Entertainment News
Entries from March 2011
Jay Weston, producer of Lady Sings the Blues, makes a candid appraisal about what has gone wrong with the annual Oscar telecast and what changes should be implemented immediately. Among the suggestions: advance the date of the telecast so Oscar doesn't follow all of the second-rung awards shows and try mightily to attract whoever is left in the dwindling Hollywood star system to participate. Weston points out the obvious:many of the people who stand at the podium may be good actors, but they are smaller-than-life in stature. Click here for more
Pierce Brosnan will team with recent Oscar winning Danish film director Susanne Bier for the romantic comedy All You Need is Love. The Danish director wrote the movie especially for Brosnan. The film will involve a Danish family, but it's assumed that the script will explain why Brosnan speaks English. The former James Bond is on a hot streak lately, appearing in films back-to-back including the highly acclaimed The Ghost Writer. Click here for more
By Lee Pfeiffer
Father Gary Thomas has a unique distinction in the American Catholic Church: the 57 year-old clergyman is one of the relatively few priests authorized to perform exorcisms. His story and alleged experiences were the basis for the recent film The Rite, with Anthony Hopkins playing his on-screen alter ego. Thomas concedes that most of the seemingly endless parade of people who request exorcisms are simply suffering from emotional troubles. However, he fervently believes that the Devil actually exists and literally inhabits the bodies of specific people. He has plenty of company. Over 40% of Americans believe in literal manifestations of angels and demons. Then again, large numbers of Americans believe the President is a Muslim, illegal immigrant and that the U.S. government has been hiding space creatures in a New Mexico airline hangar for the last sixty years. Nevetheless, Father Thomas' story is compelling, even if you don't give it an ounce of credence. The priest believes that demonic possessions are so commonplace that there should be an exorcist in every parish. Father Thomas is critical of the popular perception of exorcisms that have derived from the 1973 classic The Exorcist. He says he never witnessed spewing vomit or twisted heads. However, he does say that he has personally dealt with possessed people speaking fluently in languages that were unknown to them. I personally believe most disturbances attributed to demonic possession can be explained by proving the person recently ate at an White Castle fast food establishment, but you can form your own opinion by clicking here to read Father Thomas' story.
To those of us who have missed stylish and classy action heroes in the cinema, our long nightmare apparently is over. The Independent of England has an interesting essay pointing out that the era of the blue collar, grungy cinematic hero is now officially dead. During the years when Stallone and Willis reigned supreme, James Bond was seemingly the only action hero to steadfastly fight a never ending battle for the preservation of elegance and fashion. Yet, even he was compromised. Most of the recent Bond ad campaigns, especially in America, have eradicated the trademark tuxedo from the ad campaigns. Nevertheless, The Independent feels that a plethora of elegantly-dressed men of action points to the fact that the pendululm has swung back and style and sophistication are once again returning to the silver screen. For more click here
Film critic John Farr looks back over the life and career of Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor and analyzes which are her "must-see" film achievements. Click here to read
Here's a very funny cartoon showing what Danny Boyle's 127 Hours could have been like if Wile E. Coyote had starred! Click here to view
In January, Thomas Hauerslev, who publishes the popular In70mm.com web site, interviewed the cast and crew of the recently-restored 1950s Cinerama travelogue Windjammer. Click here for report.
By Lee Pfeiffer
The folks at the satire web site for Cracked magazine have compiled photos of the most unintentionally hilarious bootleg toys based on popular movie series. In certain parts of Asia, it's almost impossible to find legitimately licensed movie toys, and these are the most glaring examples of the industry's determination to ignore the bothersome process of taking out official licenses from the legitimate copyright holders. Even when the packaging boasts that the product is officially licensed, take it with a grain of salt. How else do you explain a Superman toy set that features the Man of Steel on a parachute? Seems the folks at D.C. Comics might actually realize that Superman has the ability to fly- so he doesn't need a frickin' parachute!
Our favorite is the Spiderman knock-off set that combines replicas of the web-spinner with some old doll clothing that must have been left over from other products. Thus, we are treated to Spiderman in his recreational hours, spending time practicing archery and fishing! Oh, and let's not forget about Robertcop! Click here for more
The state of Michigan has become a major center for film production in recent years, pumping tens of millions of dollars into local economies. The strategy was the brainchild of former Governor Jennifer Granholm (D), who used tax incentives to lure major studios to her state. Her successor, Governor Rick Snyder (R) sees things differently and has taken an axe to the tax credits, claiming he's not impressed with the return on investment - despite the fact that a major accounting firm says the state gets $6 back for every dollar in tax incentives. The result has been a major political battle over the future of film production in Michigan, as a number of major productions are pulling up stakes in order to shoot in other states that they deem more friendly in terms of tax incentives. For more click here
It's no secret that John Travolta has a passion for flying. He's held a pilot's license for decades. However, he isn't winning many friends among Qantas flight crews for recording the on-board safety video which shows him suited up like a real Qantas pilot. The crews feel the video trivializes the issue of airline safety and resent the fact that Travolta is masquerading as a commercial pilot. Click here for and to view the video
By Lee Pfeiffer
There was a time when director Robert Zemeckis was one of Hollywood's golden boys. His ground-breaking use of CGI in Forrest Gump was hailed as a milestone achievement in the 1990s and his Polar Express children's film has become a holiday perennial. However, it appears as though Zemeckis is now a victim the technology he helped pioneer. In the past, moviegoers complained there were too few family films in release. Now, it's the opposite problem with studios belching out expensive, CGI-packed animated epics on a weekly basis. They have so many similar characters and elements that audiences are reacting with a major yawn. The latest film that Zemeckis helped produce, Mars Needs Moms, combines live action actors with computer graphics. The New York Times reports that the film is already considered one of the all-time box-office disasters with Disney taking a $100 million write off. Tens of millions more in losses could follow. The Times ranks it along such financial flops as The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Cutthroat Island and the much-troubled remake of The Alamo. (Contrary to popular legend, John Wayne's 1960 epic of the same name made money.) The movie marks Zemeckis' second disappointment for the studio, with his animated A Christmas Carol underperforming. Disney once had a golden touch in marketing family films. In the 1950s and 1960s, the studio produced countless profitable live-action comedies starring the likes of Hayley Mills, Fred MacMurray and Brian Keith. Those modestly-budgeted flicks may not have been blockbusters, but they brought in a good return on investment. In today's upside down movie industry, executives somehow allocated $175 million to make and market Mars Needs Moms.
The Times speculates that the abundance of 3-D movies has already bored audiences. Instead of using the technology sparingly for "event movies", such as in the days of Cinerama, seemingly every other movie is now in 3-D. Audiences are also protesting against the premium prices charged to see 3-D movies at a time when taking your family to see any movie requires a king's ransom. Disney studio execs are not trying to sugar-coat the reception accorded Mars, and acknowledge the film was a total misfire. The first casualty is Zemeckis himself: even before Mars was released, Disney must have had a premonition. The studio pulled the plug on his much-typed remake of The Beatles' Yellow Submarine. For more click here
Kevin Costner has confirmed he will portray the adoptive father of Clark Kent in the new Warner Brothers Superman movie, which has yet to be titled. The characters of Jonathan Kent and his wife Martha were portrayed as an elderly couple in the comic books. However, the casting of Costner as Jonathan and Diane Lane as Martha indicate that the filmmakers are skewing toward making the characters appeal to a younger audience. For more click here
Clint Eastwood's Hereafter has been withdrawn from Japanese theaters due to the film's terrifying opening sequence that depicts widespread death and destruction from a tsunami. The sequence would now cut too close to home as Japan grieves for its dead and missing. Warner Brothers and Eastwood announced that a portion of DVD sales revenue, estimated to be at least a million dollars, will be donated to relief work in Japan. Click here for more
Chris Corbould, long-time acclaimed special effects expert on the James Bond films, has been cleared by a British jury in a case involving the tragic death of a cameraman who was accidentally killed while filming The Dark Knight. The Batman blockbuster was shot extensively in England. Corbould convinced the jury that the victim had ignored standard safety procedures and did not have his seat belt fastened when the fatal accident occurred. Click here for more
If you are judged by the company you keep, there's no wonder special effects master Ray Harryhausen has earned legendary status in the film community. The gentle genius of sci-fi filmmaking is the subject of a forthcoming documentary that features tributes from the likes of Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, John Landis, Joe Dante, Tim Burton and many other of our most prominent film directors, along with cast members from his movies from over the decades. The film, Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan is a work in progress, but a new extended trailer has been released. Click here to view
Mafia and urban crime movies are a dime a dozen lately, but Kill the Irishman looks like a throwback to the old style films of the genre. Set in the 1970s, it is based on a true story and the cast includes some terrific veteran actors including Paul Sorvino and two former James Bond baddies, Christopher Walken and Robert Davi. The movie is now in limited theatrical release. Click here to view trailer
Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams have collaborated on a new thriller titled Super 8, which apparently revolves around a kid who uses an old Super 8 camera to make an action film. In the process, he becomes embroiled in a mystery with overtones that could affect everyone in America. The trailer is cut from the same mold as Abrams' Cloverfield, which gave tantalizing hints at what the payoff is without divulging any specifics. Based on this trailer, there seems to be plenty of red meat for sci-fi lovers as well as paranoid types who see conspiracies everywhere. It's well-crafted and intriguing, but we'll have to be patient, as the film doesn't open until June. Click here to view trailer
Even by Hollywood standards, this lawsuit is bizarre. Quentin Tarantino is suing his famous neighbor, screenwriter Alan Ball (American Beauty, True Blood) because his pet macaws are screeching so incessently that they are disrupting his ability to concentrate on his writing. Tarantino's lawyer is demanding that Ball build a sound-proof enclosure around the offending feathered fiends. The matter is going to court. Ironically, Tarantino is reportedly considering filming a remake of the Hitchcock classic The Birds. Coincidence? Hmmm.....Click here for more
Director Baz Luhrmann is being cagey with his comments regarding the status of his forthcoming film version of The Great Gatsby. First he let rumors fly that he might not be doing the movie, then he said nothing when the media widely reported it would shoot in Australia in August and would probably be in 3-D. Now Luhrmann is denying any of these reports came officially from him. He still says he intends to make the move, but is engaged in extensive on-going research. He won't say when or where the film will be made or if it will be in 3-D. Any they say women are fickle! Click here for more
The widow of legendary film composer Bernard Hermann is seeking to auction his original score in hopes of raising $50,000 which will be utilized to release new CDs of his work. She is currently negotiating with the University of Southern California to make the sale, but apparently she is willing to sell to the highest bidder. Attempts to sell the 30 page composition at Bonhams in London last year failed to elicit the minimum bids and the score was removed from the sale. The difficulty in raising the desired sum has surprised some film scholars, given the iconic status of Hermann and the work. For more click here
Spiderman may be in trouble on Broadway but he's doing just fine in comic book land. His first appearance in Marvel Comics' Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962) has just sold for $1.1 million...making it the second most valuable comic in the world next to Action Comics #1 which featured the debut of Superman. The comic was created by Marvel's Editor-in-Chief Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. It proved to be so popular that the web spinner soon had his own comic. For more click here
Sony is now offering a new service for iPhone and iPad users that allows them to receive a free clip every day from the thousands of film titles in the studio's library. Click here for details
Joe Dante's Trailers From Hell site, where filmmakers provide commentary tracks for major and cult movies, is presenting a tribute to Robert Redford this week, with trailers from War Hunt, Little Fauss and Big Halsey and The Hot Rock. Click here to view
A film production company has bought the rights to the popular Tomb Raider films and intends to reinvent the series with a "young" Lara Croft. The media is hyping the fact that this almost certainly means that Angelina Jolie won't be hired for the part, but in fact, as far back as 2004, she said she was through with the role. For more click here
With news that Colin Firth might be considering taking on the Rex Harrison role in a remake of My Fair Lady, film critic John Farr lets loose on studio bosses who can't think of anything to green light beyond remakes of famous films. Click here to read
At an age where the workday would seem a distant memory for most Americans, newly-married Hugh Hefner has plunged head first back into the publishing world. Seeking to stem financial losses from his legendary Playboy magazine, Hef and his new business partner have succeeded in taking private ownership of the magazine. The legendary publisher will resume his duties as editor-in-chief and will once again have day-to-day involvement of every issue of Playboy. Click here for an article and video about retro travel aboard Hef's Playboy jet circa 1969.
(For Raymond Benson's exclusive interview with Hugh Hefner about his favorite films of the 1960s, see Cinema Retro issue #5)
The Hollywood Reporter says that Josh Brolin is pursuing producing and starring in a big screen remake of the oft-filmed 1831 Victor Hugo novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Tim Burton has expressed interest in directing, if he approves the script now being written by the scribes who have penned the next Sherlock Holmes feature film. Click here for more
Legendary film critic Roger Ebert has not been able to speak for years, the result of necessary surgery that robbed him of his power of speech. In an interview, Ebert discusses how he has overcome this frustrating situation by using the new media such as Facebook and Twitter to communicate through his writing. Click here to read
Stanley Kubrick died this week in 1999. The master filmmaker had only recently completed his final film Eyes Wide Shut. Click here for a video tribute to the legendary director.
Anyone who has participated in interviews for documentaries knows that their views can be distorted by the editing process. Rusty Lemorande, who was a production executive on the hit 1980 comedy Caddyshack, participated in an A&E network documentary about the making of the film. He is now suing the network and production company for editing his comments to make it appear as though he was spying on cast and crew members during production of the film. For more click here
Warner Brothers is planning to reboot the Fletch film series. Chevy Chase starred in the 1985 original and its sequel in 1989, playing a reporter with a penchant for acting as detective and solving crimes. The new series includes rights to all 11 Fletch books by author Gregory McDonald. The original films have a substantial following. For more click here
Hollywood's appetite for reviving classic movie monsters continues with several high-profile Frankenstein films in various stages of production. One, titled This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein will be a modern retelling of the tale designed to capitalized on the young audience who have gone bonkers for the Twilight films. The biggest challenge will be just fitting the title on theater marquees. For more click here
George Lucas may have lost the knack of making great Star Wars movies but he sure as hell knows how to sell toys based on the franchise. The revenue from the kiddie market set a new record for a year in which a movie was not released. The gross sales surpassed $500 million. For more click here
A Toronto businessman who has acquired the rights to market Marilyn Monroe's image says his goal is to see her back on the big screen- in a new movie. The plan is to use today's digital technology to allow Monroe to "star" in brand new films. He also said that he's upscaling the Monroe image by being more selective about what products her face will appear on. For more click here
By Lee Pfeiffer
Entertainment writer Jeff Sneider accuses Johnny Depp of the worst charge that can be leveled at a leading man: "You're no longer cool!" Sneider backs up his charge by accusing Depp of bypassing the kinds of interesting roles he used to play in order to portray similar eccentrics in big-budget schlock like the Disney Pirates movies. Depp has agreed to play Tonto in a Lone Ranger pic and Barnabas Collins in Tim Burton's Dark Shadows. Other critics have accused Depp of being on automatic pilot in recent years and allowing commercial appeal to trump artistic integrity. Nicholas Cage has faced similar criticism for appearing in critically-lambasted family films at the expense of the praise he once enjoyed for starring in more original, off-beat fare. For more click here
|
|
