09.30.08
Trailer: ‘Filth and Wisdom,’ Madonna’s Directorial Debut, If You Care
Madonna’s directorial debut starring Eugene Hutz, Holly Weston, and Vicky McClure and featuring the music of Hutz’s band, because she is so bored in her occurrenceless life, tells the story about three roommates, all outward culminations of different aspects of Madonna I suppose, who act like filthy sluts while looking to achieve all their dreams; one has a band but is also a role-playing cross dresser, one is a stripper come ballerina and the other wants to help Africa’s underprivileged youth. I mean, have you ever? If you give a damn about playing into the hands of an egotistical, multitasking superstar, “Filth and Wisdom” opens in cinemas on the 17th of October. [Big Screen Little Screen]
09.29.08
Extended Trailer Clip Thing: ‘Australia,’ Can You Say ‘Pretty’?
Ha! Today is the day of trailers featuring random music that I actually can spot all by myself without someone else telling me. Here, in this latest clip from Baz Luhrmann’s sprawling pre-World War II epic of gorgeous proportions, featuring my absolute favourite instrumental band of all time Explosions In The Sky’s “The Only Moment We’re Alone,” and their songs were also featured in the film version of “Friday Night Lights.” When I heard the track, I thought had it playing on iTunes in the background, but I guess whoever compiled the trailer just has good taste. “Australia” opens in cinemas on the 26th of November, and I am just about popping out of my skin with anticipation. It’s going to be classic.
Trailer: ‘Seven Pounds,’ Screw Will Smith, It’s Rosario Dawson That Has Me Interested
“Seven Pounds,” a story about one man who changes the lives of seven strangers, is a dramatic feature directed by Gabriele Muccino that sees Will Smith teaming up again with the makers of “The Pursuit of Happyness” that garnered him a Best Actor nomination, as well as starring a personal favourite of mine Rosario Dawson (who looks amazing in the trailer below, that features the same music that was in “The Island” and in the trailer for “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”) and Woody Harrelson. Hopefully is isn’t as sappy as ‘Happyness,’ a film I liked a bit but wasn’t particularly in love with. We’ll find out on the 19th of December.
Review: “The Edge of Heaven”
“The Edge of Heaven,” by one of my favourite filmmakers Fatih Akin whose “Head-On” is a complete knock-out of a film, is a masterful example of potency that culminates when life’s intricacies are placed under a microscope to expose the most human of interactions – unplanned and as easily destroyed as they are created. Intersecting storylines and surprising occurrences of character relations are tools that have been implemented often over the past few years, but hardly to the effect that can be witnessed in Akin’s latest effort of staggering delicacy and haunting fragility despite its deliberate ferocity.
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09.28.08
‘The Reader’ To Open on December 12, Weinstein Wins, But Who Loses?
A join statement just came in from the biggest psychos in Hollywood, Scott Rudin and Harvey Weinstein naturally, stating that they spent a long, romantic weekend being weird and psychotic together and says the men got down to the important issues at hand and came to the conclusion that getting “The Reader,” and more specifically Kate Winslet, into the Oscar race might not be entirely difficult as was previously reported. Post production on the film that will see The Weinstein Co. in contention for the Oscars they crave so much has been moved to New York where Stephen Daldry is who is currently working on his stage production of “Billy Elliot.” Whether or not Winslet would rather promote her husband Sam Mendes’ “Revolutionary Road” remains to be seen.
Their cute public display of solidarity went as follows, “We are issuing this statement together to emphasize the fact that we are in complete agreement on the date we have chosen to release “The Reader.” Working together, we developed a plan to extend the post-production schedule in order to give Stephen Daldry the additional time he needs to successfully complete the film in time to release it on December 12, 2008.”
Stephen Daldry said, “On their own, Scott and Harvey spent this weekend working together to find a way to accommodate my needs so that I may fulfill my obligation to the studio without compromising my vision for the film. I am thrilled and relieved that we have all found a way forward to work together to bring ‘The Reader’ to theaters this year.”
So yeah, there you have it. I feel nothing, I still won’t get to see it until after the Oscar race is done and dusty, so. But if it affects the overall quality of the final product, that just reeks of greediness and I don’t want a part of that. On the upside, this means another potentially great film will open this year, instead of next year, and that is always a good thing. And it’s Kate Winslet, and what’s a Winslut to do. As long as she doesn’t end up being her own competition, because if anyone deserves some Oscar love already, it’s her. This show is so not over, so stay tuned.
Ding Ding Ding: Tina Fey As Palin, Round Two
I think this one is just as funny as round one, and it is always nice to see Tina Fey. Always, especially when she is embraced, literally and figuratively, by them Pakistanis while adorning the physical resemblance to one of politics biggest fools.
09.27.08
Obituary: Paul Newman (1925 – 2008)
I picture my epitaph:
“Here lies Paul Newman, who died a failure because his eyes turned brown.”
A confirmed Awards Daily report says that one of Hollywood’s true icons in every sense of the word who had been fighting a losing battle to cancer for a while now, Paul Newman, has finally lost the fight at the age of 83. This is the most devastating news ever, even though it has been a long time coming, it is still a huge blow for his family, friends, his enormous amount of fans and film lovers who idolise him and his unsurpassed contribution to the world of film, from his all time greats that I regard highly, “Cool Hand Luke,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Rachel, Rachel,” “Hud,” “The Verdict,” “The Hustler” and even “The Sting,” to his unbelievable humanitarian efforts and signifies the official end of an era when Old Hollywood was at its peak.
He’s one of the first members of Hollywood royalty that I ever came to admire, and it was because of him, to a great extent, that my love affair with the art of cinema came about. A huge chunk of my being was still holding on to the hope that this news was completely false, but another part of me was thinking that enough is enough, and he cannot fight for ever, nor live forever – at least not physically. The time for wishing and hoping is over now, and the 10 time Oscar nominee has passed on. In spirit and through the vast legacy he leaves behind, Paul Newman shall forever live on in the hearts and minds of everyone he’s touched in someway or another. RIP Paul Newman, we’ll miss you.
09.26.08
Film Festival: Apollo Film Festival ‘08, The “South African” Sundance
Cutting edge, inimitably South African films have travelled abroad to win Oscars, Golden and Silver Bears and a golden Stallion. But nothing makes a film more relevant or poignant than seeing the flickering images of South Africa’s contemporary reality reflected in the eyes of local residents from the sleepy hamlet of Victoria West.
Deep in the heart of the Karoo lies a little gem of tranquillity. Set to the rhythms of Merino sheep grazing, the dorp of Victoria West is definitely the place where time has stood still. Yet, every year, as the edge of winter’s chill fades into recent memory, the inhabitants of this sleepy hollow subject themselves to a cultural onslaught. They invite anyone interested in the very latest offerings from South Africa’s burgeoning film industry to come and plunge themselves deep into four days of cinematic heaven.
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Ben Kweller Gets “Choke”-afied Video for “The Rules”
You may not have gotten the memo yet but Ben Kweller is the sweetest & most adorable guy in indie rock. His song “The Rules” is featured in the trailers and on the soundtrack for “Choke” and the movie folks have created a “Choke” filled music video to accompany the track.
“The Rules” was a foot-stomper that should have been. It was originally released on Kweller’s 2004 album On My Way but never seemed to get the traction it needed. It’s a song that’s a bit out of character for Kweller – more of an aggressive sound when he usually goes for a soft sweetness. It is fairly interesting, in terms of music placement, for “Choke” and works really well with the footage they’ve placed in this video from the staged rape scene.
This post is courtesy of our friends at The Playlist
Depp Signs On For ‘Pirates’ 4, Ang Lee’s ‘Taking Woodstock’ To Blow Your Mind, & More
As if the third one didn’t seem like overkill, Disney has announced that there will be a fourth instalment of “Pirates of the Carribean” and even more shocking, Johnny ‘Caption Jack Sparrow’ Depp actually agreed to sign on yet again. At first, I was sure it was a joke, now I think its just plain stupid and thoughtlessly indulgent. [Variety]
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09.25.08
Weekend Attractions (24 – 29 September ‘08)
If This Movie Doesn’t Touch You, Go Ahead And Touch Yourself
09.24.08
Review: “Choke”
What would Jesus not do?
“Choke,” adapted from Chuck Palahniuk’s sardonic anti-novel, is an absurdist slap in the face for mainstream cinema. Actor-turned-director Clark Gregg crafts a perversely original world inhibited by troupe of addicts and the despair the bring unto themselves, aided by his fidelity to Chuck’s rules for a successful narrative jerk-off; instil equal amounts of self-loathing and narcissism into a protagonist and position his demons in such a way that the quick-witted, ribaldry-laden dialogue come flying at the audience with as little hindrance as possible. “Choke” is anything but formulaic though, it’s daring independent cinema at its funniest and definitely nothing you’ve seen before.
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‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 5 Premiere Preview, “Dream a Little Dream of Me”
Time flies when you’re having fun, especially with the cool kids of Seattle Grace Hospital. Season Five. I’m sorry, what? It’s been that long already? Seriously. But it has, and here were are. After an especially off-centre season four, and I say that will all due respect to Shonda for trying to get the show back to its roots, my hopes for this season are sky high. Grey’s Anatomy is the best television show in the history of television since I started watching it. There are other good shows, even some great ones, but not one that has gotten under my skin the way “Grey’s” has. It’s my penis fish, and I like it. I am not ready to review episodes again, that was too exhausting. It cannot be done. Maybe I’ll offer a quick recap, music downloads (like the premiere of Taylor Swift’s “White Horse,” something, but not one thousand word dissections like I tried (and failed) to do last season. I don’t know, there is something to be said about getting all your thoughts out like that, I love it.
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