Best. Network. Ever.

Fall Schedule:

Mondays

20:00 - “Dancing with the Stars”

21:30 – “Samantha Who?”

22:00 – “Boston Legal” / “the Bachelor”

Tuesdays

20:00 – “Opportunity Knocks”

21:00 – “Dancing with the Stars” results show / “Scrubs” and “The Goode Family” (midseason)

22:00 – “Eli Stone”

Wednesdays

20:00 – “Pushing Daisies”

21:00 – “Private Practice”

22:00 – “Dirty Sexy Money”

Thursdays

20:00 – “Ugly Betty”

21:00 – “Grey’s Anatomy”

22:00 – “Life on Mars” (new drama)

Fridays

20:00 – “Wife Swap”

21:00 – “Supernanny”

22:00 – “20/20”

Saturdays

20:00 – “Saturday Night College Football”

Sundays

19:00 – “America’s Funniest Home Videos”

20:00 – “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

21:00 – “Desperate Housewives”

22:00 – “Brothers & Sisters”

Source: Variety

Let’s hope I remember my own blog name, and live up to it.

I have just realised something. My blog is half a TV blog and half a film blog, but film has grossly taken over. Not anymore.

So, my favourite television show in the entire world is genius Shonda Rhime’s “Grey’s Anatomy” – which I would take over a movie any day. That show is love. So from now I have decided that I will be blogging about my favourite shows as well as movies, because life is too short to be one-dimensional. Wouldn’t you say?

Although my posts about my favourite shows will not elicit as many comments or hits as other sites who blog about Battlestar or whatever other nerds jack off to, I am no fan boy and I do not want to be, that is fine. If I can share my absolute love for my fave shows, which are currently airing, (Friday Night Lights, Pushing Daisies, 30 Rock, Saving Grace, Californication, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, Weeds, Brothers and Sisters, and whatever else comes on TV soonish that I like, so yeah), my life will feel complete. We aim to please here at Fataculture, but the first step in pleasing others is being at peace with yourself, and I think this will help.

Kicking it off, I will talk about this weeks “Grey’s” episode “The Becoming” one of the best in recent weeks. But that will have to wait until later today, this bedridden freak needs his rest.

One last thing: THANK YOU WRITER’S STRIKE!!! South Africa and the US both view the exact same episode each week - which is the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life. Seriously.

“Coco avant Chanel”

I have been waiting a long time for this, and I cannot wait to see this either. The film is set to be a anti-biopic of the fashion designer, focusing on her as a young woman - and her rise to the pinnacle of being a fashion legend - portrayed by “Amélie” actress Audrey Tautou. The film has recently begun production and is set for a late US release, possibly 2009, and an even later SA release.

What do you think? Will Tautou pull it off? I know what I think.

And the award for the most original poster does not go to….

From his very own MySpace blog {coz’ all the, um, cool kids got one, and I constantly quote ‘em} Richard Kelly had the following to say on stuff, and I quote:

The Box and Donnie Darko Tooo

“Over the last couple of days, a few people have asked me what’s up with
“this Donnie Darko sequel.”

So to set the record straight, here’s a few facts I’d like to share
with you all - I haven’t read this script.
I have absolutely no involvement with this production, nor will I ever
be involved.

I have no control over the rights from our original film, and neither I
nor my producing partner Sean McKittrick stand to make any money from this film.”

A man after my own heart.

 
This is the most random thing I have heard all day. Apparently, this was buzzing in the film world, but I had yet to hear about it. Anyways, I guess I was busy when news of this surfaced last year, and now I just want in…but how???

According to Filmmaker SA, Peter Jackson is attached to the science fiction film “District 9” which will film in Soweto, South Africa later this year. Auditions have been held in Johannesburg, of which I did not hear about. The film is about an alien invasion - sounds awesome - and will be directed by South-African born Neill Blomkamp, who currently resides in Canada. He penned the screenplay as well.

The co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Amy Pascal, said: “Neill Blomkamp is a true talent who understands how to use visual effects in full service of the story. With Peter Jackson working with Neill, we believe District 9 will be a cinema highlight.”

Well, hello! I would love to be an extra…..Petey….call me!

If all goes planned, I will soon be blogging for a French news site on Cannes over the course of the festival - giving an outsiders opinion and insight into the goings on etc. I am not exactly sure how that is going to work out, but I am willing to give it a shot.

Anyways, /Film has posted a few pics of the films I am most interested in, including Steven Soderberghh’s “Che” being comprized of “The Argentine” and “Guerrilla,”Charlie Kaufman’s “Synecdoche, New York,” Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” Bong Joon Ho, Leos Carax, and Michel Gondry’s “Tôkyô!.” More will be posted as they become avaliable - and if you do not want to see these pics, do not read/look any further, coz this post is picture packed. Seriously.

“Che”

(click on images to enlarge)

Benicio Del Toro as Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara de la Serna. You know, that guy in the retro poster you had hanging in your room when you just wanted to seem cool?
 

“Synecdoche, New York.”

“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

“Tôkyô!”

A three part anthology project

“Interior Design” by Michel Gondry

“Shaking Tokyo” by Bong Joon Ho

“Merde” by Leos Carax

~ more to follow soon, I think ~
~ also, if I ever post a whole bunch of pics like this again, without reason, just tell me to go die in a hole ~

So somewhere in between finishing a bunch of homework and catching up on DVDs - a few things went down. None of which I think really happened.

Firstly, my friends and I packed our bags for Cannes, a little too early and it resulted in a series of drunken escapades with numerous “celebs” and gorgeous people. They certainly all spoke French, or something equally unidentifiable. It was all really mumbling and yelling - my head hurt. Or at least I think they were gorgeous, hell - I AM GORGEOUS when I am drunk.

Also, while there – I guess I still am there – Natalie Portman dropped out of John Maybury’s adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” – which I think is a good thing to celebrate, her accent is pretty bad – and I do not need to see another adaptation of that book!!!!! Here’s to hoping Ellen Page can pull of the accent…

While we were just about to hit it up film freak style on the Riviera, the sequel to the surprisingly good adaptation of “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” premiered in NYC on May 7th. I think Narnia: Prince Caspian opens in the US this coming weekend, but opens in SA on the 6th of June - along with “Definitely, Maybe.” Perhaps this is mean to say, but almost no-one looked good at that premiere, besides that midget, judging from the photo’s published over at Variety - where the following was said:

“Screening was followed by an after-party at the New York Public Library complete with magicians, jugglers and arts and crafts tables as well as pic’s stars Ben Barnes, Liam Neeson, William Moseley and Tilda Swinton.”

Yeah, so our party was better! Craft’s tables? WTF!

But not everyone that was invited showed up, which is sad, but I guess you all booked tickets for the correct date - you squares. But I bet you were all watching “Speed Racer” or something, in which case I have no choice but to forgive you. I mean, J.D, saw Paranoid Park, won a Lammy AND came to Cannes with me, so why couldn’t everyone else? I know some of you had plans, but still. You better be there come May 14.

Then - I won a Lammy! For being “Ambitious.” How awesome, right?

Then - I watched “Georgia Rule,” which was kinda raunchy but too weird, and “The Lookout,” which was really good. Reviews, even if it means I am not being “current” enough, will be up eventually.

And now it is Mothers Day - and I got more homework. But tomorrow I am going to see “Married Life” at a press screening after school, so all is okay.

For download:

2008 Cannes Screening Guide

&

2008 Cannes Press Kit

I mean, you cannot plan a pretend trip without an screening list, right?

 
ComingSoon says that on the 18th of May, filming will begin on “S.Darko” which is to be directed by Chris Fisher, and is the supposed sequel/spin-off to the 2001 hit “Donnie Darko,” which is incidentally one of my favourite films of all time.

The cast includes Daviegh Chase reprising her role as Donnie’s younger sister, Ed Westwick, Briana Evigan and Justin Chatwin. But that is not really important. Don’t you just hate it when “they” - being movie studio tyrants - try mess with a good thing, and create an abnormal amount of potential for the prequel to be ruined? Well, nothing can really ruin “Donnie Darko,” but this is not the best news lately. Not at all. Because money is the name of the game, sales for the film will commence at Cannes.

I am *this* close to pulling the trigger…

A craptastic weekend: for the first time in ages.

City of Men (Ster Kinekor Only)

Following on from his Academy Award-nominated 2002 success, “City of God,” producer Fernando Meirelles returns with another gritty drama set in the Favelas of Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

Directed, written and co-produced by newcomer Paulo Morelli the story tells of two lifelong friends raised amidst the chaos of Rio de Janeiro’s notorious Pool Hall Hill who attempt to plot a course through the treacherous labyrinth of adulthood as their eighteenth birthdays fast approach.

If it is anything as good as “City of God,” I will be in heaven.

Director: Paulo Morelli
Cast: Darlan Cunha, Jonathan Haagensen, Rodrigo dos Santos, Camila Monteiro, Naima Silva, Eduardo ‘BR’ Piranha, Luciano Vidigal and Pedro Henrique
Running Time: 104 minutes.
Age Restriction: 16LV

Closing the Ring

Sixty-five years after making his screen debut as a young stoker in the World War II drama “In Which We Serve,” Academy Award-winning director Sir Richard Attenborough (Gandhi, Shadowlands) is back with his latest offering.

Closing the Ring is a supposedly a deeply moving love story that spans two continents and five decades which tells the tale of a dying American airman who entrusts a treasured possession to a complete stranger, and Ethel Harris (MacLaine), a woman who honours a wartime promise of enduring love which leads to years of heartache until a chance discovery re-ignites her spirit. It looks clichéd, melodramatic, full of tears and broken promises – whatever, I am in. The trailer, with that song, got me hooked. And it has a shot of Mischa Barton half-nekkid. I am no prude, it is just “The O.C” nostalgia coming across – I swear.

Director: Richard Attenborough
Cast: Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer, Mischa Barton, Neve Campbell and Brenda Fricker.
Running Time: 119 minutes.
Age Restriction: 13 NLV.

88 Minutes

Al Pacino stars as Dr. Jack Gramm, a college professor who moonlights as a forensic psychiatrist for the FBI. When Gramm receives a death threat claiming he has only 88 minutes to live, he must use all his skills and training to narrow down the possible suspects, who include a disgruntled student, a jilted former lover, and a serial killer who is already on death row, before his time runs out.

Whatever, the reviews have been nothing but atrocious, and Al Pacino is less and less of a pull-factor for me, sad to say. But then there is Ben McKenzie - and that all powerful “O.C” nostalgia…

Director: Jon Avnet
Cast: Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, William Forsythe, Deborah Kara Unger, Benjamin McKenzie, Neal McDonough, Leah Cairns, Stephen Moyer, Christopher Redman, Brendan Fletcher, Michael Eklund, Kristina Copeland, Tammy Hui
Running Time: 108 minutes.
Age Restriction: 13 NLV

21

In a departure from his previous outings, director Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Monster-In-Law) teams up with Kevin Spacey who appears in a dual acting and producing role to release this dramatic thriller that is based on the best selling book “Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions.” That being said, I am not interested, but will probably end up seeing it anyway.

Director: Robert Luketic
Cast: Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Aaron Yoo
Running Time: 120 minutes.
Age Restriction: 13 V

The Mist

Based on the novella of the same name by Stephen King, frequent King collaborator Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) returns to the screen with this frightener about a secret government experiment that goes horribly wrong. I want to see it. Don’t know why, just do.

Director: Frank Darabont
Cast: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones, Andre Braugher
Running Time: 124 minutes
Age Restriction: 16 LV

Cuba: An African Odyssey (Nu Metro only)

The Cold War as played out in its least-known theatre: Africa. It was on this continent that two superpowers and four adversaries with opposed interests locked horns, between 1961 and 1989. The Soviets wanted to extend their influence over a new part of the world; the United States had a keen eye on Africa’s natural riches; the former empires felt their colonial power weakening; young nations defended their newly-won independence.

Running Time: 120 minutes.
Age Restriction: PG

Boothnath

It is believed that children have the strongest connection to God. They have the ability to perceive goodness in everything and everyone. ‘Bhoothnath’ is a story of a seven-year-old naughty yet innocent boy who unknowingly turns a foe into a friend. A Bollywood film, if you are into that, I have heard this one is not that bad. *I am not seeing it, I will have to let others take the bullet.

To Book:

Nu Metro or Ster Kinekor

~ Because of the demands of school and the like, I will not be seeing any films this weekend, but will do a major catch-up next weekend. Enjoy your weekend, I know I won’t ~