Year in Review: Trailers & Posters

I figured New Years Eve was a good time to post a piece about the movie things that whet our appetites for more movie things. Trailers (or teasers --which I actually prefer) and posters are the sweet moment of anticipation before the unveiling of the real thing. The best trailers never give the entire game away but leave you wanting more. The best posters offer an design that captures a movie while also being aesthetically appealing as a one off. Here are my choices for the best

BEST TRAILERS / TEASERS
Runners Up: Children of Men and Casino Royale. I'm not counting 2007 peaks like Spider-Man 3 or Ratatouille but if I was they'd be here. Without further ado, in descending order (left to right) the four best of the year.





4. The Prestige One of those rare trailers that shows you a lot without giving the game away, and cleverly establishes a three act structure for you to imagine filled out in the theater. The movie is messier but this trailer is tight.
3. The Devil Wears Prada Smart gambit, this. Merely a full scene but what a scene. A funny introduction to four main characters with a tantalizing new light cast on a legendary star. End result: You have to see the movie. You've already bought your ticket.
2. Marie Antoinette light as air, fun, and unusual. It immediately cues you in that this'll be an idiosyncratic and personal vision from a real auteur.
1. Little Children One of the best trailers I've seen in years. Better than the movie. So good, in fact, that (full confession) I went into the movie assuming it was a masterpiece and trying to love it as much as I felt I should. The movie hasn't aged all that well in my head but damn this trailer is an A+. It's so evocative and isn't that what trailers should be? They should make you feel something but the feeling should remain open-ended enough to leave you needing more.

BEST POSTERS
You know that The Devil Wears Prada's awesome graphic simplicity will appear (that heel with the devil's pitchfork: genius) but what else? The first FiLM BiTCH AWARDS Category is up. It's red, red, red. Check it out.

MARKETING
There are other sites that cover marketing well. It's not really my thing since I'm more interested in the final piece than the pre-release hype. But that said I feel like the teams behind the promotional pushes for Borat, Little Miss Sunshine, The Devil Wears Prada, and Casino Royale deserve some kinda medal for the magic acts performed. They played the media and the moviegoing public perfectly, maximizing the critical and financial response. So, good for them.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tags: movies, marketing, cinema, movie posters, film, James Bond, Borat,New Years Eve, movie trailers

Year in Review: Trailers & Posters

I figured New Years Eve was a good time to post a piece about the movie things that whet our appetites for more movie things. Trailers (or teasers --which I actually prefer) and posters are the sweet moment of anticipation before the unveiling of the real thing. The best trailers never give the entire game away but leave you wanting more. The best posters offer an design that captures a movie while also being aesthetically appealing as a one off. Here are my choices for the best

BEST TRAILERS / TEASERS
Runners Up: Children of Men and Casino Royale. I'm not counting 2007 peaks like Spider-Man 3 or Ratatouille but if I was they'd be here. Without further ado, in descending order (left to right) the four best of the year.





4. The Prestige One of those rare trailers that shows you a lot without giving the game away, and cleverly establishes a three act structure for you to imagine filled out in the theater. The movie is messier but this trailer is tight.
3. The Devil Wears Prada Smart gambit, this. Merely a full scene but what a scene. A funny introduction to four main characters with a tantalizing new light cast on a legendary star. End result: You have to see the movie. You've already bought your ticket.
2. Marie Antoinette light as air, fun, and unusual. It immediately cues you in that this'll be an idiosyncratic and personal vision from a real auteur.
1. Little Children One of the best trailers I've seen in years. Better than the movie. So good, in fact, that (full confession) I went into the movie assuming it was a masterpiece and trying to love it as much as I felt I should. The movie hasn't aged all that well in my head but damn this trailer is an A+. It's so evocative and isn't that what trailers should be? They should make you feel something but the feeling should remain open-ended enough to leave you needing more.

BEST POSTERS
You know that The Devil Wears Prada's awesome graphic simplicity will appear (that heel with the devil's pitchfork: genius) but what else? The first FiLM BiTCH AWARDS Category is up. It's red, red, red. Check it out.

MARKETING
There are other sites that cover marketing well. It's not really my thing since I'm more interested in the final piece than the pre-release hype. But that said I feel like the teams behind the promotional pushes for Borat, Little Miss Sunshine, The Devil Wears Prada, and Casino Royale deserve some kinda medal for the magic acts performed. They played the media and the moviegoing public perfectly, maximizing the critical and financial response. So, good for them.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tags: movies, marketing, cinema, movie posters, film, James Bond, Borat,New Years Eve, movie trailers

Smackdown 1975

Chez Lulu another Supporting Actress Smackdown is busting out. This time it's for the ladies from 1975 (the Nasvhille girls and more...)

She makes it look "easy". Lily Tomlin gets my vote for her confident quiet take on a
highly compartmentalized woman in the great great great Nashville (1975).

Given all the year end screenings and write-ups I'm attempting, I didn't have time to do all four 1975 screenings. I was going to skip Nashville on account of the familiarity but I ended up obsessing on it all over again at the expense of seeing the other movies. But I did fashion another clipreel for Lulu and the gang despite being booted from YouTube. Not entirely sure what happened there. Everything I see on YouTube is fan-posted movie & tv clips (all of which = copyright infringement) so how come it was little old me that got banned? Is it because I promote older flicks as opposed to the latest clip featuring whoishotrightnow on showthateveryonewatches?

P.S. Next Sunday is the 2006 Supporting Actress Blog-a-Thon. A couple of dozen blogs will be doing FYCs for individual performances they love from this past year. I haven't picked my chick quite yet but I'm definitely on board.

P.S. 2 OK. Now go on over to Lulu's and see what we all had to say about Lily Tomlin and the others. Join the conversation.

Smackdown 1975

Chez Lulu another Supporting Actress Smackdown is busting out. This time it's for the ladies from 1975 (the Nasvhille girls and more...)

She makes it look "easy". Lily Tomlin gets my vote for her confident quiet take on a
highly compartmentalized woman in the great great great Nashville (1975).

Given all the year end screenings and write-ups I'm attempting, I didn't have time to do all four 1975 screenings. I was going to skip Nashville on account of the familiarity but I ended up obsessing on it all over again at the expense of seeing the other movies. But I did fashion another clipreel for Lulu and the gang despite being booted from YouTube. Not entirely sure what happened there. Everything I see on YouTube is fan-posted movie & tv clips (all of which = copyright infringement) so how come it was little old me that got banned? Is it because I promote older flicks as opposed to the latest clip featuring whoishotrightnow on showthateveryonewatches?

P.S. Next Sunday is the 2006 Supporting Actress Blog-a-Thon. A couple of dozen blogs will be doing FYCs for individual performances they love from this past year. I haven't picked my chick quite yet but I'm definitely on board.

P.S. 2 OK. Now go on over to Lulu's and see what we all had to say about Lily Tomlin and the others. Join the conversation.

List Orgy!

I honestly don't know what I'd do without lists. When I wake up I pour some slow roasting lists into a cup and add a little nutrasweet. I then roll out my yoga matt and do some ashtanga listmaking. After showering I always listurize because I want my skin supple and my mind tight. At work excel proves a great listmaking tool! When I come home I eat, watch a little tv, and indulge in some hotlistmaking with the boyfriend. I sleep and dream of lists.

best week ever -10 gayest moments of '06 (Dreamgirls write up -LMAO)
cinemavistaramascope -favorite film-related 06 experiences (Herzog!)
modfab 10 best performances: tv, film, stage
popbytes favorite albums of 2006 --yay, brazilian girls. But, I lost track of music this year. I didn't even use my iPod for weeks.
cinematical james rocchi's worst list: Apocalytpo
low resolution joe reid's top ten in TV --go Brothers & Sisters
the reeler -worst top ten lists. so much hate for all he may actually implode with bile. God I hope I make this list next year.
ultranow a swell "thank goodness" list

starting tomorrow you'll pro'lly be getting lists daily until we're done with reviewing 2006. Hope you like list.

List Orgy!

I honestly don't know what I'd do without lists. When I wake up I pour some slow roasting lists into a cup and add a little nutrasweet. I then roll out my yoga matt and do some ashtanga listmaking. After showering I always listurize because I want my skin supple and my mind tight. At work excel proves a great listmaking tool! When I come home I eat, watch a little tv, and indulge in some hotlistmaking with the boyfriend. I sleep and dream of lists.

best week ever -10 gayest moments of '06 (Dreamgirls write up -LMAO)
cinemavistaramascope -favorite film-related 06 experiences (Herzog!)
modfab 10 best performances: tv, film, stage
popbytes favorite albums of 2006 --yay, brazilian girls. But, I lost track of music this year. I didn't even use my iPod for weeks.
cinematical james rocchi's worst list: Apocalytpo
low resolution joe reid's top ten in TV --go Brothers & Sisters
the reeler -worst top ten lists. so much hate for all he may actually implode with bile. God I hope I make this list next year.
ultranow a swell "thank goodness" list

starting tomorrow you'll pro'lly be getting lists daily until we're done with reviewing 2006. Hope you like list.

Year in Review: Obnoxious Performances (and other cinematic stupidities)

Despite my general malaise in regards to the movie product of 2006, I don't actually relish pointing and laughing at the bad stuff. I'd rather just move on. But since I'm a completist I gotta do that annual hall of shame thing. And some things are just too annoying to let slide.

There are stars and filmmakers who force my hand. There I sit peacefully in the movie theater and they refuse to let me enjoy myself. They suck the good air out of the room.


read the rest...
for triple dishonors in each acting category and more general stupidity at the cinema. Return and discuss. Join in the pointing and laughing.

Tags: movies, cinema, Julianne Moore, bad movies, blood diamond, film, Johnny Depp, Uma Thurman,racism, Hilary Swank, Eragon, Babel, Lindsay Lohan,x-men

Year in Review: Obnoxious Performances (and other cinematic stupidities)

Despite my general malaise in regards to the movie product of 2006, I don't actually relish pointing and laughing at the bad stuff. I'd rather just move on. But since I'm a completist I gotta do that annual hall of shame thing. And some things are just too annoying to let slide.

There are stars and filmmakers who force my hand. There I sit peacefully in the movie theater and they refuse to let me enjoy myself. They suck the good air out of the room.


read the rest...
for triple dishonors in each acting category and more general stupidity at the cinema. Return and discuss. Join in the pointing and laughing.

Tags: movies, cinema, Julianne Moore, bad movies, blood diamond, film, Johnny Depp, Uma Thurman,racism, Hilary Swank, Eragon, Babel, Lindsay Lohan,x-men

Delayed. Look Busy.

I'm swamped at my paying gig but come January 2nd, I'll be full tilt boogie into the 'top ten' and the 'year in review.' If you can handle it, please consider donating (it's the donate button, funny that) for this festive season and help me on my way to doing this full time --I get closer each year.

If you're desperate for conversation, say something inflammatory about a well loved movie in the comments or head on over to Cinemarati where a heated discussion is in swing re: Dreamgirls --join in.

Delayed. Look Busy.

I'm swamped at my paying gig but come January 2nd, I'll be full tilt boogie into the 'top ten' and the 'year in review.' If you can handle it, please consider donating (it's the donate button, funny that) for this festive season and help me on my way to doing this full time --I get closer each year.

If you're desperate for conversation, say something inflammatory about a well loved movie in the comments or head on over to Cinemarati where a heated discussion is in swing re: Dreamgirls --join in.

John Waters Top Ten

John Waters ArtForum top ten is here. He's not just a hilarious cult film director. He's also a part time critic. This list is always a must read. F'rinstance on Sherrybaby:

Maggie Gyllenhaal plays an ex-convict drug addict (the kind I see in Baltimore every day), and the film is so depressing and great that I wish I could see it with an all-female prison audience.

John Waters Top Ten

John Waters ArtForum top ten is here. He's not just a hilarious cult film director. He's also a part time critic. This list is always a must read. F'rinstance on Sherrybaby:

Maggie Gyllenhaal plays an ex-convict drug addict (the kind I see in Baltimore every day), and the film is so depressing and great that I wish I could see it with an all-female prison audience.

Year in Review: Multiplex of Horror

What do big blue dragon eggs, a white trash Julianne Moore, super ex-girlfriends, frat boy male witches, and Natalie Portman's bald beauty have in common? They are all playing in my 'multiplex of horror'. My choices for worst movies of the year.

tonight & tomorrow: Worst Performances, Moments, Trends. And then, before y'all start hating on me for all the hating, I promise we get happy with praise. The "best of the year" hoopla begins this weekend.

Year in Review: Multiplex of Horror

What do big blue dragon eggs, a white trash Julianne Moore, super ex-girlfriends, frat boy male witches, and Natalie Portman's bald beauty have in common? They are all playing in my 'multiplex of horror'. My choices for worst movies of the year.

tonight & tomorrow: Worst Performances, Moments, Trends. And then, before y'all start hating on me for all the hating, I promise we get happy with praise. The "best of the year" hoopla begins this weekend.

Year in Review: The Overrated

I've recently decided that the image below, from Steven Soderbergh's misfire The Good German says a lot about this past year in film.


In this scene Cate Blanchett wanders through a sewer. As you can see from this still, German is all kinds of beautiful to look at (courtesy of black & white cinematography by Peter Andrews, Soderbergh's camera wielding alter ego) but plug your nose: the movie smells.

Yes, this sewer image is an apt stand-in for the movie year. Not for the ubiquitous presence of Cate Blanchett (though that's a neat bonus), but for this: even the good movies kinda stank.

Read the Full Article ...for thoughts on the six most overvalued films of the year (only one of them is "bad" in the normal sense but the hyperbole on all five is out of control) and a list of possibly terrible movies I avoided and why.

Year in Review: The Overrated

I've recently decided that the image below, from Steven Soderbergh's misfire The Good German says a lot about this past year in film.


In this scene Cate Blanchett wanders through a sewer. As you can see from this still, German is all kinds of beautiful to look at (courtesy of black & white cinematography by Peter Andrews, Soderbergh's camera wielding alter ego) but plug your nose: the movie smells.

Yes, this sewer image is an apt stand-in for the movie year. Not for the ubiquitous presence of Cate Blanchett (though that's a neat bonus), but for this: even the good movies kinda stank.

Read the Full Article ...for thoughts on the six most overvalued films of the year (only one of them is "bad" in the normal sense but the hyperbole on all five is out of control) and a list of possibly terrible movies I avoided and why.

Links, Episode #213

Cinematical on the flops of 2006 and (unrelated) Spike Lee doing James Brown. Hey, Malcolm X felt good.
ModFab points to the best NYC stage experiences this year.
Lassiter Space his thoughts on Sedaris vs. Burroughs. Where do you stand? I prefer Sedaris, actually.
OpieBlue on Buffy 'season 8' albeit in non moving pictures form. Damn.
Stephanie Zacharek's top ten list. Marie-Antoinette, yay!
Dave Kehr on the new additions to the National Film Registry. Fargo, Notorious, sex lies and videotape –wheeee.

Links, Episode #213

Cinematical on the flops of 2006 and (unrelated) Spike Lee doing James Brown. Hey, Malcolm X felt good.
ModFab points to the best NYC stage experiences this year.
Lassiter Space his thoughts on Sedaris vs. Burroughs. Where do you stand? I prefer Sedaris, actually.
OpieBlue on Buffy 'season 8' albeit in non moving pictures form. Damn.
Stephanie Zacharek's top ten list. Marie-Antoinette, yay!
Dave Kehr on the new additions to the National Film Registry. Fargo, Notorious, sex lies and videotape –wheeee.

Updates & Supporting Actress Stuff

Time still short. Must.compile. year-end review listage. In the meantime, Oscar Predix have been slightly revised. The next big events for setting Oscar's table are the Screen Actors and Producers Guild nominations, both to be announced on 01/04/07 --smack dab in the week in which most Academy voters are filling out their Oscar ballots.

In other site news: There's a fresh poll at the site, the final in the "20 years of acting wins" series: Supporting Actress. That should get you in the mood for the next two Sundays of supporting actress events.

Sunday December 31st: Supporting Actress Smackdown, 1975
Sunday January 7th: Stinky Lulu's Supporting Actress Blog-a-Thon ~think of it as FYCs for 2006

Updates & Supporting Actress Stuff

Time still short. Must.compile. year-end review listage. In the meantime, Oscar Predix have been slightly revised. The next big events for setting Oscar's table are the Screen Actors and Producers Guild nominations, both to be announced on 01/04/07 --smack dab in the week in which most Academy voters are filling out their Oscar ballots.

In other site news: There's a fresh poll at the site, the final in the "20 years of acting wins" series: Supporting Actress. That should get you in the mood for the next two Sundays of supporting actress events.

Sunday December 31st: Supporting Actress Smackdown, 1975
Sunday January 7th: Stinky Lulu's Supporting Actress Blog-a-Thon ~think of it as FYCs for 2006

A Christmas Gift From Bazmark

According to Coming Soon (by way of the Sydney Morning Herald) filming has begun on Baz Luhrmann's Australia, a romantic epic to star Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

The film is set during World War II. Nic will play an English aristocrat with a mammoth ranch in Australia and Jackman a cattle driver. How butch! Baz Luhrmann, one of my very favorite filmmakers only makes a movie every 5 years or so, so you can imagine how thrilled I am to hear that Australia has officially begun. How do you suppose he'll work that "L'Amour" signage into this one?

Related posts:
Nicole Kidman: She's (Almost) Back -a mini appreciation
Hump Day Hottie: Hugh Jackman -man. dancer. father. actor. singer. god
Moulin Rouge!, the obsession -a scene by scene rundown

A Christmas Gift From Bazmark

According to Coming Soon (by way of the Sydney Morning Herald) filming has begun on Baz Luhrmann's Australia, a romantic epic to star Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

The film is set during World War II. Nic will play an English aristocrat with a mammoth ranch in Australia and Jackman a cattle driver. How butch! Baz Luhrmann, one of my very favorite filmmakers only makes a movie every 5 years or so, so you can imagine how thrilled I am to hear that Australia has officially begun. How do you suppose he'll work that "L'Amour" signage into this one?

Related posts:
Nicole Kidman: She's (Almost) Back -a mini appreciation
Hump Day Hottie: Hugh Jackman -man. dancer. father. actor. singer. god
Moulin Rouge!, the obsession -a scene by scene rundown

Oscar Ballots Out Today

The Post Office reopens today just in time for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to mail out those Oscar ballots. Oscar hopefuls like to be fresh in the minds of voters when they have that pen and paper in hand. So ask yourself this: who and what's happened this past week that's bound to be on AMPAS's collective mind?

[Holiday festivities stopped my Year in Review dead in its tracks. It will reboot tomorrow. Oscar predictions should be fully updated late tonight -N]

Oscar Ballots Out Today

The Post Office reopens today just in time for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to mail out those Oscar ballots. Oscar hopefuls like to be fresh in the minds of voters when they have that pen and paper in hand. So ask yourself this: who and what's happened this past week that's bound to be on AMPAS's collective mind?

[Holiday festivities stopped my Year in Review dead in its tracks. It will reboot tomorrow. Oscar predictions should be fully updated late tonight -N]

DVD: Catch Up Quick

This list was requested by Oh My Trill. For readers who haven't made it to the movie theater as much as they would've liked and are trying to catch up. Here's rental ideas so that you can follow along with all the year end lists, articles, FB Awards, and the usual arguments that rage on through February and the Oscar hullabaloo. All of these movies are out on DVD already (or will be by 12/26 in a couple of cases).


Because it's really good: Duck Season (Mexico)
Really f***ing scary: The Descent, An Inconvenient Truth
Movie-Movie Fun: Inside Man, Monster House, A Prairie Home Companion, The Devil Wears Prada, Little Miss Sunshine
For Actressexuals: Friends With Money
Gretchen Mol is naked. Gretchen Mol is naked a lot: The Notorious Bettie Page
Some (not me) think it a masterpiece: Three Times (Taiwan)
might be nominated for foreign film: Water (Canada)
You should probably have an opinion, be it love or hate: The Black Dahlia, Lady in the Water, Miami Vice

DVD: Catch Up Quick

This list was requested by Oh My Trill. For readers who haven't made it to the movie theater as much as they would've liked and are trying to catch up. Here's rental ideas so that you can follow along with all the year end lists, articles, FB Awards, and the usual arguments that rage on through February and the Oscar hullabaloo. All of these movies are out on DVD already (or will be by 12/26 in a couple of cases).


Because it's really good: Duck Season (Mexico)
Really f***ing scary: The Descent, An Inconvenient Truth
Movie-Movie Fun: Inside Man, Monster House, A Prairie Home Companion, The Devil Wears Prada, Little Miss Sunshine
For Actressexuals: Friends With Money
Gretchen Mol is naked. Gretchen Mol is naked a lot: The Notorious Bettie Page
Some (not me) think it a masterpiece: Three Times (Taiwan)
might be nominated for foreign film: Water (Canada)
You should probably have an opinion, be it love or hate: The Black Dahlia, Lady in the Water, Miami Vice

Linkmas Eve

Reverse Shot on Annie Hall and the Film Forum Woody Allen retrospective.
YouTube "Scary Mary" Mary Poppins recut. [thx, Vince]
Low Resolution Joe Reid's annual airing of grievances: a fine tradition.
Stale Popcorn wishes you a merry one...
Movie Blog with that Silver Surfer image making the rounds. I'm unimpressed too. Looks like someone just hit a chrome filter on photoshop or sumthin'

and some lists!
Reel Fanatic "10 Scenes That Lingered..."
Modern Fabulousity to unleash a week long 'best of the year' blitz
NY Times or "The Paper of Eastwood Worship" A.O. Scott even calls him "the greatest living American filmmaker". You know last time I checked Woody Allen, Terrence Malick, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and David Lynch were all still alive. Among others. So, whatever.
IMDB "Top 25 Celebrities of 2006" This list is based on database searches. These kinda lists are both fascinating and highly disturbing. My girls (the ones I sometimes hate myself for loving) ScarJo and LiLo are way up there. Jake Gyllenhaal is much lower than I'd anticipated. And I have to ask: why on earth are people still searching for info on Tom Hanks in 2006? Get over it! [src]

Linkmas Eve

Reverse Shot on Annie Hall and the Film Forum Woody Allen retrospective.
YouTube "Scary Mary" Mary Poppins recut. [thx, Vince]
Low Resolution Joe Reid's annual airing of grievances: a fine tradition.
Stale Popcorn wishes you a merry one...
Movie Blog with that Silver Surfer image making the rounds. I'm unimpressed too. Looks like someone just hit a chrome filter on photoshop or sumthin'

and some lists!
Reel Fanatic "10 Scenes That Lingered..."
Modern Fabulousity to unleash a week long 'best of the year' blitz
NY Times or "The Paper of Eastwood Worship" A.O. Scott even calls him "the greatest living American filmmaker". You know last time I checked Woody Allen, Terrence Malick, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and David Lynch were all still alive. Among others. So, whatever.
IMDB "Top 25 Celebrities of 2006" This list is based on database searches. These kinda lists are both fascinating and highly disturbing. My girls (the ones I sometimes hate myself for loving) ScarJo and LiLo are way up there. Jake Gyllenhaal is much lower than I'd anticipated. And I have to ask: why on earth are people still searching for info on Tom Hanks in 2006? Get over it! [src]

Year in Review: Stocking Stuffers

I had so much fun doing the "stocking stuffer" post last year that I thought I'd give it a second go round. How happy would I be Christmas morning with these particular goodies in my stocking? I would burst.

Objects / Gadgets I Most Covet from 2006 Movies

• tarot deck all fancy like in Scoop. Only without the serial killer connection. Just the cards, thanks. They're fun at parties.
  
• handmade crafts made especially for me by Gael Garcia Bernal. He had such a way with the inanimate in The Science of Sleep and handmade gifts are endearing.
• a blood diamond --not that I wanna contribute to destroying the lives of noble Africans but they're apparently priceless and I live in Manhattan. That don't come cheap.
  
• Nigel's phone # Hey, if he'll just hand out a wardrobe worth of designer clothes to the 'smart, fat girl' in The Devil Wears Prada, surely, he can hook me up. I so need a makeover.
• A bag of gold stars for my journal writing. OK, I don't really keep one anymore. This blog is enough. But if I did it wouldn't be as juicy or deranged as Judi Dench's in Notes on a Scandal unless I had some way to turn the good times creepy...with visual aids.
  
• keys to a friend's empty restaurant It sure came in handy in Volver. Empty restaurants are handy for attracting local film crews and throwing big parties. Both of which sound like good ideas to me. [spoiler] Plus nothing beats an empty freezer. You can use it for food storage or to, well, you know --oh, like you've never wanted to hide a body. Don't judge.

• tiny blue swimsuit --preferrably the one on Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. And preferrably removed from his body and placed in my stocking by the man himself. In my presence. Not all gifts should be wrapped.
  
  please and thanks
  

What do you want in your stocking?

Tags: movies, diamond, cinema,tarot,film, Daniel Craig, Gael Garcia Bernal,stocking stuffers, Christmas

Year in Review: Stocking Stuffers

I had so much fun doing the "stocking stuffer" post last year that I thought I'd give it a second go round. How happy would I be Christmas morning with these particular goodies in my stocking? I would burst.

Objects / Gadgets I Most Covet from 2006 Movies

• tarot deck all fancy like in Scoop. Only without the serial killer connection. Just the cards, thanks. They're fun at parties.
  
• handmade crafts made especially for me by Gael Garcia Bernal. He had such a way with the inanimate in The Science of Sleep and handmade gifts are endearing.
• a blood diamond --not that I wanna contribute to destroying the lives of noble Africans but they're apparently priceless and I live in Manhattan. That don't come cheap.
  
• Nigel's phone # Hey, if he'll just hand out a wardrobe worth of designer clothes to the 'smart, fat girl' in The Devil Wears Prada, surely, he can hook me up. I so need a makeover.
• A bag of gold stars for my journal writing. OK, I don't really keep one anymore. This blog is enough. But if I did it wouldn't be as juicy or deranged as Judi Dench's in Notes on a Scandal unless I had some way to turn the good times creepy...with visual aids.
  
• keys to a friend's empty restaurant It sure came in handy in Volver. Empty restaurants are handy for attracting local film crews and throwing big parties. Both of which sound like good ideas to me. [spoiler] Plus nothing beats an empty freezer. You can use it for food storage or to, well, you know --oh, like you've never wanted to hide a body. Don't judge.

• tiny blue swimsuit --preferrably the one on Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. And preferrably removed from his body and placed in my stocking by the man himself. In my presence. Not all gifts should be wrapped.
  
  please and thanks
  

What do you want in your stocking?

Tags: movies, diamond, cinema,tarot,film, Daniel Craig, Gael Garcia Bernal,stocking stuffers, Christmas

ReIntroducing: Velma Von Tussel

Here are your first images of Michelle Pfeiffer in next summer's musical Broadway-to-screen transfer Hairspray [click to enlarge]


For those of you who aren't familiar with Hairspray: a) what's wrong with you? and b) get thee to the John Waters 1988 classic immediately. It's so great. I always wanted Michelle Pfeiffer to play Debbie Harry in a movie (a job for Kiki apparently) but it looks like reinterpreting Harry's role in a movie is the closest that Pfeiffer will get to that.

I'm more than a little worried about this movie. In it's previous incarnations as a cult comedy classic and as a hit Broadway musical it's been endearingly goofy, a touch perverse and wildly entertaining. But this film replaces the queer genius of Divine and Harvey Feirstein with (gulp) John Travolta. The new typeface at the official website doesn't help instill confidence either. Instead of the Broadway musical's bright airy logo, this one is all garish with black outlines and darkened colors. Ewww.

Plus it's directed by Adam Shankman. Now he knows from choreography, his credits there are abundant and that helps in dance musicals a genre to which Hairspray> easily belongs. In addition to numerous movies he also choreographed one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's finest moments ever: the musical episode "Once More With Feeling." You know how I feel about Buffy so it's really hard to hate on him. (here is Shankman with Buffy herself --->)

But so far as a helmer... unless you count Shankman's The Wedding Planner, A Walk to Remember, Bringing Down the House, The Pacifier, or Cheaper by the Dozen 2 as classics, ...er... you're probably thinking that Hairspray just might suck. Or at least it will be closer to the Rent school of mismanaged musical properties and far from the land of the Chicago bullseye.

But: Michelle Pfeiffer is in it!

Tags: movies, cinema, Hairspray, moviemusicals musicals, animation,film, Michelle Pfeiffer, Divine,John Waters, hairspray

ReIntroducing: Velma Von Tussel

Here are your first images of Michelle Pfeiffer in next summer's musical Broadway-to-screen transfer Hairspray [click to enlarge]


For those of you who aren't familiar with Hairspray: a) what's wrong with you? and b) get thee to the John Waters 1988 classic immediately. It's so great. I always wanted Michelle Pfeiffer to play Debbie Harry in a movie (a job for Kiki apparently) but it looks like reinterpreting Harry's role in a movie is the closest that Pfeiffer will get to that.

I'm more than a little worried about this movie. In it's previous incarnations as a cult comedy classic and as a hit Broadway musical it's been endearingly goofy, a touch perverse and wildly entertaining. But this film replaces the queer genius of Divine and Harvey Feirstein with (gulp) John Travolta. The new typeface at the official website doesn't help instill confidence either. Instead of the Broadway musical's bright airy logo, this one is all garish with black outlines and darkened colors. Ewww.

Plus it's directed by Adam Shankman. Now he knows from choreography, his credits there are abundant and that helps in dance musicals a genre to which Hairspray> easily belongs. In addition to numerous movies he also choreographed one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's finest moments ever: the musical episode "Once More With Feeling." You know how I feel about Buffy so it's really hard to hate on him. (here is Shankman with Buffy herself --->)

But so far as a helmer... unless you count Shankman's The Wedding Planner, A Walk to Remember, Bringing Down the House, The Pacifier, or Cheaper by the Dozen 2 as classics, ...er... you're probably thinking that Hairspray just might suck. Or at least it will be closer to the Rent school of mismanaged musical properties and far from the land of the Chicago bullseye.

But: Michelle Pfeiffer is in it!

Tags: movies, cinema, Hairspray, moviemusicals musicals, animation,film, Michelle Pfeiffer, Divine,John Waters, hairspray

Lead/Support: A Fine Line

Hudson in Dreamgirls. Bening in Running With Scissors. The casts of The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine. O'Hara in For Your Consideration. If you've seen those movies, how would you categorize the roles: Lead or support? Inquiring minds want to know.

Lead/Support: A Fine Line

Hudson in Dreamgirls. Bening in Running With Scissors. The casts of The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine. O'Hara in For Your Consideration. If you've seen those movies, how would you categorize the roles: Lead or support? Inquiring minds want to know.

Year in Review: This Blog (So Self Indulgent. So Meta)

2006 Year in Review: The First of Two Zillion Posts Looking Back on the Year That Was...

Some may find this particular post as annoying as those sitcom episodes where they use flashbacks (clipreels) instead of making a new episode. But considering the amount I'm pumping out for you daily, you can allow me the self indulgence. Behold: Three lists about this here blog in 2006 --minus the month we're in now. Those of you who've just joined us or have been naughty intermittent readers, you can catch up. The rest of you can sweetly reminisce about things that just barely happened. Good times.


a dozen semi randomly chosen favorites
12 Movie Meme it's still showing up in odd places ~ I'm so proud.
11 Rowlumbusitis Diagnosing a Hollywood disease.
10 untitled featuring Louise Brooks.
09 Melissa Etheridge Wants Angelina Jolie If you're in bed with Brad...
08 Request: The Sound of Music fun to write.
07 She's a Bitch (@ the movies) first adventure in iMovie
06 "Don't Turn the Projector Off!" on The Purple Rose of Cairo: this post was crucial in my decision to do the personal canon. I need to write more about movies I love to keep the cinema love alive in the face of bad movies.
05 Last Night I Met Kate Winslet a Little Children: the cocktail party
04 David Jude Law writing the Actors of the Aughts list chewed up a great chunk of time but I loved doing it. The discussions were much to chew on as well.
03 The Battle That Never Ends simple, still true.
02 Pfeiffer Blog-a-Thon Seeing the turnout in participation and readership was divine. Apparently I'm not the only one that loves Hollywood's MIA blonde legend.
01 The Whitakers Vs. The Del-Mar Twists Far From Heaven vs. Brokeback

Interesting Comments Sections
The Fountain plot and/or narrative?
Notes on Talking... I'm losing patience with Cate Blanchett. Readers aren't.
Oscar Night in Review on 'Black Sunday' --Brokeback's loss got y'all riled up --well over 100 comments.

Celebrity traffic boosters: These posts brought lotsa eyeballs
Scarlett Johansson Week The actress du jour
A History of ... Gyllenhaal Jake & Maggie mania and the birth of a popular series (on hiatus until '07 obviously)
A History of ... Angelina Jolie co-starring Haven, Pitt & Aniston
We Are All Nicole Kidman a quiz
Hump Day Hottie: Channing Tatum ya pervs
Desperately Apeing Jennifer Connelly -misadventures of Jared Leto

Year in Review: This Blog (So Self Indulgent. So Meta)

2006 Year in Review: The First of Two Zillion Posts Looking Back on the Year That Was...

Some may find this particular post as annoying as those sitcom episodes where they use flashbacks (clipreels) instead of making a new episode. But considering the amount I'm pumping out for you daily, you can allow me the self indulgence. Behold: Three lists about this here blog in 2006 --minus the month we're in now. Those of you who've just joined us or have been naughty intermittent readers, you can catch up. The rest of you can sweetly reminisce about things that just barely happened. Good times.


a dozen semi randomly chosen favorites
12 Movie Meme it's still showing up in odd places ~ I'm so proud.
11 Rowlumbusitis Diagnosing a Hollywood disease.
10 untitled featuring Louise Brooks.
09 Melissa Etheridge Wants Angelina Jolie If you're in bed with Brad...
08 Request: The Sound of Music fun to write.
07 She's a Bitch (@ the movies) first adventure in iMovie
06 "Don't Turn the Projector Off!" on The Purple Rose of Cairo: this post was crucial in my decision to do the personal canon. I need to write more about movies I love to keep the cinema love alive in the face of bad movies.
05 Last Night I Met Kate Winslet a Little Children: the cocktail party
04 David Jude Law writing the Actors of the Aughts list chewed up a great chunk of time but I loved doing it. The discussions were much to chew on as well.
03 The Battle That Never Ends simple, still true.
02 Pfeiffer Blog-a-Thon Seeing the turnout in participation and readership was divine. Apparently I'm not the only one that loves Hollywood's MIA blonde legend.
01 The Whitakers Vs. The Del-Mar Twists Far From Heaven vs. Brokeback

Interesting Comments Sections
The Fountain plot and/or narrative?
Notes on Talking... I'm losing patience with Cate Blanchett. Readers aren't.
Oscar Night in Review on 'Black Sunday' --Brokeback's loss got y'all riled up --well over 100 comments.

Celebrity traffic boosters: These posts brought lotsa eyeballs
Scarlett Johansson Week The actress du jour
A History of ... Gyllenhaal Jake & Maggie mania and the birth of a popular series (on hiatus until '07 obviously)
A History of ... Angelina Jolie co-starring Haven, Pitt & Aniston
We Are All Nicole Kidman a quiz
Hump Day Hottie: Channing Tatum ya pervs
Desperately Apeing Jennifer Connelly -misadventures of Jared Leto

Happy Holidays

For those you moving into the scary "offline" world for the duration of this family & friends laden week of festivities...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

May your moviegoing be merry.

Happy Holidays

For those you moving into the scary "offline" world for the duration of this family & friends laden week of festivities...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

May your moviegoing be merry.

Linksomnia

I can't sleep for reasons too annoying to go into here. The worst thing about insomnia is not that you're awake. It's that you aren't fully awake. So instead of a new snazzy article (and I'm aware that there are a million movies I need to write about) you get a few links.

popbytes amazing photos of Winslet
new now next MaddyMo to direct a movie? a gay latino boxing movie?
GreenCine interview with Cuaron on Children of Men, which is really growing on me --anxious to see again.

and, finally, I'd like to point on two blogs completely echoing my exact thoughts on recent news items: savage cats on the Gong Li golden flower 'controversy' and film ick on Samantha Morton's replacement on Transibberian

Linksomnia

I can't sleep for reasons too annoying to go into here. The worst thing about insomnia is not that you're awake. It's that you aren't fully awake. So instead of a new snazzy article (and I'm aware that there are a million movies I need to write about) you get a few links.

popbytes amazing photos of Winslet
new now next MaddyMo to direct a movie? a gay latino boxing movie?
GreenCine interview with Cuaron on Children of Men, which is really growing on me --anxious to see again.

and, finally, I'd like to point on two blogs completely echoing my exact thoughts on recent news items: savage cats on the Gong Li golden flower 'controversy' and film ick on Samantha Morton's replacement on Transibberian

#97 The Women

"Movies I Think About When I Think About the Movies"

If you ask any group of film buffs to name Hollywood's pinnacle year --it's "best year ever"-- chances are that "1939" will be uttered quickly and then argued about. That was the year that brought us Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Ninotchka and at least a dozen other extremely beloved films. Also strutting around in theaters that year was a bitchy but endearing comedy/melodrama mix. The film's impressive star line up was headlined by Norma Shearer as Mrs Stephen Haines. She was orbited by stars of similar (or then just-lesser) stature: Rosalind Russell, Joan Crawford, Paulette Goddard and Joan Fontaine among them. Even with the mega-wattage and box office pull of the stars The Women bore the sexist, reductive tagline:

“It’s all about men!”

Not that it isn't about men, I must quickly add. Or at least women's ideas about the men in their lives. The drama and comedy in The Women comes from the way the gathered actresses fight over men, adore men, adjust themselves for men, connect themselves to men and sabotage each other --presumably also for men. What? You thought with Roz Russell and bitchtastic Joan Crawford in the mix that this wouldn't be catty?

Continue reading... for more on this starry 30s comedy.

Tags: movies, cinema, The Women, comedy women, film, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer,MGM

#97 The Women

"Movies I Think About When I Think About the Movies"

If you ask any group of film buffs to name Hollywood's pinnacle year --it's "best year ever"-- chances are that "1939" will be uttered quickly and then argued about. That was the year that brought us Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Ninotchka and at least a dozen other extremely beloved films. Also strutting around in theaters that year was a bitchy but endearing comedy/melodrama mix. The film's impressive star line up was headlined by Norma Shearer as Mrs Stephen Haines. She was orbited by stars of similar (or then just-lesser) stature: Rosalind Russell, Joan Crawford, Paulette Goddard and Joan Fontaine among them. Even with the mega-wattage and box office pull of the stars The Women bore the sexist, reductive tagline:

“It’s all about men!”

Not that it isn't about men, I must quickly add. Or at least women's ideas about the men in their lives. The drama and comedy in The Women comes from the way the gathered actresses fight over men, adore men, adjust themselves for men, connect themselves to men and sabotage each other --presumably also for men. What? You thought with Roz Russell and bitchtastic Joan Crawford in the mix that this wouldn't be catty?

Continue reading... for more on this starry 30s comedy.

Tags: movies, cinema, The Women, comedy women, film, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer,MGM

Supporting Actor: Updates

Where are we at now?

• Critics Awards Haley, Hounsou, Nichoslon, Sheen and Wahlberg
• Golden Globes Affleck, Murphy, Nicholson, Pitt and Wahlberg
• Other Precursors Affleck, Arkin, Beach, Honsou, Murphy and Nicholson

I've altered the rankings in my Supporting Actor Predictions for Oscar. But I'll say this. It looks volatile ... or at least more volatile than other categories. Nearly a dozen men still in the mix, albeit with varying levels of traction. But here's where I currently think Oscar will go. Return and discuss.

• Why did Steve Carell (a comedian getting serious) never get any traction?
• Where did Brad Pitt's buzz go?
• Can Oscar enjoy Mark Wahlberg the way audiences do?
• Of the major players, who do you think doesn't have the traction suspected?

Also vote on the new poll (the past 20 years of the supporting actor Oscar)

Supporting Actor: Updates

Where are we at now?

• Critics Awards Haley, Hounsou, Nichoslon, Sheen and Wahlberg
• Golden Globes Affleck, Murphy, Nicholson, Pitt and Wahlberg
• Other Precursors Affleck, Arkin, Beach, Honsou, Murphy and Nicholson

I've altered the rankings in my Supporting Actor Predictions for Oscar. But I'll say this. It looks volatile ... or at least more volatile than other categories. Nearly a dozen men still in the mix, albeit with varying levels of traction. But here's where I currently think Oscar will go. Return and discuss.

• Why did Steve Carell (a comedian getting serious) never get any traction?
• Where did Brad Pitt's buzz go?
• Can Oscar enjoy Mark Wahlberg the way audiences do?
• Of the major players, who do you think doesn't have the traction suspected?

Also vote on the new poll (the past 20 years of the supporting actor Oscar)

Hump Day Hottie: Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou, he of the 6’4” Olympian hard body, has one of those great Hollywood stories. Born in Benin he immigrated to Paris as a teenager where he lived on the streets until he was discovered (by Thierry Mugler to be precise) and thrust into the world of high fashion, catwalks, and print. Beloved by reknowned chroniclers of the male form like Herb Ritts (RIP) and Greg Gorman (nsfw Djimon) he eventually worked his way into the movies starting with Sandra Bernhard’s cult classic performance film Without You I’m Nothing (1990) –which you know makes me love him even more. Plus: it’s fun to say his name. (jee-mahn han-soo)

What makes Djimon Hounsou more desirable than the average model turned actor is that he is good at both professions. Just ask Cindy Crawford and thousands more: top notch model doesn’t often equal top notch actor. The combination isn’t quite as rare as that pink diamond that everyone goes batshit crazy for in Blood Diamond but it’s in the same ballpark: once in a blue moon.

That said Hounsou probably says yes too often as an actor. For an actor of mid level fame and a good amount of respect, why does he take those barely-there roles like Tomb Raider 2? And why on God’s green earth did he agree to get in that embarrassing colored breastplate for Eragon for instance? But it’s easy to see why casting directors are hot on him for genre pieces: it’s that otherworldly beauty (well another world than Hollywood at least), imposing physicality and screen presence even sans dialogue.

It wasn’t long ago that Hounsou was a surprise Oscar nominee for In America and he could be up for the same prize again for his new role as a fisherman turned action hero (well, sort of) in Blood Diamond. Though I should say this now: Calling Hounsou a supporting actor in this is like saying that Sidney Poiter was “supporting” Tony Curtis in The Defiant Ones. This film is essentially about two African men, one white (ginormous movie star Leonardo DiCaprio) and one black (Honsou), who are both thrust into considerable danger while pursuing the same thing (the titular diamond) for different reasons. DiCaprio has the more complex role. But he’s white and this is one of those movies, the subgenre White Liberal Guilt Epic so you know that the black characters will be one dimensional. Hounsou’s character is such a saint in this movie that he doesn’t even seem to understand the concept of lying. He’s utterly confused when DiCaprio tells him to do so. He’s either a saint or he’s ridiculously stupid. I’m hoping that the critical awards momentum that Hounsou is experiencing is due to a climactic scene wherein he movingly talks his violent son back into his arms rather than for his other scenes which seem to consist of screaming but I have my doubts.

*

And as a bonus, enjoy one of the happiest music videos ever made: "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" starring Janet Jackson and a bevy of hard bodies including Hounsou's. He's a little Kevin Aviance androgynous here but that's A-OK with us. He sure does look happy lipsynching. Other famous faces within include Antonio Sabato, Jr (the ex-Mr. Virginia Madsen, don'cha know) and one of Madonna's Blonde Ambition Truth or Dare boys, 'Carlton'.



Previous Hump Day Hotties: Scarjo & the twins a celebration of Scarlett and cleavage * Daniel "Bond, James Bond" Craig long time fancied, pre-007 * Brad Pitt golden über hotness and exhibitionist tendencies * Qi Shu & Chen Chang 3 times is not enough * Jamie Dornan & Asia Argento burning up Versailles * James McAvoy randy king of Scotland * Naomie Harris pretty chameleon * Hot on TV from "Agent Cooper" to "Faith" * Channing Tatum steppin' up and out * Hugh Jackman dancer, mutant, god * Uma Thurman 18 years of hotness. * Cheyenne Jackson Broadway to Hollywood * Season One of HDH Gyllenhaal, Li, Bernal, etc...

tags: Djimon Hounsou, movies, cinema, Blood Diamond, Africa, academy awards, celebrity, Leonardo DiCaprio