Entertainment News
Entries from April 2012
Well, after a number of aborted attempts, Johnny Depp finally is fulfilling his quest to play Tonto in a new big screen version of The Lone Ranger. Here's a first look at his unique makeup, which renders him unrecognizable. Click here to read about how this look came about as well as Depp's determination to update the traditional image of one of the most famous side-kicks in history.
When Annie Hall was released this month in 1977, most people expected a typical Woody Allen movie with funny pratfalls and slapstick and few sly observations about life. What they got instead was a timeless cinematic masterpiece that went on to win Oscar for Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Director (not that Woody showed up to claim it). In celebration of the film's legacy, click here for a wonderful trip down memory lane through the film's most memorable lines (not those said by Diane Keaton or Woody Allen).
For Sergio Leone fans and scholars, it's almost too good to be true. A restored version of his 1984 film Once Upon a Time in America will premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Forty minutes will be added to the most complete edition of the film available today, bringing the running time to the 269 version Leone had envisioned. The film, like most of Leone's masterworks, was butchered in its initial release when the studio recut and edited the movie against his wishes. The resulting film was was trashed at the time by most critics, including influential reviewers Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Yet when the movie was partially restored to a 229 minute running time, both critics reversed their opinions and declared it a major achievement, with Siskel naming it the best film of 1984. For more click here
Click here for original Siskel and Ebert review 9 (approx. 4:36 into the segment)
Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio will team for the fifth time for The Wolf of Wall Street, based on the memoir of a hot shot executive whose hard partying ways during the Wall Street boom years almost brought about his demise. We're enthused about this, but the production company, Red Granite, should have read their press release a bit more carefully: the first reference to Leo is "DiCraprio"!
The Wrap reports that screenwriter Joe Eszterhas and Mel Gibson are in the midst of a public feud regarding Gibson's aborted plans to make a film about the ancient Jewish hero Maccabbee, who led his people in a revolt that is still celebrated at Hannukah. The convoluted tale began when Gibson and Warner Brothers decided to bring the story to the screen with Gibson as Macabbee. That very notion caused controversy, given Gibson's scandalous anti-Semitic remarks in the past. Eszterhas says he was enthused about the project but had concerns when he witnessed irrational behavior on the part of Gibson that allegedly included anti-Jewish remarks and death threats against his estranged lover and mother of one of his children. When Warner Brothers received the first draft of the screenplay from Eszterhas, the studio rejected it out of hand- a severe blow to a man who had once been the hottest screenwriter in Hollywood. After the rejection, Eszterhas went public with accusations against Gibson, saying the Oscar winner never had any intention of bringing the story to the screen and had only hoped to prove he was not anti-Semitic by pretending to develop the project. Eszterhas also called Gibson an unstable person who might be capable of carrying out his threats to hurt is enemies. Gibson responded by saying that, although he used heated rhetoric, most of Eszterhas' accusations are baseless and says he is only trying to divert attention from having his script rejected by Warner Brothers. The screenwriter then granted an interview to the Wrap in which he says he has Gibson's comments on tape. Got all that? Click here for first report on the Wrap. Click here for Eszterhas interview.
Oscar-nominated actor Ryan O'Neal has confirmed that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. The star of Love Story and Barry Lyndon has expressed optimism that he will have a complete recovery. Ironically, O'Neal's long-time lover, Farrah Fawcett, died of cancer- and his memoir about their years together is about to be published. Click here for more.
Titanic is proving to be the Gone With the Wind of the Gen X'rs. The 3-D reissue is a major hit and has pushed the total boxoffice gross of the 1997 Oscar winner to $2 billion. Only one other film surpasses that, and it's also a James Cameron spectacle: Avatar. Click here for more
The Huffington Post has a death-match style elimination contest in which movie fans can vote for their favorite film franchises. The premise pits such legendary series as James Bond vs. the Twilight films and The Godfather movies vs. Batman flicks. Only one problem: the people who put it together obviously have a broad definition of what constitutes a franchise. They have included such "one-shot" movies as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Titanic while not even mentioning the long-running Dirty Harry movies. For more click here
Here's a bizarre story: Clint Eastwood is suing a furniture company for using his image and film titles to market their line of chairs. The Oscar winning screen legend says the company has worked the names of his movies into descriptions of the chairs, which are called the "Clint" line. The Hollywood Reporter says the company seems to have been intimidated enough to have pulled on-lines ads for the chairs, but hell hath no fury like an Eastwood scorned and the lawsuit remains in place. Looks like Clint has them in the line of fire and they'll be unforgiven. (If you think these puns are awful, click here to read the ones incorporated into the promotions for the furniture.)
Media giant Viacom is suing YouTube for $1 billion in damages, claiming the company willfully allowed users to post 79,000 clips culled from such hit TV series as The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. YouTube claims it is not liable as it served only as the middleman. Viacom has countered that the company knowingly allowed users to continue to post video clips despite the fact that the web site should have been aware they were utilizing copyrighted material. For more click here
I always get heat when I say this, but I have to say it again: America has a greater ratio of stupid people than any other industrialized nation in the world. I'm as patriotic as anyone and love John Wayne movies, Uncle Sam and apple pie. However, by the time you hit middle age, you've already met so many dumb people that it truly becomes depressing. Yes, every nation has its share of stupid people, but in my humble experience, America takes the cake. Mind you, I'm not saying America is a nation of stupid people- just that we have a greater percentage of stupid people. Just watch Jay Leno's "Jay Walking" segments in which he interviews people on the street and asks them questions that a gorilla should be able to answer. I recall one woman not knowing what country the Great Wall of China was in. Similarly, Americans believe all sorts of crazy conspiracy theories on both the political left and right. There are educated people I know who still swear that President George W. Bush and Vice-President Cheney were the brains behind the destruction of the World Trade Center. Meanwhile, a huge number of Americans believe that President Obama is an illegal alien/Kenyan Muslim. A very prominent political figure (who I won't name because I don't feel like igniting a debate) had to be briefed about what nations America fought in World War II. If you really want to know how stupid many people are, just ask someone to name the current Vice-President. I've been using this test since I was a teenager and recently debated someone who took issue with my thesis that stupidity is sweeping America. "I'm not stupid!", he protested. I asked him who the current Vice-President is. A look of horror came to his eyes. After a few thoughtful pauses, he said "Dick Cheney?" When I gave him the name of Joe Biden, he slapped his forehead and said, "Oh, yeah", but I firmly believe he had never heard Biden's name prior to this conversation. What does all this have to do with show business? Plenty. One of the reasons contemporary movies are so bad is because stupid people demand stupid entertainment. Sure, there is a King's Speech that slips through the cracks every now and then, but for the most part, unfathomable amounts of money get poured into G.I. Joe movies. Even James Cameron's intelligent blockbuster Titanic isn't immune from the web of stupid people, as evidenced by these comments from fans who never realized the film depicted a historical incident. Click here to read. -Lee Pfeiffer
Good news for Woody Allen fans: the Woodman returns to the screen and appears in his latest movie, To Rome With Love. There was a time when Allen was too insecure to film outside of his native Manhattan, but in recent years, he has gained critical acclaim- and an Oscar- by shooting on the "continent". To Rome With Love looks like a worthy successor to his brilliant Midnight in Paris, with sly jokes, witty situations and a stellar cast. Click here to view
Yikes! The sons of George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are contemplating forming a band called The Beatles-The Next Generation. Fortunately, Starr's son Zak is said to be hedging on the idea, which might mercifully strangle the concept before it reaches reality. Although Julian Lennon did have a short-lived successful music career in the 1980s, when was the last time you went out to buy a record by Zak Starkey, Dhani Harrison or James McCartney? For all we knew, they were finding work as plumbers in recent years. Nevertheless, it's hard to turn down requests from offspring and Sir Paul McCartney says he will let "the will of God" dictate whether the plan comes to fruition...That's a pretty anemic recommendation from your own father. Hey, maybe they can keep tradition going and hire Pete Best's kid as a drummer, then fire him and hire Zak! Click here for more
The Huffington Post provides clips of some of the funniest imitations of the Great Scot himself, Sean Connery. They are culled from comedy standup routines and feature films. Click here to view
In an obvious attempt to emulate the success of The Dark Knight, Warner Brothers has unveiled a darker, grimmer Superman logo for their forthcoming attempt to resuscitate the famous Kryptonian in this summer's Man of Steel. Here is the official plot synopsis:
In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Cavill) is a young twentysomething journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond anyone's imagination. Transported to Earth years ago from Krypton, an advanced alien planet, Clark struggles with the ultimate question - Why am I here? Shaped by the values of his adoptive parents Martha (Lane) and Jonathan Kent (Costner), Clark soon discovers that having super abilities means making very difficult decisions. But when the world needs stability the most, it comes under attack. Will his abilities be used to maintain peace or ultimately used to divide and conquer? Clark must become the hero known as "Superman," not only to shine as the world's last beacon of hope but to protect the ones he loves.
For more on the film click here.
An Adam Sandler film has finally swept a film awards ceremony, but the comedian may not be bragging about it. His Jack and Jill swept ever category at the annual Razzie Awards which recognize the worst achievements in filmmaking. The 2010 comedy was a boxoffice disappointment that didn't prove immune to negative word-of-mouth, as many of his films are. Sandler also dragged down acting legend Al Pacino, who was named Worst Supporting Actor for playing himself in the movie. For more click here
Three icons of 80s cinema may be teaming for a sequel to the 1988 comedy smash Twins. The original starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in an offbeat comedy that topped boxoffice charts around the world. The unlikely "separated at birth" scenario with DeVito helped expand the future Governator's acting range beyond blood-and-guts action pics. Word has it that Eddie Murphy may be joining them this time around. Murphy hasn't had a hit movie since Madonna was a virgin and he's trying desperately to become relevant to a younger generation. The pic is still in discussion stages. Click here for more
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