  you'd see on PBS.    (Last years SF Int'l Film Fest had a program that was centered on film preservation, and I blogged about it here:
http://blog.sfgate.com/culture/2011/05/05/serge-brombergs-3-d-movies-the-dangers-of-nitrate-film-stock-sfiff/)


Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on January 08, 2012, 06:46:40 PM


I agree w Mike that it's the best animation I've seen, and used very well in service to the story, as opposed to just giving a thrill ride.  I really enjoyed it overall, even when the final third turned into a "Martin Scorsese Film Preservationist History Lesson."   I think that's what radical means by something  you'd see on PBS.    (Last years SF Int'l Film Fest had a program that was centered on film preservation, and I blogged about it here:
http://blog.sfgate.com/culture/2011/05/05/serge-brombergs-3-d-movies-the-dangers-of-nitrate-film-stock-sfiff/)
Nice writing there, TC!  <high fives>
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: radical347 on January 08, 2012, 09:05:49 PM
Just saw Hugo.  Movie wasn't bad, but ad campaign & poster is misleading.  It made it seem like it would be a magical kids' animated film.  Instead what we got was something that wouldn't be out of place on PBS at 3 in the morning.

Saw Hugo a week or so ago. Both my wife and I also expected it would be animated, but totally loved it regardless. Seemed as if it were out of another era, which was no doubt the point.

Wow, so both urth and radical thought it was animated? Based on... what? the poster? I'm really kinda baffled by that, but then I'm a film geek and I usually know about movies ahead of time. Which is why I liked it (esp the last 45 mins or so). Easily the best 3-D I've ever seen.

Mostly, yes, the two posters.  I usually don't read too many reviews before watching movies because I don't want to know too much about the movie before watching it.  Especially since the critics are usually hit-or-miss for me, unless the RT meter has something ridiculously low like 10%. (And even then, there could still be exceptions.  I thought Priest was a perfectly decent movie despite getting 17%...although I do see why it was panned.)

Poster I:
(http://www.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/125/MPW-62549)

Besides being the 33rd worst movie poster of the year (http://www.totalfilm.com/features/50-worst-movie-posters-of-2011/hugo), that key is so gargantuan and so corny that there's no possible way that any film that features it can't be animated.

Poster II:
(http://www.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/141/MPW-70760)

The poor kid's hanging from a clock.  No way would that happen in a real live non-PG13 or R rated movie (even though it apparently just did.)  Kid even looks animated here too.

In posters I & II, "HUGO" is in written in a playful, unaligned font which also screams cartoon.

Other offenders were the first few seconds of the trailer (I didn't go past the beginning before watching the movie), which looked like an animated view of Paris, and the consensus on RottenTomatoes, which rates it a 94% and says: "Hugo is an extravagant, elegant fantasy with an innocence lacking in many modern kids' movies, and one that emanates an unabashed love for the magic of cinema."  The bold phrases being most misleading.  Fantasy usually implies animation, or at least something so obviously fake like Hook which this wasn't.  Same with "kids' movies" -- and I wouldn't even call this a kid's movie -- more like a family movie starring kids.

Finally, who in their right mind would name someone other than an animated character Hugo. (No offense if any of you have kids named Hugo.  :P )

I had the same reaction as TinkaCat about the melding of live action/animation for about a minute.  I agree with everyone that 3D was well done.  The angles when he was standing inside the clock really were impressive.  It was what saved it for me, as I otherwise wouldn't see this type of movie on the big screen.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on January 08, 2012, 11:56:09 PM
I don't recall what other press I saw about this prior to seeing the film, but yes, for me it was the poster as well. I saw the one with Hugo and the clock in the lobby of the nearby multiplex a month or two ago, and just went on the assumption it was animated. Given the plethora of animated (and 3D) flicks these days, I was a little relieved that it wasn't.

Btw, we saw the 2D version and were still captivated. I know 3D is going to take over the world, but frankly I'm dreading it. Until they can come up with a 3D interface that doesn't involve those damn glasses, you can have it. They give me a headache, and I've talked with many others who have the same issue.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 10, 2012, 07:56:32 AM
Starting Friday (1/6) at the Roxie: Everyday Sunshine: the Story of Fishbone, a docu about that underappreciated band.  They'll be at the theater Fri nite to play some tunes and answer questions:

http://www.roxie.com/events/details.cfm?eventID=F5B1DCF5-1143-DBB3-C6BB2A869378A598

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChXk4R0mGNw

great piece about Fishbone today on SFGate:

http://blog.sfgate.com/tdushane/2012/01/10/fishbone-from-circle-star-theater-in-1985-to-the-roxie-in-2012/

definitely seeing the docu tomorrow nite.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 12, 2012, 12:30:19 PM
Starting Friday (1/6) at the Roxie: Everyday Sunshine: the Story of Fishbone, a docu about that underappreciated band.  They'll be at the theater Fri nite to play some tunes and answer questions:

http://www.roxie.com/events/details.cfm?eventID=F5B1DCF5-1143-DBB3-C6BB2A869378A598

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChXk4R0mGNw

great piece about Fishbone today on SFGate:

http://blog.sfgate.com/tdushane/2012/01/10/fishbone-from-circle-star-theater-in-1985-to-the-roxie-in-2012/

definitely seeing the docu tomorrow nite.

saw the Fishbone thang last nite -- very good and quite fascinating, in that I really didn't know the whole backstage story of their ups-and-downs over the last 25-30 years.  Not as much performance footage as I expected.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 14, 2012, 10:20:41 PM
and another rock'n'roll movie: this little indie called Roadie, about an aging , er, roadie (he used to work for Blue Oyster Cult!) facing a midlife crisis. Filmed on location in Forest Hills, Queens! And stars Ron Eldard, who I've always loved -- he grew up in my neighborhood!

http://www.metacritic.com/movie/roadie

It's avail via Comcast On-Demand as we speak.

RΦADIE!

 let's hope they get Buck Dharma, Erica Bloom and/or Allen Lanier to make an appearance.

ha! dunno about that, but I've just discovered that (a) the film was directed by the guy who did L.I.E., one of the great forgotten indies of the past decade, and (b) the sndtk includes Lawn Guyland's own Good Rats!  Cannot wait to see it now.

Just watched this flick on Comcast On-Demand and it's a rather sweet little low-budget indie. Besides Eldard, it stars the always good Bobby Cannevale. Hearing the Good Rats' "Advertisement in the Voice" was a flashback-and-a-half, and the "real" lower-middle-class parts of Forest Hills have rarely been put to such good use on film.  My only gripe: This being a film about a roadie, they decided to use "The Load-Out" over the closing credits but since we Jackson Browne orig was too expensive they got a cover version by Sideshow Bob himself, Adam Duritz. But I recommended the movie anyway (you can always fast-forward thru the Duritz).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 21, 2012, 10:33:51 PM
Just watched Contagion via On-Demand -- DAYUM! -- that is some scary shit. Really well-made and acted.  And for those of you who hate Gwynneth P, she dies in the first 5 minutes, so there's that.  Fave line of dialogue: "Blogging is not writing -- it's graffitti with punctuation marks!"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on January 24, 2012, 07:51:27 AM
2012 Oscar Nominations: 
(No Fassy...WTF???)

Best Supporting Actress:
Octavia Spencer, “The Help”
Berenice Bejo, “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain, “The Help”
Janet McTeer “Albert Nobbs”
Melissa McCarthy, “Bridesmaids”

Best Actress:
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Best Supporting Actor:
Kenneth Branagh
Nick Nolte
Jonah Hill
Christopher Plummer
Max Von Sydow

Best Actor:
George Clooney
Jean Dujardin
Gary Oldman
Brad Pitt
Demian Bichir

Original screenplay:
The Artist, Bridesmaids, Midnight in Paris, Margin Call, A Separation

Adapted screenplay:
The Descendants, Hugo, Ides of March, Moneyball, Tinker

Director:
Hazanavicius, Payne, Scorsese, Allen, Mallick

Best picture:
War Horse, Artist, Moneyball, Descendants, Tree of Life, Midnight in Paris, The Help, Hugo, Extremely Loud
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on January 24, 2012, 08:00:35 AM
2012 Oscar Nominations: 

my iphone beeped this morning at 6:30 with the USA Today breaking news alert that 'Hugo' leads Oscar nominations.

thank god I found out that early!   *grumble*
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 24, 2012, 08:04:46 AM
2012 Oscar Nominations: 
(No Fassy...WTF???)


the usual share of omissions (Fassy, Albert Brooks, Tilda Swinton) and nice surprises (Gary Oldman).  Guess I'll have to see Extremely Contrived and Incredibly Annoying after all...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Here'sToYa! on January 24, 2012, 12:22:00 PM
2012 Oscar Nominations: 
(No Fassy...WTF???)

There's no category for largest Academy MEMBER.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 24, 2012, 12:51:06 PM
2012 Oscar Nominations: 
(No Fassy...WTF???)

There's no category for largest Academy MEMBER.

when your member is bigger than the Oscar statuette itself... you've already been rewarded.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on January 24, 2012, 02:03:13 PM
2012 Oscar Nominations: 
(No Fassy...WTF???)

There's no category for largest Academy MEMBER.
And the weiner is......
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Big Fingers McGee on January 24, 2012, 02:45:18 PM
2012 Oscar Nominations: 
(No Fassy...WTF???)

There's no category for largest Academy MEMBER.

Uhh... Rim Shot?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 30, 2012, 07:51:35 AM
Sean penn as Robert Smith? well, not exactly, but...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/30/movies/sean-penn-at-sundance-on-haiti-and-paolo-sorrentino-film.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 31, 2012, 08:22:57 PM
So, yesterday I saw Pina, the 3-D Wim Wenders-directed docu about choreographer Pina Bausch, which is one of the Best Docu nominees at this year's Oscars. And I left after an hour because I was bored to tears.

By way of explanation, I find dance, as an art form, completely uninteresting. Especially "modern" dance, which to me is just people running around, gyrating and waving their arms in the air. (yes, Twyla Tharp, I'm looking at YOU)  But I went to see Pina because it was nominated and the 3-D aspect intrigued me and I thought I might learn something. But it's one of those docus where unless you go in already knowing about the subject, you're kinda lost. It's a lot of her staged dance pieces, accompanied by solemn, platitudinous voice-overs by dancers who've worked with her, which are all along the lines of "YES! Pina told me I must be BOLD! And of course... she was RIGHT!"

Meanwhile, over the weekend I saw another Oscar nominee, Paradise Lost 3, the latest of the docus about the West Memphis 3. HBO's been showing it this month. It's amazing and it's a film that actually changed the lives of 3 people.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 04, 2012, 06:15:29 PM
Fandango said there was a 5:25 show of Extremely Loud/Incredibly Close at SF Centre. Fandango lied. BAAAAAD Fandango!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 17, 2012, 02:59:15 PM
Finally caught up with "Haywire" -- thought I'd missed it, but it's still at Metreon. Gina Carano isn't a great actress but girlfriend can kick some serious ass, MMA-style. And Soderburgh has surrounded her with Michael Fassbender, Ewan MacGregor, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton... nicely played. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 19, 2012, 04:33:07 PM
went up to the Lumiere to catch the Oscar Nominated Shorts (live action) -- they're all good, hard to pick the best.

But damn, Polk street was depressing: the discount wine store around the corner was out-of business, and my fave Indian restaurant, India Aroma (next door to Red Devil Lounge) has also gone belly-up. Damn.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on February 20, 2012, 03:48:10 PM
went up to the Lumiere to catch the Oscar Nominated Shorts (live action) -- they're all good, hard to pick the best.

But damn, Polk street was depressing: the discount wine store around the corner was out-of business, and my fave Indian restaurant, India Aroma (next door to Red Devil Lounge) has also gone belly-up. Damn.
We were just talking about cheap Indian places on Polk.  There are others still, right?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on February 20, 2012, 04:52:48 PM
went up to the Lumiere to catch the Oscar Nominated Shorts (live action) -- they're all good, hard to pick the best.

But damn, Polk street was depressing: the discount wine store around the corner was out-of business, and my fave Indian restaurant, India Aroma (next door to Red Devil Lounge) has also gone belly-up. Damn.
We were just talking about cheap Indian places on Polk.  There are others still, right?

Shalamar's still there, right?  Well, if you're in the mood for not cheap/not Indian, there's always Swan's! 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 20, 2012, 06:12:20 PM
went up to the Lumiere to catch the Oscar Nominated Shorts (live action) -- they're all good, hard to pick the best.

But damn, Polk street was depressing: the discount wine store around the corner was out-of business, and my fave Indian restaurant, India Aroma (next door to Red Devil Lounge) has also gone belly-up. Damn.
We were just talking about cheap Indian places on Polk.  There are others still, right?

Shalamar's still there, right?  Well, if you're in the mood for not cheap/not Indian, there's always Swan's!

yeah, the cheaper places a few blocks south of there are still around.  There used to be a great place on Valencia called Scenic India, and the owners of that place also ran India Aroma.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 20, 2012, 06:27:59 PM
did an Embarcadero double-header today.

Movie #1: Chico y Rita, the surprise Best Animated Film nominee -- a hand-drawn love story about Cuban musicians, refugees who come to NYC in the '50s and interact with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. Very sweet.

Movie #2: Rampart -- hot damn! Woody Harrelson as a very VERY dirty, corrupt LA cop. A great bit of acting that deserved more Oscar-season traction. Anne Heche and Cynthia Nixon as his 2 ex-wives, Sigourney Weaver as the city prosecutor trying to cut a deal, great supporting cameos from Ben Foster and Ice Cube (as one of the good guys!)... highly recommended.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 22, 2012, 12:32:35 PM
I'm not even doing an Oscar-predictions post this year -- it's been looking like the Most. Boring. Oscars. EVAH. A sweet, clever, but very minor trifle of a film -- a movie very few Americans have seen or ever will -- is probably gonna walk away with 5 or 6 awards (if the pundits are correct). It was an underwhelming year for movies generally, IMHO.

But it's looking like the show itself may have its moments: Crystal may be old but he *can* be funny, and they've lined up some funny folks as presenters: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Tina Fey, the cast of Bridesmaids and -- but of course! --  Kermit & Miss Piggy. Man or Muppet, indeed.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 23, 2012, 08:04:32 AM
another very well-wriiten piece from Mr Ebert. I haven't seen Act of Valor (nor do I want to), but I *have* seen Hell & Back Again, the Oscar-nommed documentary he references here. 

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120222/REVIEWS/120229991
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 27, 2012, 07:41:50 AM
Oscar post-mortem: The show didn't suck (Tim Goodman was being far too cranky last nite). Crystal did what he was hired to do, the funny people were (for the most part) actually funny, and at 3 hrs 10 mins it was one of the shorter shows of the past decade. No major complaints.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: sundaygal on February 27, 2012, 08:33:18 AM
Boy, snarking makes the time fly by!  ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on February 27, 2012, 08:54:13 AM
The SF Chronicle's Mick LaSalle will be the guest on KQED's Forum with Michael Krasny today at 9 AM.   88.5 FM


I'll cross post this you-know-where.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 03, 2012, 11:18:06 PM
"My baby fits me like a flesh torpedo
I'd like to sink her with my pink toprpedo"

Spinal Tap on TCM.

"how could I leave this....BEHIND?"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 08, 2012, 09:15:40 PM
Great casting: Viola Davis as the late, great Rep. Barbara Jordan:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118051235
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on March 30, 2012, 10:04:19 AM
(http://www.awardsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads//2012/03/ratings2.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Alicat on March 30, 2012, 10:49:02 AM
(http://www.awardsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads//2012/03/ratings2.jpg)
Planning to catch Hunger games this weekend.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 03, 2012, 08:21:45 AM
Roger Ebert sums up Avengers:

Quote
These films are all more or less similar, and The Avengers gives us much, much more of the same. There must be a threat. The heroes must be enlisted. The villain must be dramatized. Some personality defects are probed. And then the last hour or so consists of special effects in which large mechanical objects engage in combat that results in deafening crashes and explosions and great balls of fire.

Much of this battle takes place in midtown Manhattan, where the neatest sequences involve Loki's ginormous slithering, undulating snake-lizard-dragon machine, which seems almost to have a mind of its own and is backed up by countless snakelings. At one point, an Avenger flies into the mouth of this leviathan and penetrates its entire length, emerging at the business end. You won't see that in The Human Centipede.

"Comic-Con nerds will have multiple orgasms," predicts critic David Edelstein in New York magazine, confirming something I had vaguely suspected about them. If he is correct, it's time for desperately needed movies to re-educate nerds in the joys of sex. The Avengers is done well by Joss Whedon, with style and energy. It provides its fans with exactly what they desire. Whether it is exactly what they deserve is arguable.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: radical347 on May 07, 2012, 11:47:11 PM
My review of Avengers:

In 2012, when you get a movie with 3-6 superheroes (there seems to be a lack of consensus on whether or not Hawkeye, Black Widow, and The Hulk are considered), it better have brilliant special effects and be wall-to-wall eye candy.  And it is.

But the plot...ugh.  It wasn't really offensive so much as it just wasn't there.  To start off, it should have been called "Thor II" instead of "The Avengers."  It's weakly centered around a battle between Thor and Loki, and as in Thor I, this doesn't really work.  Partly because both of these are weak characters, but mostly because Loki is not a legitimate villain.  He is more of a trickster and has no purpose in mind other than causing very expensive and inhumane mischief.  The other superheroes, although nice to look at, feel more like auxiliaries especially with no real villain in sight.

The movie made it seem like they could have captured Loki so many times but didn't just so they could drag out more fight scenes.  The good vs. bad fights were spectacular and, at times, could reclassify this movie as comedy.  On the other hand, the fights and bicker scenes between our heroes were pointless and we don't get the sense that they're legitimately working together, even at the end, so much as we get the sense that the director just wants us to give us colorful fight scenes. 

Which, speaking of, do not disappoint.  It's hard not to smile when a massive green block starts throwing bad guys around, or when Captain America in spandex stops monstercraft with his discus-type shield.  Comedic timing is especially skillful for an action movie.  For those in the know (which is most of the audience) this movie cleverly finds ways to pays homage to many of the comic book greats.

It's just too bad that this is wasted on a plot like this -- it could have been something great, on every level, rather than simply being good for looks & laughs.

Rating: B
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 26, 2012, 07:52:04 AM
Saw the little indie time-travel movie Safety Not Guaranteed last nite. It's "quirky" and fairly clever. But while I generally believe that less is more -- save us from bloated CGI extravaganzas! -- this is one flick that would've benefitted from a bigger budget and from a different actor than Mark Duplass as the guy who claims he can go back in time.

And speaking of Duplass, he also directs films (teamed with his brother Jay). And I've HATED everything they've been involved in -- The Puffy Chair, Humpday, Cyrus -- so imagine my surprise when I watched their latest on VOD the other nite, Jeff Who Lives at Home. Wow, talk about a movie that was not quite what you expected.  Jason Segal as a stoner doofus who lives in his mom's (Susan Sarandon) basement, with Ed Helms as his obnoxious brother. That description had me expecting stoner-doofus hijinks but... oh no.  A movie that goes someplace entirely other, and well worth checking out. It's on Comcast's On-Demand menu at the moment.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 09, 2012, 10:45:12 AM
Saw The Paperboy yesterday and boy it's pretty much as awful as you may have heard. It's quite a mess, but not exactly the no-bad-it's-good "camp classic" some have touted it as.  Lee Daniels (the guy who did Precious) takes a Pete Dexter novel and tries to turn it into trailer-trash-noir meets The Help. Or something.  Nicole Kidman urinates on Zac Efron (seriously).  I gotta hope/believe that the book was better. Oy.

Oh, and while there are a couple of great soul nuggets on the soundtrack (like "Third Finger, Left Hand") Daniels commits the cardinal sin of period filmmaking: songs from the wrong year. Although the film takes place in 1969, Al Wilson's 1974 hit "Show & Tell" blares from a car radio in one scene. How hard is it to get that sorta thing right?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on October 27, 2012, 05:58:40 PM
For the 2nd time in a month, I traveled to the East Bay to see a movie, at a theater I'd never been to. Saw the terrific little indie Middle of Nowhere at the Shattuck in Berkeley -- for some odd reason this acclaimed film (a 76 on Metacritic) is not playing anywhere in SF, despite a plethora of arthouse/indie-friendly screens. 

The Shattuck is owned by Landmatrk but they use the Alamo Drafthouse model; comfy couches in some of the smaller auditoriums and they sell alcoholic bevs. Very cool.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on November 21, 2012, 06:18:44 PM
We went to Skyfall last night. I really liked it.  Yes, there were formulaic Bond plot devices aplenty, but it was visually sumptuous.  Some of the re-imagined roles reminded me of the new Star Trek universe as well!  There are a few surprises, so I won't talk details either.  Did anyone else think Javier Bardem did kind of a Gary Busey madman kind of shtick?

(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02377/Skyfall-JamesBond_2377965b.jpg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: radical347 on November 25, 2012, 07:41:13 PM
I'm "meh" on Lincoln.  Yes, the acting was good, but I felt like I was watching a history channel marathon.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on November 25, 2012, 10:23:12 PM
I'm "meh" on Lincoln.  Yes, the acting was good, but I felt like I was watching a history channel marathon.

I can understand that, tho' for me, esp after War Horse, it seemed pretty restrained for Spielberg, and that's a *good* thing. Despite being 2-1/2 hrs I was never bored.

OTOH, I saw Life of Pi today. Gorgeous cinematography, first-rate 3-D. but boy was it a loooong sit -- like a beautifully illustrated lecture rather than an interesting story (there's no suspense, since we know the guy telling the tale survived his ordeal).  And it didn't make me "believe" in anything (except maybe James Cameron, whose company did the effects).

But I really liked Silver Linings Playbook, Anna Karenina and Holy Motors -- that last one is pretty weird.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 13, 2012, 12:38:31 PM
Opening paragraph of AO Scott's NY Times review of The Hobbit...

"In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s first Middle-earth fantasy novel, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) sets out with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a posse of dwarfs to battle a fearsome dragon. [Spoiler alert] they do not kill the dragon, although [spoiler alert] they eventually will, within the next 18 months or so, because [spoiler alert] this “Hobbit,” which is [migraine alert] 170 minutes long, is the opening installment in [film critic suicide-watch alert] a trilogy..."

He was not impressed.  It might be time to re-read National lampoon's Bored of the Rings.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on December 13, 2012, 01:04:23 PM
Opening paragraph of AO Scott's NY Times review of The Hobbit...

"In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s first Middle-earth fantasy novel, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) sets out with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a posse of dwarfs to battle a fearsome dragon. [Spoiler alert] they do not kill the dragon, although [spoiler alert] they eventually will, within the next 18 months or so, because [spoiler alert] this “Hobbit,” which is [migraine alert] 170 minutes long, is the opening installment in [film critic suicide-watch alert] a trilogy..."

He was not impressed.  It might be time to re-read National lampoon's Bored of the Rings.

It's a freakin' trilogy?!?!?!?   :o  I had not heard that.  Maybe they are adding sharks to this version and Bilbo can jump one.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 13, 2012, 01:15:41 PM
Opening paragraph of AO Scott's NY Times review of The Hobbit...

"In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s first Middle-earth fantasy novel, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) sets out with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a posse of dwarfs to battle a fearsome dragon. [Spoiler alert] they do not kill the dragon, although [spoiler alert] they eventually will, within the next 18 months or so, because [spoiler alert] this “Hobbit,” which is [migraine alert] 170 minutes long, is the opening installment in [film critic suicide-watch alert] a trilogy..."

He was not impressed.  It might be time to re-read National lampoon's Bored of the Rings.

It's a freakin' trilogy?!?!?!?   :o  I had not heard that.  Maybe they are adding sharks to this version and Bilbo can jump one.

Oh yes. It's known in the business as "monetizing a property" ;)  They've basically taken a small book and LOTR-ized it by adding more battles and rescues and a swordfight every 20 minutes or so. The better to utilize 3-D CGI, my dear.  I'll see it of course (I'm interested in what the 48-frames-per-second version looks like, at least) but apparently it's quite a long slog.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on December 13, 2012, 02:30:51 PM
Opening paragraph of AO Scott's NY Times review of The Hobbit...

"In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s first Middle-earth fantasy novel, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) sets out with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a posse of dwarfs to battle a fearsome dragon. [Spoiler alert] they do not kill the dragon, although [spoiler alert] they eventually will, within the next 18 months or so, because [spoiler alert] this “Hobbit,” which is [migraine alert] 170 minutes long, is the opening installment in [film critic suicide-watch alert] a trilogy..."

He was not impressed.  It might be time to re-read National lampoon's Bored of the Rings.

It's a freakin' trilogy?!?!?!?   :o  I had not heard that.  Maybe they are adding sharks to this version and Bilbo can jump one.

Oh yes. It's known in the business as "monetizing a property" ;)  They've basically taken a small book and LOTR-ized it by adding more battles and rescues and a swordfight every 20 minutes or so. The better to utilize 3-D CGI, my dear.  I'll see it of course (I'm interested in what the 48-frames-per-second version looks like, at least) but apparently it's quite a long slog.

I actually downloaded it to my Kindle at the beginning of the year to get one last unsullied experience.  It would make a very fine 2 hour adventure.  Or maybe an hour and a half.  Sheesh and yeesh.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 13, 2012, 10:08:52 PM
Opening paragraph of AO Scott's NY Times review of The Hobbit...

"In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s first Middle-earth fantasy novel, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) sets out with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a posse of dwarfs to battle a fearsome dragon. [Spoiler alert] they do not kill the dragon, although [spoiler alert] they eventually will, within the next 18 months or so, because [spoiler alert] this “Hobbit,” which is [migraine alert] 170 minutes long, is the opening installment in [film critic suicide-watch alert] a trilogy..."

He was not impressed.  It might be time to re-read National lampoon's Bored of the Rings.

It's a freakin' trilogy?!?!?!?   :o  I had not heard that.  Maybe they are adding sharks to this version and Bilbo can jump one.

Oh yes. It's known in the business as "monetizing a property" ;)  They've basically taken a small book and LOTR-ized it by adding more battles and rescues and a swordfight every 20 minutes or so. The better to utilize 3-D CGI, my dear.  I'll see it of course (I'm interested in what the 48-frames-per-second version looks like, at least) but apparently it's quite a long slog.

I actually downloaded it to my Kindle at the beginning of the year to get one last unsullied experience.  It would make a very fine 2 hour adventure.  Or maybe an hour and a half.  Sheesh and yeesh.

Headline on Mick LaSalle's little-man-asleep-in-his-chair review: "Chore of the Rings". Heh.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 14, 2012, 09:35:46 AM
And for those wondering what all this 48-frames-per-second stuff is about (The Hobbit is being shown in this new process at some theaters; others are showing the usual 24-fps version)  Here's a good explanation from the Boston Globe:

Quote
It’s a hard thing to describe, but I’ll try. Instead of film’s burnished textures — the subtle gradations of lighting and color that have sustained the medium for over a century, even into an age when most “films” are shot on digital equipment — the 48 fps Hobbit has the hot, live presence we associate with television shows. More than anything, it resembles an insanely high-end Masterpiece Theatre production: I, Claudius with a big budget and endless banks of computers. This may be the future of movies. We may all have to adjust. I still don’t like it. That’s partly because I’m a stick in the mud (I don’t think I’m alone), but partly because something genuinely seems to have been lost in the translation — a visual depth, a quality of mystery, that soaks into the very experience of watching a movie and the meanings we take away from it. There are sights to make your jaw hit the floor in The Hobbit but there’s hardly any mystery. That hurts more than you’d think.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on January 02, 2013, 11:09:10 AM
So Mike, did you ever get out to see The Hobbit?  I'm curious to read your reaction.  I enjoyed it much more than I had expected to.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 02, 2013, 11:34:01 AM
So Mike, did you ever get out to see The Hobbit?  I'm curious to read your reaction.  I enjoyed it much more than I had expected to.

I thought it was .... long. Not bad, but definitely unnecessarily stretched. I don't know that I want to see 2 more 3-hour movies. The party at Bilbo's house sequence seemed to go on forever, I thought.  It certainly *looked* good, tho' I'm not a fan of the High-Frame-rate thing -- it was like watching high-end video, rather than film. I slipped into the "regular" version on my way out and thought it looked better that way.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on January 02, 2013, 01:16:04 PM
This should probably go in the Mick LaSalle thread, but it works here to - Mick speaks out agains media violence.  Very well said.

http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Violent-media-poisoning-nation-s-soul-4160035.php
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on January 02, 2013, 01:19:37 PM
So Mike, did you ever get out to see The Hobbit?  I'm curious to read your reaction.  I enjoyed it much more than I had expected to.

I thought it was .... long. Not bad, but definitely unnecessarily stretched. I don't know that I want to see 2 more 3-hour movies. The party at Bilbo's house sequence seemed to go on forever, I thought.  It certainly *looked* good, tho' I'm not a fan of the High-Frame-rate thing -- it was like watching high-end video, rather than film. I slipped into the "regular" version on my way out and thought it looked better that way.

I didn't see the high-frame-rate version.  Instead, I went to the El Cerrito Rialto with comfy couches and food and beverage service.  I liked the atmoshere. 

One thing that saved the movie was the casting, from Martin Freeman as Bilbo (could not have done better) to whoever that is playing Thorin Oakenshield. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 02, 2013, 03:30:39 PM
This should probably go in the Mick LaSalle thread, but it works here to - Mick speaks out agains media violence.  Very well said.

http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Violent-media-poisoning-nation-s-soul-4160035.php

He's right, tho' I don't think Dark Knight Rises is in anything approaching the same category as first-person shooter video games. I see ads for those every night on cable and I'm dumbfounded that people spend hours on end playing them.  Interesting that he thought DKR was "anti-life" and a "wallow in cruelty & destruction"... yet called Django Unchained the most entertaining movie of the year. Django has gallons more blood than DKR.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Big Fingers McGee on January 02, 2013, 04:17:30 PM
This should probably go in the Mick LaSalle thread, but it works here to - Mick speaks out agains media violence.  Very well said.

http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Violent-media-poisoning-nation-s-soul-4160035.php

He's right, tho' I don't think Dark Knight Rises is in anything approaching the same category as first-person shooter video games. I see ads for those every night on cable and I'm dumbfounded that people spend hours on end playing them.  Interesting that he thought DKR was "anti-life" and a "wallow in cruelty & destruction"... yet called Django Unchained the most entertaining movie of the year. Django has gallons more blood than DKR.

Saw Dark Knight Rises last week - ridiculously over the top? Sure. Excessively violent? C'mon!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on January 03, 2013, 08:27:02 AM
We went to see Promised Land yesterday, and really liked it.  I only wish there was some sort of thought given to the trailers they show in theaters.  Here I was, about to watch a movie with a decidedly slower pace, with beautiful photography, and I was still subjected to the Gangster Squad preview!  Way to harsh my mellow dudes!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 03, 2013, 08:35:25 AM
We went to see Promised Land yesterday, and really liked it.  I only wish there was some sort of thought given to the trailers they show in theaters.  Here I was, about to watch a movie with a decidedly slower pace, with beautiful photography, and I was still subjected to the Gangster Squad preview!  Way to harsh my mellow dudes!

I feel like I've seen that Gangster Squad trailer a hundred times.   When I saw Not fade Away they showed a trailer for the next Tyler Perry movie; it looked like utter shite.

I liked Promised Land too, nicely played but that last-minute "twist" was a little hard to swallow.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on January 03, 2013, 10:07:23 AM
We went to see Promised Land yesterday, and really liked it.  I only wish there was some sort of thought given to the trailers they show in theaters.  Here I was, about to watch a movie with a decidedly slower pace, with beautiful photography, and I was still subjected to the Gangster Squad preview!  Way to harsh my mellow dudes!

I feel like I've seen that Gangster Squad trailer a hundred times.   When I saw Not fade Away they showed a trailer for the next Tyler Perry movie; it looked like utter shite.

I liked Promised Land too, nicely played but that last-minute "twist" was a little hard to swallow.
Without spoiling it for the others, there are holes in the plot for sure.  I did suspect something was fishy, considering I certainly didn't expect Matt Damon to turn evil or lose.  I was a little surprised at the exact twist.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 21, 2013, 01:40:59 PM
Caught up with Ted this weekend via VOD. My love/hate relationship with Seth McFarlane is well-documented: Hate Family Guy, love American Dad, find McFarlane himself quite smart and personable on talk shows.  I didn't think Ted was laugh-out-loud, fall-on-the-floor funny but it was consistently amusing; I smiled a lot. Granted, riffing on '80s pop-cultural schlock is McFarlane's stock-in-trade, but I thought the extended Sam J Jones cameo was fairly inspired. Still think using the Peter Griffin voice for the teddy bear was awfully lazy, and referencing it in the dialogue does not magically make it OK.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 24, 2013, 01:46:14 PM
Gotta love this trailer for the new Coen Bros flick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5ngyALMRR4&feature=player_embedded

It's "loosely" based on Dave van Ronk's posthumous memoir. Greenwich Village folkies in the early '60s, plus John Goodman -- what's not to love?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on January 25, 2013, 09:13:20 PM
Some great quotes from the unmitigated pans that Movie 43 has been getting...

NY Post: "If you mashed-up the worst parts of the infamous Howard the Duck, Gigli, Ishtar and every other awful movie I've seen since I started reviewing professionally in 1981, it wouldn't begin to approach the sheer soul-sucking badness of the cringe-inducing Movie 43."

H'Wood Reporter: "Despite the dizzying array of talent involved both in front of and behind the camera, this godawful exercise is so painfully unfunny, so screamingly bad that it immediately qualifies as one of the worst films of all time."

Onion AV Club: "The sketches aren't united by a half-ignored framing device, so much as by an enduring fascination with bodily functions. Movie 43 is the most star-studded collection of jokes involving menstruation, flatulence, incest, bestiality, Snooki, and nutsacks ever assembled, but the stars don't elevate the material-they just descend to its level."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 07, 2013, 02:34:41 PM
So... who'll play Bowie and who'll play Iggy?

http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2013/02/07/david-bowies-berlin-years-with-iggy-pop-inspire-new-biopic/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on February 07, 2013, 04:26:06 PM
So... who'll play Bowie and who'll play Iggy?

http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2013/02/07/david-bowies-berlin-years-with-iggy-pop-inspire-new-biopic/

Maggie Smith and Tard the Cat, respectively.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on February 07, 2013, 05:13:54 PM
So... who'll play Bowie and who'll play Iggy?

http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2013/02/07/david-bowies-berlin-years-with-iggy-pop-inspire-new-biopic/

I don't think Kirk Douglas and/or Anthony Quinn are available*.  Kirk looks a little like Iggy these days, however.


*Tentatively titled Lust For Life as was the 1956 Van Gogh biopic, starring Kirk as Vincent and Quinn as Paul Gauguin.

Bonus trivia in the "you learn all kinds of things late in the day when you are bored at work" category: 
Kirk Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch
Iggy Pop was born James Newell Osterberg, Jr
David Bowie was born David Robert Jones
And Anthony Quinn, not to be outdone, was born Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Here'sToYa! on February 07, 2013, 08:55:34 PM
So... who'll play Bowie and who'll play Iggy?

http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2013/02/07/david-bowies-berlin-years-with-iggy-pop-inspire-new-biopic/

It's interesting that the first paragraph states that the Berlin years were the stuff of sex, drugs and rock & roll myths. I read recently that Bowie said he cleaned up in Berlin after being coked out of his mind in LA. He didn't like heroin, which was rife in Berlin. Of course, that's not taking Iggy into account.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on February 25, 2013, 11:09:17 AM
No comments from anyone about the Oscars yet.  I personally wasn't up to date on most of the nominees, but I did rent Argo yesterday afternoon, so it was the only best picture nominee I had seen.  I have to tell you, I don't get it -- it was good, but not *that* good.  There must have been better movies...
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 25, 2013, 11:38:45 AM
No comments from anyone about the Oscars yet.  I personally wasn't up to date on most of the nominees, but I did rent Argo yesterday afternoon, so it was the only best picture nominee I had seen.  I have to tell you, I don't get it -- it was good, but not *that* good.  There must have been better movies...

there were. It was an above-average year for film. This was just a weird confluence of (a) Affleck got "snubbed" for a Best Director nom after seemingly being a shoo-in, so he got a lot of sympathy; (b) They liked Lincoln but didn't "love" it; (c) The critics' pick, Zero Dark Thirty, got embroiled in controversy regarding torture; (d) Argo ultimately is about Hollywood as much as it is about the CIA.

"good but not *that* good" is pretty much the standard in Tinseltown these days.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on February 25, 2013, 04:34:26 PM
No comments from anyone about the Oscars yet.  I personally wasn't up to date on most of the nominees, but I did rent Argo yesterday afternoon, so it was the only best picture nominee I had seen.  I have to tell you, I don't get it -- it was good, but not *that* good.  There must have been better movies...


aw, man. You shoulda seen it on the BIG SCREEN!   it made all the difference..

it was ... bigger?

heh, seriously the only movie in that category I saw, too.  A decent thriller and knowing it was based on real-life made it interesting, too.  I did find myself rolling my eyes a tad in the airport chase scene, though.

Not a huge Ben Affleck fan, but I did like the rest of the cast of (to me) unknown actors, one of which won an oscar last night for male supporting role.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 26, 2013, 08:45:18 PM
I saw 6 of the best pix noms, and at least 3 in every acting category.  Maybe Beasts... will change my mind when I eventually see it, but I really did think Argo was the best picture that I saw this year.  Hard to argue with DDL for actor, although I actually thought that was only the 4th or 5th best role in his career, whereas I thought Denzel gave the best perfomance of his life in Flight.  I would have taken Naomi Watts over Jennifer Lawrence, but over-acting oftens wins.  I was most surprised and pleased by Ang Lee's win.

I am still waiting to hear what RGMike thought of the host.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 27, 2013, 08:02:26 AM
I saw 6 of the best pix noms, and at least 3 in every acting category.  Maybe Beasts... will change my mind when I eventually see it, but I really did think Argo was the best picture that I saw this year.  Hard to argue with DDL for actor, although I actually thought that was only the 4th or 5th best role in his career, whereas I thought Denzel gave the best perfomance of his life in Flight.  I would have taken Naomi Watts over Jennifer Lawrence, but over-acting oftens wins.  I was most surprised and pleased by Ang Lee's win.

I am still waiting to hear what RGMike thought of the host.

I thought McFarlane was good, actually. (I don't hate *him* I just think Family Guy is dreadful) . Were some of his jokes tasteless? Yes. That's why they hired him -- to be "edgy" and attract a younger demo. But most of his one-liners would have not sounded out-of-place coming from Crystal or Carson ("it's Sunday and we're all dressed up -- it's like church, only with more people praying" is a line Bob Hope could've used in 1968). The opening bit should've been a lot shorter.  The show itself was the usual hot mess. If you're gonna salute musicals, don't confine yourself to the last 10 years fer cryin' out loud.  Paul Rudd & Melissa McCarthy together probably looked great on paper but boy they were not funny. The Bond salute was a cheap clip compilation -- Ms Bassey was great but a round robin of Bond themes (Macca surely woulda showed up, Duran Duran, Carly etc)  would've been sweet.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 27, 2013, 12:41:53 PM
The 2nd Hobbit movie in the trilogy is titled The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.  Seriously.

(yes, I know Smaug is a dragon -- to be voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch, BTW)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on March 08, 2013, 02:02:08 PM
Joss Whedon does Shakespeare?  Count me in!

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/03/07/watch_the_trailer_for_joss_whedon_s_much_ado_about_nothing_video.html
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 09, 2013, 09:05:23 AM
Y'know those historical/biopic films where someone turns to the main character early on and says something like "You're gonna go down in history!" and you just *cringe* because it's so thuddingly obvious?  Well... that's how the Jackie Robinson movie 42 looks to me.  From the TV spots it looks like Every. Single. Line of Dialogue is like that.  I hope that's not the case, but it opens Friday and there are still no reviews on the internet -- if they haven't shown it to anyone that is NOT a good sign.

Spike Lee tried for 10 years to get a Robinson biopic made but couldn't get it off the ground (even with Denzel attached), so here comes 42, directed by a white guy -- Spike must be very pissed. Of course, he's always pissed, but still.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on April 09, 2013, 09:27:18 AM
Y'know those historical/biopic films where someone turns to the main character early on and says something like "You're gonna go down in history!" and you just *cringe* because it's so thuddingly obvious?  Well... that's how the Jackie Robinson movie 42 looks to me.  From the TV spots it looks like Every. Single. Line of Dialogue is like that.  I hope that's not the case, but it opens Friday and there are still no reviews on the internet -- if they haven't shown it to anyone that is NOT a good sign.

Spike Lee tried for 10 years to get a Robinson biopic made but couldn't get it off the ground (even with Denzel attached), so here comes 42, directed by a white guy -- Spike must be very pissed. Of course, he's always pissed, but still.

Even the title feels cliche (it reminds me too much of the Roger Maris biopic, 61*).
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 12, 2013, 12:23:27 PM
Y'know those historical/biopic films where someone turns to the main character early on and says something like "You're gonna go down in history!" and you just *cringe* because it's so thuddingly obvious?  Well... that's how the Jackie Robinson movie 42 looks to me.  From the TV spots it looks like Every. Single. Line of Dialogue is like that.  I hope that's not the case, but it opens Friday and there are still no reviews on the internet -- if they haven't shown it to anyone that is NOT a good sign.

Spike Lee tried for 10 years to get a Robinson biopic made but couldn't get it off the ground (even with Denzel attached), so here comes 42, directed by a white guy -- Spike must be very pissed. Of course, he's always pissed, but still.

Even the title feels cliche (it reminds me too much of the Roger Maris biopic, 61*).

online critic Phil Villarreal on 42: "Chadwick Boseman, as Robinson, does an excellent job of playing a man with a female name"  Oh, SNAP!  Maybe I spend too much time with bitchy queens, but did  Villrreal just try to "out" Boseman? (FWIW I couldn't find anything on the interwebs about Boseman's, er, personal life)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on April 12, 2013, 04:34:49 PM
Y'know those historical/biopic films where someone turns to the main character early on and says something like "You're gonna go down in history!" and you just *cringe* because it's so thuddingly obvious?  Well... that's how the Jackie Robinson movie 42 looks to me.  From the TV spots it looks like Every. Single. Line of Dialogue is like that.  I hope that's not the case, but it opens Friday and there are still no reviews on the internet -- if they haven't shown it to anyone that is NOT a good sign.

Spike Lee tried for 10 years to get a Robinson biopic made but couldn't get it off the ground (even with Denzel attached), so here comes 42, directed by a white guy -- Spike must be very pissed. Of course, he's always pissed, but still.

Even the title feels cliche (it reminds me too much of the Roger Maris biopic, 61*).

online critic Phil Villarreal on 42: "Chadwick Boseman, as Robinson, does an excellent job of playing a man with a female name"  Oh, SNAP!  Maybe I spend too much time with bitchy queens, but did  Villrreal just try to "out" Boseman? (FWIW I couldn't find anything on the interwebs about Boseman's, er, personal life)


The movie has Hallmark Channel written all over it.  Maybe Boseman does , too.... dunno.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: radical347 on April 14, 2013, 09:09:10 PM
Saw "From Up on Poppy Hill" this weekend, the newest film from Studio Ghibli...but it was directed by Miyazaki's son, Goro.  Gorgeous animation and cute but pretty uninspired storyline.  Set in Yokohama 1963, it lacks the fantasy element that was prevalent in his father's work.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 15, 2013, 07:40:24 AM
Saw "From Up on Poppy Hill" this weekend, the newest film from Studio Ghibli...but it was directed by Miyazaki's son, Goro.  Gorgeous animation and cute but pretty uninspired storyline.  Set in Yokohama 1963, it lacks the fantasy element that was prevalent in his father's work.

And that (the fact it's realistic rather than fantasy-driven) is exactly why i want to see it -- I'm not a big Miyazaki fan overall. Ponyo was the longest 90 minutes I've spent in a theater in the last decade.  But this one looks interesting to me.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 25, 2013, 03:50:20 PM
People have been talking about a Man from U.N.C.L.E. movie for 20 years (at least!) ... well it's finally happening:

http://www.slashfilm.com/armie-hammer-joins-tom-cruise-in-the-man-from-u-n-c-l-e/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 30, 2013, 08:32:40 AM
If you love movies like I do you eat this kinda stuff up with a spoon: William Friedkin, in his new autobio, talking about The Exorcist:

Quote
The Exorcist was 340 pages. A 100-page screenplay, more or less, would result in a two-hour film. We worked for several months as David Salven assembled the crew and we started talks with Nessa Hyams, head of casting for Warner Bros. Ted Ashley told me he wanted Audrey Hepburn, Anne Bancroft, or Jane Fonda to play Chris MacNeil. Excellent choices. And with Blatty’s and my blessing, the studio offered the role first to Audrey Hepburn, who responded favorably, but said she would only do the film in Rome, as she was living there, married to an Italian doctor. I thought it was a request on her part, not a condition. No way did I want to film in Rome; it was impractical from every standpoint. All other actors would have to be imported from the United States, and I didn’t want a language barrier with the crew. In fact, I wanted my crew from The French Connection, starting with Owen Roizman and Ricky Bravo. We asked Ms.Hepburn to reconsider, but she declined.

Anne Bancroft was next. She said she’d love to play Chris, but she was pregnant; would we wait a year for her? We wished her mazel tov. Jane Fonda sent us a telegram after receiving the script: “Why would anyone want to make this piece of capitalist rip-off bullshit?” I never learned how she really felt.

At one point during these maneuverings, I had a phone call from Ellen Burstyn: “Do you know who I am?” she asked.

“Yes, of course,” I lied. She was considered a very good actress. She was in The Last Picture Show. But I frankly didn’t remember which role she’d played, and I tended to confuse her with Cloris Leachman.


and it goes on. and on. great stuff.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on April 30, 2013, 12:18:54 PM
If you love movies like I do you eat this kinda stuff up with a spoon: William Friedkin, in his new autobio, talking about The Exorcist:

...

and it goes on. and on. great stuff.

he'll be at the SF Intl Film Fest next Wednesday, May 8, 4 PM

http://prod3.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=54515~8781fb85-6bb2-474d-a97d-cec76d1b8c32&epguid=db9c7f13-edc8-489f-bc28-5aa111f9970e&

They'll also screen To Live And Die In LA during the fest, but it conflicts w another movie I want to see. It you haven't seen it, you should. it's really good. Awesome car chase sequence in the LA River.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on April 30, 2013, 12:39:54 PM
If you love movies like I do you eat this kinda stuff up with a spoon: William Friedkin, in his new autobio, talking about The Exorcist:

...

and it goes on. and on. great stuff.

he'll be at the SF Intl Film Fest next Wednesday, May 8, 4 PM

http://prod3.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=54515~8781fb85-6bb2-474d-a97d-cec76d1b8c32&epguid=db9c7f13-edc8-489f-bc28-5aa111f9970e&

They'll also screen To Live And Die In LA during the fest, but it conflicts w another movie I want to see. It you haven't seen it, you should. it's really good. Awesome car chase sequence in the LA River.

yes, great flick (and a fave of mshray's iirc) Everybody will Wang Chung that nite.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on April 30, 2013, 01:36:23 PM
If you love movies like I do you eat this kinda stuff up with a spoon: William Friedkin, in his new autobio, talking about The Exorcist:

...

and it goes on. and on. great stuff.

he'll be at the SF Intl Film Fest next Wednesday, May 8, 4 PM

http://prod3.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=54515~8781fb85-6bb2-474d-a97d-cec76d1b8c32&epguid=db9c7f13-edc8-489f-bc28-5aa111f9970e&

They'll also screen To Live And Die In LA during the fest, but it conflicts w another movie I want to see. It you haven't seen it, you should. it's really good. Awesome car chase sequence in the LA River.

yes, great flick (and a fave of mshray's iirc) Everybody will Wang Chung that nite.

"Let the Wanging of the Chung begin!"
 -- Abraham Lincoln
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 14, 2013, 07:51:35 AM
I love a good superhero movie as much as the next guy, but this is a (mostly) dead-on ananlysis:

http://m.guardiannews.com/film/2013/jun/11/man-steel-hollywood-break-superheroes
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 28, 2013, 03:45:24 PM
The Embarcadero theater is "closed for renovations"... until NOVEMBER!!  WTFF??
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 28, 2013, 04:06:47 PM
The Embarcadero theater is "closed for renovations"... until NOVEMBER!!  WTFF??

the renovations are supposed to be extensive.. as in you won't recognize it.  I like that Embarcadero walkway system. It's so 1973.

How did you find out about it?   I knew b/c I saw an email press release at work, but the website itself makes no mention:

http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/SanFrancisco/EmbarcaderoCenterCinema.htm
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Big Fingers McGee on June 28, 2013, 04:19:34 PM
The Embarcadero theater is "closed for renovations"... until NOVEMBER!!  WTFF??

the renovations are supposed to be extensive.. as in you won't recognize it.  I like that Embarcadero walkway system. It's so 1973.

How did you find out about it?   I knew b/c I saw an email press release at work, but the website itself makes no mention:

http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/SanFrancisco/EmbarcaderoCenterCinema.htm

I walk past it all the time, and saw the message a couple of weeks ago. My regrets for not alerting y'all.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on June 28, 2013, 04:26:05 PM
The Embarcadero theater is "closed for renovations"... until NOVEMBER!!  WTFF??

the renovations are supposed to be extensive.. as in you won't recognize it.  I like that Embarcadero walkway system. It's so 1973.

How did you find out about it?   I knew b/c I saw an email press release at work, but the website itself makes no mention:

http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/SanFrancisco/EmbarcaderoCenterCinema.htm

I walk past it all the time, and saw the message a couple of weeks ago. My regrets for not alerting y'all.

 most recent film I saw there was Terrence Malick's To the Wonder.  I think it scared me away for a while..    ;)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on June 29, 2013, 09:46:58 AM
The Embarcadero theater is "closed for renovations"... until NOVEMBER!!  WTFF??

the renovations are supposed to be extensive.. as in you won't recognize it.  I like that Embarcadero walkway system. It's so 1973.

How did you find out about it?   I knew b/c I saw an email press release at work, but the website itself makes no mention:

http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/SanFrancisco/EmbarcaderoCenterCinema.htm

I saw that their listing on Fandango was blank, so I called the recorded number for showtimes, which makes the announcement.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on July 19, 2013, 09:26:02 AM
Best bad reviews of the summer?  R.I.P.D. is apparently quite dreadful.

"In R.I.P.D., we have a legitimate train wreck of a motion picture: a film that doesn't work on any level. It's not funny. It's not exciting. It's not engaging. It's a waste of time and money."

"It so shamelessly borrows from so many other movies, and then does absolutely nothing to add to them -- nothing to raise the bar, nothing to make it more interesting, and really nothing to make it the least bit appealing."

"For a movie that so strenuously rips off Ghostbusters and Men in Black, R.I.P.D. manages to come up with fresh new ways of being absolutely terrible."

"This expensive misfire runs a little less than ninety minutes, which means that there’s likely a 105-110 minute long version that the producers hacked up in order to get the maximum amount of 3D showtimes to not embarrass the studio on opening weekend. Judging by the released product, that version is likely even worse, if such a thing were possible."

and my favorite:

"The results feel rote and trite, like a mid-1980s NBC pilot designed to take the 9:00 hour between Misfits of Science and Manimal."
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 07, 2013, 01:45:30 PM
Albert Brooks wonders: "How come Lovelace isn't in 3-D?"  Heh.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on August 08, 2013, 08:56:34 PM
Not sure how many of you have seen "Blue Jasmine" yet.  Really good movie, but funny thing is how a couple scenes are filmed at very familiar locations.  One, in maybe the 3rd scene, is on the corner down the block.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/20511_10201877795409367_1922811571_n.jpg
(this is not a scene from the movie, but a promo shot of our band on the same street corner we took a couple of years ago)

Then, late in the movie, there's a scene in a guitar store that's supposed to be in Oakland, but it's really near Mission and Van Ness, and the shop where I do a lot of business.  I guess when I was told I couldn't get one of my basses assembled in time because Woody Allen took over the shop for filming, he was telling the truth!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on August 09, 2013, 10:48:11 AM
Not sure how many of you have seen "Blue Jasmine" yet.  Really good movie, but funny thing is how a couple scenes are filmed at very familiar locations.  One, in maybe the 3rd scene, is on the corner down the block.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/20511_10201877795409367_1922811571_n.jpg
(this is not a scene from the movie, but a promo shot of our band on the same street corner we took a couple of years ago)

Then, late in the movie, there's a scene in a guitar store that's supposed to be in Oakland, but it's really near Mission and Van Ness, and the shop where I do a lot of business.  I guess when I was told I couldn't get one of my basses assembled in time because Woody Allen took over the shop for filming, he was telling the truth!

Definitely at the top of current releases I want to see.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on August 19, 2013, 08:21:18 AM
Saw Fillmore - The Last Days (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore_(film)) (1972) the other night.  Culled form the final week's perfs form the Fillmore (West) on Market and Van Ness.   It closed in 1971, and even then people (mainly Bill Graham)  were reminiscing about the golden age of hippiedom, even thought the Summer Of Love was only four years before.   Good document of live music from the period (but as a history nut I wanted more historical footage of SF back then).

 The acts back then mainly just plugged in, sang and played without on unadorned stages.   Your talent had to be there, no hiding behind an effects box or clouds of fog and strobe lights.  Of course, playing to a stoned audience was prob in your favor. :)  Can't say I was that taken with the music from Cold Blood, but I understand they were faves of Bill Graham (he signed them to his SF Records label). The singer, Lydia Pense, channels Janis' bluesy voice well enough, but I was distracted by the attention she seemed to give her lovely hair while on stage.  In an era where many of the performers were rocking the hippie look, someone so conventionally attractive and seemingly aware of it tended to stick out.  We f-fwd'd through some of their songs after deciding the music it self was kinda meh.  There seemed to be a lot of meh stuff (for me) in that film.  Like the tunes from Hot Tuna.   Oh dear, Jorma sang like he was holding his nose...  IMO, the best music on this movie came from the Dead, Elvin Bishop and Santana.  Fun document, though, and a close look at the ornery and dynamic Bill Graham, who spends a considerable amt of time yelling into the phone at Santana's management, trying to get them to stop being divas about their slot as the final act on the Fillmore stage. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 19, 2013, 09:13:02 AM
Can't say I was that taken with the music from Cold Blood, but I understand they were faves of Bill Graham (he signed them to his SF Records label). The singer, Lydia Pense, channels Janis' bluesy voice well enough, but I was distracted by the attention she seemed to give her lovely hair while on stage.  In an era where many of the performers were rocking the hippie look, someone so conventionally attractive and seemingly aware of it tended to stick out.  We f-fwd'd through some of their songs after deciding the music it self was kinda meh. 

Of course, that was kinda the hook when they were trying to sell Cold Blood: "She sounds like Janis -- only she's hot-looking!" Don't think I've seen that docu, but the early '70s were a treasure-trove of music movies -- studios were scooping them up in the wake of Woodstock's success. I remember going to see the Concert For Bengla Desh  movie during Easter vacation in '72.

I *do* remember the closing of the Fillmore East, which was broadcast live on WNEW-FM and WPLJ. I heard some but not all of it, and nothing really stands out in my mind -- it was a Sunday nite and the next day was the last day of school for the semester.  Gotta work that into the novel, methinks.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on August 19, 2013, 10:09:43 AM
Saw Fillmore - The Last Days (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore_(film)) (1972) the other night.  Culled form the final week's perfs form the Fillmore (West) on Market and Van Ness.   It closed in 1971, and even then people (mainly Bill Graham)  were reminiscing about the golden age of hippiedom, even thought the Summer Of Love was only four years before.   Good document of live music from the period (but as a history nut I wanted more historical footage of SF back then).

 The acts back then mainly just plugged in, sang and played without on unadorned stages.   Your talent had to be there, no hiding behind an effects box or clouds of fog and strobe lights.  Of course, playing to a stoned audience was prob in your favor. :)  Can't say I was that taken with the music from Cold Blood, but I understand they were faves of Bill Graham (he signed them to his SF Records label). The singer, Lydia Pense, channels Janis' bluesy voice well enough, but I was distracted by the attention she seemed to give her lovely hair while on stage.  In an era where many of the performers were rocking the hippie look, someone so conventionally attractive and seemingly aware of it tended to stick out.  We f-fwd'd through some of their songs after deciding the music it self was kinda meh.  There seemed to be a lot of meh stuff (for me) in that film.  Like the tunes from Hot Tuna.   Oh dear, Jorma sang like he was holding his nose...  IMO, the best music on this movie came from the Dead, Elvin Bishop and Santana.  Fun document, though, and a close look at the ornery and dynamic Bill Graham, who spends a considerable amt of time yelling into the phone at Santana's management, trying to get them to stop being divas about their slot as the final act on the Fillmore stage.
This was practically the week I moved to San Francisco.  I went the first night (I think!) and saw the Boz Scaggs/Cold Blood and some others.  I liked Cold Blood, especially because the bass player was one of my biggest influences at the time (along with Tower of Power).  At the end, Taj Mahal came out to jam, which I think is also in the film.  I loved this era of Boz (Moments) and he really rocked.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on August 19, 2013, 10:30:14 AM
Saw Fillmore - The Last Days (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore_(film)) (1972) the other night.  Culled form the final week's perfs form the Fillmore (West) on Market and Van Ness.   It closed in 1971, and even then people (mainly Bill Graham)  were reminiscing about the golden age of hippiedom, even thought the Summer Of Love was only four years before.   Good document of live music from the period (but as a history nut I wanted more historical footage of SF back then).

 The acts back then mainly just plugged in, sang and played without on unadorned stages.   Your talent had to be there, no hiding behind an effects box or clouds of fog and strobe lights.  Of course, playing to a stoned audience was prob in your favor. :)  Can't say I was that taken with the music from Cold Blood, but I understand they were faves of Bill Graham (he signed them to his SF Records label). The singer, Lydia Pense, channels Janis' bluesy voice well enough, but I was distracted by the attention she seemed to give her lovely hair while on stage.  In an era where many of the performers were rocking the hippie look, someone so conventionally attractive and seemingly aware of it tended to stick out.  We f-fwd'd through some of their songs after deciding the music it self was kinda meh.  There seemed to be a lot of meh stuff (for me) in that film.  Like the tunes from Hot Tuna.   Oh dear, Jorma sang like he was holding his nose...  IMO, the best music on this movie came from the Dead, Elvin Bishop and Santana.  Fun document, though, and a close look at the ornery and dynamic Bill Graham, who spends a considerable amt of time yelling into the phone at Santana's management, trying to get them to stop being divas about their slot as the final act on the Fillmore stage.
This was practically the week I moved to San Francisco.  I went the first night (I think!) and saw the Boz Scaggs/Cold Blood and some others.  I liked Cold Blood, especially because the bass player was one of my biggest influences at the time (along with Tower of Power).  At the end, Taj Mahal came out to jam, which I think is also in the film.  I loved this era of Boz (Moments) and he really rocked.

they had a killer horn section, too.   The movie does not contain Boz or Taj, but Boz is on the album. (Taj is not) >>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore:_The_Last_Days

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on August 19, 2013, 04:50:34 PM
Saw Fillmore - The Last Days (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore_(film)) (1972) the other night.  Culled form the final week's perfs form the Fillmore (West) on Market and Van Ness.   It closed in 1971, and even then people (mainly Bill Graham)  were reminiscing about the golden age of hippiedom, even thought the Summer Of Love was only four years before.   Good document of live music from the period (but as a history nut I wanted more historical footage of SF back then).

 The acts back then mainly just plugged in, sang and played without on unadorned stages.   Your talent had to be there, no hiding behind an effects box or clouds of fog and strobe lights.  Of course, playing to a stoned audience was prob in your favor. :)  Can't say I was that taken with the music from Cold Blood, but I understand they were faves of Bill Graham (he signed them to his SF Records label). The singer, Lydia Pense, channels Janis' bluesy voice well enough, but I was distracted by the attention she seemed to give her lovely hair while on stage.  In an era where many of the performers were rocking the hippie look, someone so conventionally attractive and seemingly aware of it tended to stick out.  We f-fwd'd through some of their songs after deciding the music it self was kinda meh.  There seemed to be a lot of meh stuff (for me) in that film.  Like the tunes from Hot Tuna.   Oh dear, Jorma sang like he was holding his nose...  IMO, the best music on this movie came from the Dead, Elvin Bishop and Santana.  Fun document, though, and a close look at the ornery and dynamic Bill Graham, who spends a considerable amt of time yelling into the phone at Santana's management, trying to get them to stop being divas about their slot as the final act on the Fillmore stage.
This was practically the week I moved to San Francisco.  I went the first night (I think!) and saw the Boz Scaggs/Cold Blood and some others.  I liked Cold Blood, especially because the bass player was one of my biggest influences at the time (along with Tower of Power).  At the end, Taj Mahal came out to jam, which I think is also in the film.  I loved this era of Boz (Moments) and he really rocked.

they had a killer horn section, too.   The movie does not contain Boz or Taj, but Boz is on the album. (Taj is not) >>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore:_The_Last_Days
Actually, the Taj jams appear to be on disc 2
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on August 20, 2013, 10:15:33 AM
Saw Fillmore - The Last Days (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore_(film)) (1972) the other night.  Culled form the final week's perfs form the Fillmore (West) on Market and Van Ness.   It closed in 1971, and even then people (mainly Bill Graham)  were reminiscing about the golden age of hippiedom, even thought the Summer Of Love was only four years before.   Good document of live music from the period (but as a history nut I wanted more historical footage of SF back then).

 The acts back then mainly just plugged in, sang and played without on unadorned stages.   Your talent had to be there, no hiding behind an effects box or clouds of fog and strobe lights.  Of course, playing to a stoned audience was prob in your favor. :)  Can't say I was that taken with the music from Cold Blood, but I understand they were faves of Bill Graham (he signed them to his SF Records label). The singer, Lydia Pense, channels Janis' bluesy voice well enough, but I was distracted by the attention she seemed to give her lovely hair while on stage.  In an era where many of the performers were rocking the hippie look, someone so conventionally attractive and seemingly aware of it tended to stick out.  We f-fwd'd through some of their songs after deciding the music it self was kinda meh.  There seemed to be a lot of meh stuff (for me) in that film.  Like the tunes from Hot Tuna.   Oh dear, Jorma sang like he was holding his nose...  IMO, the best music on this movie came from the Dead, Elvin Bishop and Santana.  Fun document, though, and a close look at the ornery and dynamic Bill Graham, who spends a considerable amt of time yelling into the phone at Santana's management, trying to get them to stop being divas about their slot as the final act on the Fillmore stage.
This was practically the week I moved to San Francisco.  I went the first night (I think!) and saw the Boz Scaggs/Cold Blood and some others.  I liked Cold Blood, especially because the bass player was one of my biggest influences at the time (along with Tower of Power).  At the end, Taj Mahal came out to jam, which I think is also in the film.  I loved this era of Boz (Moments) and he really rocked.

they had a killer horn section, too.   The movie does not contain Boz or Taj, but Boz is on the album. (Taj is not) >>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore:_The_Last_Days
Actually, the Taj jams appear to be on disc 2

I sit corrected.   Taj Mahal is still wonderful, saw him last fall at the Independent. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on August 20, 2013, 10:58:20 AM
Saw Fillmore - The Last Days (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore_(film)) (1972) the other night.  Culled form the final week's perfs form the Fillmore (West) on Market and Van Ness.   It closed in 1971, and even then people (mainly Bill Graham)  were reminiscing about the golden age of hippiedom, even thought the Summer Of Love was only four years before.   Good document of live music from the period (but as a history nut I wanted more historical footage of SF back then).

 The acts back then mainly just plugged in, sang and played without on unadorned stages.   Your talent had to be there, no hiding behind an effects box or clouds of fog and strobe lights.  Of course, playing to a stoned audience was prob in your favor. :)  Can't say I was that taken with the music from Cold Blood, but I understand they were faves of Bill Graham (he signed them to his SF Records label). The singer, Lydia Pense, channels Janis' bluesy voice well enough, but I was distracted by the attention she seemed to give her lovely hair while on stage.  In an era where many of the performers were rocking the hippie look, someone so conventionally attractive and seemingly aware of it tended to stick out.  We f-fwd'd through some of their songs after deciding the music it self was kinda meh.  There seemed to be a lot of meh stuff (for me) in that film.  Like the tunes from Hot Tuna.   Oh dear, Jorma sang like he was holding his nose...  IMO, the best music on this movie came from the Dead, Elvin Bishop and Santana.  Fun document, though, and a close look at the ornery and dynamic Bill Graham, who spends a considerable amt of time yelling into the phone at Santana's management, trying to get them to stop being divas about their slot as the final act on the Fillmore stage.
This was practically the week I moved to San Francisco.  I went the first night (I think!) and saw the Boz Scaggs/Cold Blood and some others.  I liked Cold Blood, especially because the bass player was one of my biggest influences at the time (along with Tower of Power).  At the end, Taj Mahal came out to jam, which I think is also in the film.  I loved this era of Boz (Moments) and he really rocked.

they had a killer horn section, too.   The movie does not contain Boz or Taj, but Boz is on the album. (Taj is not) >>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore:_The_Last_Days
Actually, the Taj jams appear to be on disc 2

I sit corrected.   Taj Mahal is still wonderful, saw him last fall at the Independent.
I remember it pretty well, perhaps because I was very close to the stage.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: dischead on August 21, 2013, 10:46:32 PM
Saw Fillmore - The Last Days (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore_(film)) (1972) the other night.  Culled form the final week's perfs form the Fillmore (West) on Market and Van Ness.   It closed in 1971, and even then people (mainly Bill Graham)  were reminiscing about the golden age of hippiedom, even thought the Summer Of Love was only four years before.   Good document of live music from the period (but as a history nut I wanted more historical footage of SF back then).

KQED has used an edited version of this as one of their many pledge break programs.  (Currently
My Music: '60s Girl Grooves is being aired often.)

One could do a whole music festival film festival... start with Monterey Pop, then Celebration at Big Sur,
 Woodstock, the aforementioned film, Wattstax, and finish with The Last Waltz.  Any more that I'm missing?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on August 22, 2013, 10:48:33 AM
Saw Fillmore - The Last Days (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore_(film)) (1972) the other night.  Culled form the final week's perfs form the Fillmore (West) on Market and Van Ness.   It closed in 1971, and even then people (mainly Bill Graham)  were reminiscing about the golden age of hippiedom, even thought the Summer Of Love was only four years before.   Good document of live music from the period (but as a history nut I wanted more historical footage of SF back then).

KQED has used an edited version of this as one of their many pledge break programs.  (Currently
My Music: '60s Girl Grooves is being aired often.)

One could do a whole music festival film festival... start with Monterey Pop, then Celebration at Big Sur,
 Woodstock, the aforementioned film, Wattstax, and finish with The Last Waltz.  Any more that I'm missing?
Soul Power!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on August 22, 2013, 11:00:40 AM
Saw Fillmore - The Last Days (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillmore_(film)) (1972) the other night.  Culled form the final week's perfs form the Fillmore (West) on Market and Van Ness.   It closed in 1971, and even then people (mainly Bill Graham)  were reminiscing about the golden age of hippiedom, even thought the Summer Of Love was only four years before.   Good document of live music from the period (but as a history nut I wanted more historical footage of SF back then).

KQED has used an edited version of this as one of their many pledge break programs.  (Currently
My Music: '60s Girl Grooves is being aired often.)

One could do a whole music festival film festival... start with Monterey Pop, then Celebration at Big Sur,
 Woodstock, the aforementioned film, Wattstax, and finish with The Last Waltz.  Any more that I'm missing?

Wasn't there a TV broadcast of California Jam?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Jam
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: dischead on February 03, 2014, 11:50:46 AM
I saw American Hustle last week and started to write a review, but I didn't finish it.  Let me
just say that it is a very good movie and I recommend it highly; it's quite amusing and entertaining.
Jennifer Lawrence's accolades are well-deserved.

Of particular interest to this board is the soundtrack.  While the events are set in the late 1970s,
many of the songs are from the '60s and early '70s.  There are several excellent musical selections,
and more importantly, they are well chosen to set the tone and augment the mood of the
corresponding scenes.  If you don't catch it in the theater, put it on your list to watch as a rental
or on cable.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on February 05, 2014, 10:20:44 AM
I went to see August: Osage County the other day, and while it was a well-made film, and many of the performances (particularly Meryl Streep) were impressive, I still left the theater disappointed.

Why, you ask? Mainly because several of the synopses that I read of it online described it as "hilarious" and "a dark comedy."  Sorry, but of all the words I might choose to describe that film, anything implying humor would not be among them. I'd have called it simply a "dark dramatic portrayal of a family's relationships" or maybe "grittily disfunctional." (I can think of a couple of other adjectives, but they're not in any way positive.) These things are fine to be portrayed in a film, but they weren't AT ALL what I or my wife were in the mood to see, and it didn't exactly make us feel all warm and fuzzy.

Why the HELL do publicists/PR folk choose to promote films with words that in no way accurately portray the mood of said film?
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 05, 2014, 10:47:47 AM
I went to see August: Osage County the other day, and while it was a well-made film, and many of the performances (particularly Meryl Streep) were impressive, I still left the theater disappointed.

Why, you ask? Mainly because several of the synopses that I read of it online described it as "hilarious" and "a dark comedy."  Sorry, but of all the words I might choose to describe that film, anything implying humor would not be among them. I'd have called it simply a "dark dramatic portrayal of a family's relationships" or maybe "grittily disfunctional." (I can think of a couple of other adjectives, but they're not in any way positive.) These things are fine to be portrayed in a film, but they weren't AT ALL what I or my wife were in the mood to see, and it didn't exactly make us feel all warm and fuzzy.

Why the HELL do publicists/PR folk choose to promote films with words that in no way accurately portray the mood of said film?

This has reached epidemic proportions in H'wood the last few years -- watch a bunch of trailers and you'll see that the comic aspects of films are *always* played up, regardless of what type of film it actually is, because audiences prefer comedy. It's considered more commercial to make a movie look funny.

I saw A:OC on B'way right after it won the Pulitzer; I'm a big fan of Tracy Letts who also wrote Bug and Killer Joe (both turned into effective low-budget films in the last 6 or 7 years).  I loved A:OC on stage but it's a 3-1/2 hour play (w/2 intermissions) that has had an hour cut out of it for the film version. I don't see how you can do that and still have a coherent story. The play , BTW, *was* often darkly comic.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on February 05, 2014, 03:02:54 PM
I went to see August: Osage County the other day, and while it was a well-made film, and many of the performances (particularly Meryl Streep) were impressive, I still left the theater disappointed.

Why, you ask? Mainly because several of the synopses that I read of it online described it as "hilarious" and "a dark comedy."  Sorry, but of all the words I might choose to describe that film, anything implying humor would not be among them. I'd have called it simply a "dark dramatic portrayal of a family's relationships" or maybe "grittily disfunctional." (I can think of a couple of other adjectives, but they're not in any way positive.) These things are fine to be portrayed in a film, but they weren't AT ALL what I or my wife were in the mood to see, and it didn't exactly make us feel all warm and fuzzy.

Why the HELL do publicists/PR folk choose to promote films with words that in no way accurately portray the mood of said film?

This has reached epidemic proportions in H'wood the last few years -- watch a bunch of trailers and you'll see that the comic aspects of films are *always* played up, regardless of what type of film it actually is, because audiences prefer comedy. It's considered more commercial to make a movie look funny.

I saw A:OC on B'way right after it won the Pulitzer; I'm a big fan of Tracy Letts who also wrote Bug and Killer Joe (both turned into effective low-budget films in the last 6 or 7 years).  I loved A:OC on stage but it's a 3-1/2 hour play (w/2 intermissions) that has had an hour cut out of it for the film version. I don't see how you can do that and still have a coherent story. The play , BTW, *was* often darkly comic.

Forgot to mention that we saw a 7pm showing on the evening of the Stupid Bowl, and we were the only two people in the theater.  I must say that was kind of nice -- we could put our feet up, make comments aloud, both of which are things I generally don't do in a movie theater. (Granted this is Seahawks territory, so I'm sure the local viewing share for the game was huge.)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 18, 2014, 09:53:09 AM
I went to see August: Osage County the other day, and while it was a well-made film, and many of the performances (particularly Meryl Streep) were impressive, I still left the theater disappointed.

Why, you ask? Mainly because several of the synopses that I read of it online described it as "hilarious" and "a dark comedy."  Sorry, but of all the words I might choose to describe that film, anything implying humor would not be among them. I'd have called it simply a "dark dramatic portrayal of a family's relationships" or maybe "grittily disfunctional." (I can think of a couple of other adjectives, but they're not in any way positive.) These things are fine to be portrayed in a film, but they weren't AT ALL what I or my wife were in the mood to see, and it didn't exactly make us feel all warm and fuzzy.

Why the HELL do publicists/PR folk choose to promote films with words that in no way accurately portray the mood of said film?

This has reached epidemic proportions in H'wood the last few years -- watch a bunch of trailers and you'll see that the comic aspects of films are *always* played up, regardless of what type of film it actually is, because audiences prefer comedy. It's considered more commercial to make a movie look funny.

I saw A:OC on B'way right after it won the Pulitzer; I'm a big fan of Tracy Letts who also wrote Bug and Killer Joe (both turned into effective low-budget films in the last 6 or 7 years).  I loved A:OC on stage but it's a 3-1/2 hour play (w/2 intermissions) that has had an hour cut out of it for the film version. I don't see how you can do that and still have a coherent story. The play , BTW, *was* often darkly comic.

Finally got around to seeing A:OC yesterday and it certainly is a botch. It's like the Raeder's Digest condensed version, and so it comes off like a Lifetime Channel flick that just happens to have Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts in it. I wish that instead of watering it down for a theatrical release, they'd filmed the play without cuts for HBO. It woulda won a slew of Emmys, probably.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 13, 2014, 09:03:31 AM
At the intersection of movie and music geekery:  The review by Justin Chang in Variety of the new X-Men flick makes mention of all the previous ones, and he rates them as he goes; he refers to "James Mangold’s unexpectedly fine The Wolverine."  A commenter singled out that quote and said "Not since 'the competent drumwork of Don Brewer' has a compliment been so backhanded."  I really did LOL at that.  Nicely played.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on May 30, 2014, 10:55:49 AM
Let me make a big plug for Chef.  Nothing terribly startling happens, plotwise, but it is very well written, the acting is very organic, and in places it is laugh out loud funny.  Jon Favreau proves that the success of the Iron Mans doesn't prevent him from getting back in touch with his Swingers sensibilities.

I saw it by myself, but I am going to see it again with my wife this weekend.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on May 30, 2014, 11:28:49 AM
Let me make a big plug for Chef.  Nothing terribly startling happens, plotwise, but it is very well written, the acting is very organic, and in places it is laugh out loud funny.  Jon Favreau proves that the success of the Iron Mans doesn't prevent him from getting back in touch with his Swingers sensibilities.

I saw it by myself, but I am going to see it again with my wife this weekend.

but have you seen Under the Skin, with ScarJo as a sex-loving alien in human form?  I hear it's quite hot.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on May 30, 2014, 01:15:47 PM
Let me make a big plug for Chef.  Nothing terribly startling happens, plotwise, but it is very well written, the acting is very organic, and in places it is laugh out loud funny.  Jon Favreau proves that the success of the Iron Mans doesn't prevent him from getting back in touch with his Swingers sensibilities.

I saw it by myself, but I am going to see it again with my wife this weekend.
looks interesting

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2883512/
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on May 30, 2014, 04:05:12 PM
Let me make a big plug for Chef.  Nothing terribly startling happens, plotwise, but it is very well written, the acting is very organic, and in places it is laugh out loud funny.  Jon Favreau proves that the success of the Iron Mans doesn't prevent him from getting back in touch with his Swingers sensibilities.

I saw it by myself, but I am going to see it again with my wife this weekend.
,

I will seek that out, as we're always looking for good, well-crafted movies, which seem to be in short supply this time of year, save for a couple of the comic-book inspired films currently out (X-Men and Capt. America, if you were wondering). It's not likely to be playing in the suburban multiplexes we have nearby, but I bet it's in Portland somewhere.

Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on June 02, 2014, 11:27:51 AM
Let me make a big plug for Chef.  Nothing terribly startling happens, plotwise, but it is very well written, the acting is very organic, and in places it is laugh out loud funny.  Jon Favreau proves that the success of the Iron Mans doesn't prevent him from getting back in touch with his Swingers sensibilities.

I saw it by myself, but I am going to see it again with my wife this weekend.
,

I will seek that out, as we're always looking for good, well-crafted movies, which seem to be in short supply this time of year, save for a couple of the comic-book inspired films currently out (X-Men and Capt. America, if you were wondering). It's not likely to be playing in the suburban multiplexes we have nearby, but I bet it's in Portland somewhere.
we went Saturday night.  Having been to see X-Men a week earlier, boy, you sure see different trailers with a movie like this before the main event!

Just go, have a good time.  The audience clapped at the end in the funky Stonestown theater. 
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on August 11, 2014, 12:17:46 AM
Guardians of the Galaxy: Soundtrack supervision by Dave Morey.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on August 11, 2014, 11:16:28 AM
Guardians of the Galaxy: Soundtrack supervision by Dave Morey.

wait, what?  You read the credits and this is the name that appeared, correct?  coincidence
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 11, 2014, 11:44:16 AM
Guardians of the Galaxy: Soundtrack supervision by Dave Morey.

wait, what?  You read the credits and this is the name that appeared, correct?  coincidence

the sndtk is loaded with '70s cheeze -- ooga-chukka, ooga-ooga!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on August 11, 2014, 12:37:21 PM
Guardians of the Galaxy: Soundtrack supervision by Dave Morey.

wait, what?  You read the credits and this is the name that appeared, correct?  coincidence

the sndtk is loaded with '70s cheeze -- ooga-chukka, ooga-ooga!

Not literally, but seemed like it could have been -- pretty much every song in the soundtrack has appeared more than once in 10@10, mostly during the Morey era.

In any case, a very fun film, one of the 3 or 4 best I've seen this summer.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 12, 2014, 09:05:02 AM
This morning on KPOO, JJ said the James Brown movie was "silly and ridiculous". Honestly, that's the first bad thing I've heard about it, but if anybody knows his JB, it's JJ.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on August 16, 2014, 10:15:39 PM
This morning on KPOO, JJ said the James Brown movie was "silly and ridiculous". Honestly, that's the first bad thing I've heard about it, but if anybody knows his JB, it's JJ.

I don't know if JJ is black, but there is a certain thread out there that the movie is an exploitation since the producers and director/writers are not black.  We enjoyed the movie, and it seems to me like Mick Jagger was mainly interested in letting the world know how big a talent James Brown was.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on August 18, 2014, 08:10:53 AM
This morning on KPOO, JJ said the James Brown movie was "silly and ridiculous". Honestly, that's the first bad thing I've heard about it, but if anybody knows his JB, it's JJ.

I don't know if JJ is black, but there is a certain thread out there that the movie is an exploitation since the producers and director/writers are not black.  We enjoyed the movie, and it seems to me like Mick Jagger was mainly interested in letting the world know how big a talent James Brown was.

JJ is black. And I get the particular POV you referenced; like 42 last year, this was another biopic of a black icon that Spike Lee wanted desperately to direct, but got shut-out of.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on September 01, 2014, 07:19:38 PM
This morning on KPOO, JJ said the James Brown movie was "silly and ridiculous". Honestly, that's the first bad thing I've heard about it, but if anybody knows his JB, it's JJ.

I don't know if JJ is black, but there is a certain thread out there that the movie is an exploitation since the producers and director/writers are not black.  We enjoyed the movie, and it seems to me like Mick Jagger was mainly interested in letting the world know how big a talent James Brown was.

JJ is black. And I get the particular POV you referenced; like 42 last year, this was another biopic of a black icon that Spike Lee wanted desperately to direct, but got shut-out of.

Finally caught up with Get on Up today -- had to go to Berkeley, since it's disappeared from SF theaters.  Really enjoyed it, and Chadwick Boseman was really terrific. "Don't tell me when, where or for how long I can be funky!"
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on February 05, 2015, 11:21:37 AM
after being on the shelf for years (IMDB says it was finished in 2008!) the docu about the Wrecking Crew is FINALLY getting released.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX5BCgmr7tg
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: mshray on February 06, 2015, 11:11:48 AM
YAY!

Comes out the week after my birthday, so I think that will be a present to myself. 

ETA:  Since Tinka & I share the same b-day, maybe we can get a club event organized around this? 

ETA 2:  Everyone should click through on the YouTube link Mike provides above, because there are dozens of related clips that will pop up after you see the trailer.  I am not going to get anything else done today!
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Tinka Cat on March 11, 2015, 05:14:21 PM
Saw a preview of this today and it's pretty good. The list of songs these guys played on is impressive. (And it was mostly men, except for Carol Kaye, the woman who came up with a boatload of awesome licks, including the signature bass line of Sonny & Cher's The Beat Goes On.) One downside of the movie was being reminded that the Beach Boys didn't play on their own recordings after the early years. Pet Sounds is all Brian arranging the Wrecking Crew with the BB on backing vox. This will hit Bay Area theaters March 27.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/SX5BCgmr7tg/0.webp) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX5BCgmr7tg)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: Lightnin' Rod on December 29, 2015, 11:01:09 AM
Has everyone who's going to see The Force Awakens seen it yet?  I don't want to have to worry about spoilers if I discuss it here.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: RGMike on December 29, 2015, 11:51:47 AM
Has everyone who's going to see The Force Awakens seen it yet?  I don't want to have to worry about spoilers if I discuss it here.

I have not -- I'm seeing it Monday. I stand in line for neither man nor Wookiee.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: ggould on January 15, 2016, 07:46:20 PM
I've been hearing lots of talk on progressive radio about how white the Oscar nominations turned out.
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: dischead on January 15, 2016, 10:53:16 PM
I've been hearing lots of talk on progressive radio about how white the Oscar nominations turned out.

Wow... I am very surprised to hear that... you mean there's actually progressive radio?

:)
Title: Re: The Movie Thread
Post by: urth on September 19, 2016, 05:47:17 PM
I probably don't have to tell any of you this, but get thee to whatever theater near you is showing Ron Howard's Beatles doc, "The Beatles: Eight Days A Week" as soon as you are able. Lots and lots of live Beatles footage from the Cavern Club through the end of their career, along with some great interviews with people who were there in the inside as well as celebrities who were just fans back in the day. 9 thumbs up.